Routhierite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Routhierite
Formula:
Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6
Colour:
Violet-red, red-black to the naked eye, dark red under the scope
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
5.83 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after Pierre-Jean Routhier (15 July 1916, Noisy-le-Sec, France - 3 November 2008, Saint-Dizier, France), professor in applied geology at the Science Faculty of Paris (1961-1970), then research director at CNRS. A renowned figure of metallogeny and the study of mineral deposits.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3464
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3464:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
74d2a571-51e1-4802-a809-43f109804afc
IMA Classification of Routhierite
Approved
IMA Formula:
TlCuHg2As2S6
First published:
1974
Classification of Routhierite
2.GA.40
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
3.4.11.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
5.5.6
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
5 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Tl
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
5 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Tl
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Rtr | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Routhierite
Metallic
Transparency:
Translucent, Opaque
Colour:
Violet-red, red-black to the naked eye, dark red under the scope
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=133 - 157 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
5.83 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Could not be measured due to lack of material.
Optical Data of Routhierite
Anisotropism:
Weak
Reflectivity:
Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
---|---|---|
400nm | 31.7% | 34.0% |
420nm | 31.3% | 33.2% |
440nm | 30.9% | 32.4% |
460nm | 30.5% | 31.7% |
480nm | 30.0% | 31.2% |
500nm | 29.5% | 30.9% |
520nm | 28.9% | 30.5% |
540nm | 28.1% | 30.0% |
560nm | 27.1% | 29.1% |
580nm | 26.3% | 28.1% |
600nm | 25.5% | 27.3% |
620nm | 25.0% | 26.6% |
640nm | 24.5% | 26.1% |
660nm | 24.1% | 25.7% |
680nm | 23.8% | 25.2% |
700nm | 23.5% | 24.8% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 34.0%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Bluish white; in oil, grey-blue and identical to smithite
Internal Reflections:
Strong, red
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Imperceptible in air, visible in oil due to twin lamellae.
Chemistry of Routhierite
Mindat Formula:
Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6
Common Impurities:
Ag,Zn
Crystallography of Routhierite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4 2m - Scalenohedral
Space Group:
I4 2m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.9821(11) Å, c = 11.3122(12) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.133
Unit Cell V:
1127.2 ų
Z:
4
Twinning:
Fine polysynthetic lamellae seen in polished section.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0010482 | Routhierite | Bindi L (2008) Routhierite, Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6 Acta Crystallographica C64 i95-i96 | 2008 | Jas Roux, France | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
4.146 Å | (100) |
2.989 Å | (100) |
2.495 Å | (90) |
3.525 Å | (80) |
1.870 Å | (70) |
1.763 Å | (70) |
1.827 Å | (60) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Routhierite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Stringers to a thickness of 1 mm. Also as xenomorphic grains associated with other sulphides.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Johan, Z., Mantienne, J., Picot, R. (1974): La routhiérite, TlHgAsS3, et la laffittite, AgHgAsS3, deux nouvelles espèces minérales. Bulletin de la Société Française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie, 97, 48-53.
Synonyms of Routhierite
Other Language Names for Routhierite
Relationship of Routhierite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Arsiccioite | AgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m |
Ferrostalderite | CuFe2TlAs2S6 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m |
Ralphcannonite | AgZn2TlAs2S6 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m |
Stalderite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)2(As,Sb)2S6 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m |
Unnamed (Ag-Fe endmember of Routhierite Group) | AgFe2TlAs2S6 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
4 photos of Routhierite associated with Chabournéite | AgzTl8-x-zPb4+2xSb40-x-yAsyS68 with 0.00 < x < 0.40(9), 16.15(3)< y < 19.11(10), 0.04(4) < z < 0.11(6) |
3 photos of Routhierite associated with Pierrotite | Tl2(Sb,As)10S16 |
2 photos of Routhierite associated with Laffittite | AgHgAsS3 |
2 photos of Routhierite associated with Wakabayashilite | [(As,Sb)6S9][As4S5] |
1 photo of Routhierite associated with Smithite | AgAsS2 |
1 photo of Routhierite associated with Protochabournéite | Tl4-xPb2+2xSb20-x-yAsyS34 with 0.02(2) ≤ x ≤ 0.34(2), 5.71(9) ≤ y ≤ 6.69(9) |
1 photo of Routhierite associated with Arsiccioite | AgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.GA. | Arsiccioite | AgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6 |
2.GA. | Eckerite | Ag2CuAsS3 |
2.GA. | Pyradoketosite | Ag3SbS3 |
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.20 | Bytízite | Cu3SbSe3 |
2.GA.25 | Lapieite | NiCuSbS3 |
2.GA.25 | Mückeite | NiCu(Bi,Sb)S3 |
2.GA.25 | Malyshevite | PdCuBiS3 |
2.GA.25 | Lisiguangite | PtCuBiS3 |
2.GA.25 | Roterbärite | PdBiCuSe3 |
2.GA.30 | Aktashite | Cu6Hg3As4S12 |
2.GA.30 | Gruzdevite | Cu6Hg3Sb4S12 |
2.GA.30 | Nowackiite | Cu6Zn3As4S12 |
2.GA.30 | Zhengminghuaite | Cu6Fe3As4S12 |
2.GA.35 | Laffittite | AgHgAsS3 |
2.GA.40 | Stalderite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
2.GA.40 | Ralphcannonite | AgZn2TlAs2S6 |
2.GA.40 | Ferrostalderite | CuFe2TlAs2S6 |
2.GA.40 | Unnamed (Ag-Fe endmember of Routhierite Group) | AgFe2TlAs2S6 |
2.GA.45 | Erniggliite | Tl2SnAs2S6 |
2.GA.50 | Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
2.GA.50 | Seligmannite | PbCuAsS3 |
2.GA.50 | Součekite | PbCuBi(S,Se)3 |
2.GA.50 | Unnamed (Pb-Cu-Bi Selenide) | PbCuBiSe3 |
2.GA.50 | Cerromojonite | CuPbBiSe3 |
2.GA.55 | Eldragónite | Cu6BiSe4(Se2) |
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.
Internet Links for Routhierite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3464.html
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External Links:
References for Routhierite
Reference List:
Johan, Zdenek, Mantienne, Joseph, Picot, Paul (1974) La routhiérite, TlHgAsS3, et la laffittite, AgHgAsS3, deux nouvelles espèces minérales. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 97 (1) 48-53 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1974.6914
Fleischer, Michael, Mandarino, Joseph A. (1975) NEW MINERAL NAMES. American Mineralogist, 60 (9-10) 945-947
Localities for Routhierite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada | |
| Mineralogical Magazine 1988 52 : 691-697 |
Sabina (1991) | |
M. Bonnemaison | |
France (TL) | |
| Johan et al. (1974) +2 other references |
Italy | |
| Biagioni et al. (2011) +2 other references |
North Macedonia | |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
Russia | |
| Vikent'eva et al. (2016, April) |
| American Mineralogist +18 other references |
Switzerland | |
| XRD by Prof. Nestola (Padia, I) |
Quick NavTopAbout RouthieriteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Jas Roux, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France