Nowackiite
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Formula:
Cu6Zn3As4S12
System:
Trigonal
Colour:
lead-grey, black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Name:
In honour of Professor Werner Nowacki (1909–1989), Swiss mineralogist, University of Berne, Switzerland, for his extensive research on sulphosalts from Lengenbach.
Isostructural with:
Classification of Nowackiite
Approved
2/C.12-20
2.GA.30
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
3.4.13.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
5.4.1
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
4 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Zn and Hg
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
4 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Zn and Hg
Physical Properties of Nowackiite
Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):
Opaque
Colour:
lead-grey, black
Streak:
grey-black
Hardness (Mohs):
3½ - 4
Chemical Properties of Nowackiite
Formula:
Cu6Zn3As4S12
Elements listed in formula:
Crystallography of Nowackiite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
R3
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.440(1) Å, c = 9.17(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.682
Unit Cell Volume:
V 1,434.49 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Twinning:
On {0001}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.127 | (61) |
| 1.887 | (63) |
| 1.605 | (61) |
| 1.216 | (52) |
| 1.085 | (20) |
| 1.081 | (75) |
| 1.019 | (100) |
Type Occurrence of Nowackiite
Relationship of Nowackiite to other Species
| 2.GA.05 | Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 2.GA.05 | Pyrargyrite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.10 | Pyrostilpnite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.10 | Xanthoconite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 2.GA.15 | Samsonite | Ag4MnSb2S6 |
| 2.GA.20 | Skinnerite | Cu3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.20 | Wittichenite | Cu3BiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Lapieite | CuNiSbS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Mückeite | CuNiBiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Malyshevite | PdCuBiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Lisiguangite | CuPtBiS3 |
| 2.GA.30 | Aktashite | Cu6Hg3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Gruzdevite | Cu6Hg3Sb4S12 |
| 2.GA.35 | Laffittite | AgHgAsS3 |
| 2.GA.40 | Routhierite | CuTlHg2As2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Stalderite | TlCu(Zn,Fe,Hg)2As2S6 |
| 2.GA.45 | Erniggliite | Tl2SnAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.50 | Bournonite | CuPbSbS3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Seligmannite | CuPbAsS3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Součekite | CuPbBi(S,Se)3 |
| 5.4.2 | Florensovite | Cu1+(Cr3+1.5Sb5+0.5)S4 |
| 5.4.3 | Aktashite | Cu6Hg3As4S12 |
| 5.4.4 | Laffittite | AgHgAsS3 |
| 5.4.5 | Galkhaite | (Hg5Cu)CsAs4S12 |
| 5.4.6 | Livingstonite | HgSb4S8 |
| 5.4.7 | Gruzdevite | Cu6Hg3Sb4S12 |
| 5.4.8 | Tvalchrelidzeite | Hg3SbAsS3 |
| 5.4.9 | Hakite | Cu10Hg2Sb4Se13 |
Other Names for Nowackiite
Name in Other Languages:
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Nowackiite
Reference List:
Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 124: 352-368.
American Mineralogist (1966): 51: 532.
American Mineralogist (1969): 54: 1497-1498.
Nowacki, W. (1982): Isotypy in aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 and nowackiite Cu6Zn3As4S12. Soviet Physics - Crystallography 27, 26-27.
American Mineralogist (1966): 51: 532.
American Mineralogist (1969): 54: 1497-1498.
Nowacki, W. (1982): Isotypy in aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 and nowackiite Cu6Zn3As4S12. Soviet Physics - Crystallography 27, 26-27.
Internet Links for Nowackiite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2939.html
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Localities for Nowackiite
This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 
symbol to view information about a locality.
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symbol to view information about a locality.
The symbol next to localities in the list
can be used to jump to that position on the map.
(TL) indicates type locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) indicates first recorded locality for everything else. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
Chile | |
| Arfè, G., Boni, M., Mondillo, N., Aiello, R., Balassone, G., Arseneau, V. and Soyk, D. (2016): Supergene alteration in the Capricornio Au-Ag epithermal vein system, Antofagasta Region, Chile. Can. Mineral. 54, 681-706. |
Poland | |
| Chmielewski, A., Oszczepalski, S. (2016): Replacement processes of primary mineralization in the uppermost part of the Kupferschiefer series in SW Poland. Mineralogia - Special Papers: 45: 41-42 |
Portugal | |
| Marques de Sá, J. & Leal Gomes, C. (2010): Les mines de cuivre et nickel de Palhal et Telhadela, Albergaria-a-Velha, Aveiro, Portugal. Le Règne Minéral, 92, 36-47. |
Switzerland (TL) | |
| Chimia (1965) 19, 500-501; Roth, P. (2016): Zwillinge seltener Lengenbach-Mineralien. Schweizer Strahler 50(2), 28-29 (in German and French). |
Lengenbach Quarry, Fäld, Binn Valley, Wallis, Switzerland