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Miharaite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Entrance of mining tunnel

Mihara mine, Higashi-Mihara, Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Formula:

Cu₄FePbBiS₆

Colour:

Pale gray to grayish-white in reflected light

Lustre:

Metallic

Hardness:

Specific Gravity:

6.06 (Calculated)

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Name:

Named in 1980 by Asahiko Sugaki, Hiromi Shima, and Arashi Kitakaze after the type locality, Mihara Mine, Okayama, Japan.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Honpi deposit, Mihara mine, Higashi-Mihara, Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan

This page provides mineralogical data about Miharaite.

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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

2708

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:2708:9

GUID
(UUID V4):

4c50b39e-963e-43e5-80da-a0039baf66c7

IMA Classification of MiharaiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

PbCu₄FeBiS₆

First published:

1980

Type description reference:

Sugaki, Asahiko, Shima, Hiromi, Kitakaze, Arashi (1980) Miharaite, Cu4FePbBiS6, a new mineral from the Mihara mine, Okayama, Japan. American Mineralogist, 65 (7-8) 784-788

Classification of MiharaiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

2.LB.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
L : Unclassified Sulfosalts
B : With essential Pb

Dana 8th ed.:

3.1.5.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
1 : ø > 4

Hey's CIM Ref.:

5.8.9

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
8 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Mih	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
Mih	The Canadian Mineralogist (2019)	The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Physical Properties of MiharaiteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Pale gray to grayish-white in reflected light

Hardness:

4 on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₂₅=190 - 230 kg/mm² (15 s test time) - Vickers

Density:

6.06 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of MiharaiteHide

Anisotropism:

Moderate anisotropism from grayish-blue to pinkish-brown.

Bireflectance:

faint

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R
400nm	29.2–30.8%
420nm	29.7–30.8%
440nm	30.6–31.4%
460nm	31.2–32.0%
480nm	31.3–32.0%
500nm	32.1–32.8%
520nm	32.2–32.9%
540nm	32.2–33.0%
560nm	32.1–33.0%
580nm	32.2–33.5%
600nm	32.2–33.9%
620nm	32.3–34.3%
640nm	32.4–34.9%
660nm	32.4–35.1%
680nm	32.8–35.7%
700nm	32.8–35.8%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 32.8–35.8%.

Colour in reflected light:

Pale gray to grayish white.

Internal Reflections:

None.

Comments:

Reflectance data from Choi and Imai (1983).

Chemistry of MiharaiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Cu₄FePbBiS₆

Elements listed:

Bi, Cu, Fe, Pb, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of MiharaiteHide

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Cell Parameters:

a = 10.85 Å, b = 11.98 Å, c = 3.87 Å

Ratio:

a:b:c = 0.906 : 1 : 0.323

Unit Cell V:

503.03 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Comment:

Space group Pbnm, Pb2n, or pb2tm

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0012478	Miharaite	Petrova I V, Pobedimskaya E A, Bryzgalov I A (1988) Crystal structure of micharaite Cu4FePbBiS6 Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 299 123-127		1988		0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Miharaite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Petrova I V'
'Pobedimskaya E A'
'Bryzgalov I A'
_journal_name_full 'Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR'
_journal_volume 299 
_journal_year 1988
_journal_page_first 123
_journal_page_last 127
_publ_section_title
;
 Crystal structure of micharaite Cu4FePbBiS6
;
_database_code_amcsd 0012478
_chemical_formula_sum 'Pb Cu4 Fe Bi S6'
_cell_length_a 10.880
_cell_length_b 12.003
_cell_length_c 3.874
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 505.916
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      6.030
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P b 21 m'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '-x,1/2+y,z'
  'x,y,-z'
  '-x,1/2+y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Pb   0.31060   0.28000   0.50000   0.01824
Cu1   0.02030   0.27060   0.50000   0.01520
Cu2   0.48520   0.06970   0.00000   0.01773
Cu3   0.38210   0.84030   0.50000   0.02533
Cu4   0.21260   0.54290   0.50000   0.02533
Fe   0.28890   0.68250   0.00000   0.01267
Bi   0.14610   0.00000   0.00000   0.02077
S1   0.19300   0.74700   0.50000   0.01267
S2   0.02000   0.46100   0.50000   0.01140
S3   0.48100   0.76300   0.00000   0.01520
S4   0.31900   0.48700   0.00000   0.01393
S5   0.11400   0.20300   0.00000   0.01393
S6   0.36700   0.03000   0.50000   0.01520

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.03 Å	(100)
3.00 Å	(70)
1.935 Å	(70)
2.18 Å	(50)
3.25 Å	(30)
3.11 Å	(30)
2.70 Å	(30)

Comments:

Mihara mine, Japan. Data from the type description.

Geological EnvironmentHide

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 MiharaiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Honpi deposit, Mihara mine, Higashi-Mihara, Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan

General Appearance of Type Material:

minute (<0.3 mm) grains in bornite

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Institute of Mineralogy Petrology, and Economic Geology, Faculty of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, and Department of Mining and Mineral Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,Yamaguchi University, Ube, Japan.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Bornite rich skarn

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Sugaki, A., Shima, H., Kitakaze, A. (1980) Miharaite, Cu4FePbBiS6, a new mineral from the Mihara mine, Okayama, Japan. American Mineralogist: 65: 784-788.

Download:

Sugaki, A., Shima, H., Kitakaze, A. (1980) Miharaite, Cu4FePbBiS6, a new mineral from the Mihara mine, Okayama, Japan. American Mineralogist: 65: 784-788.

Synonyms of MiharaiteHide

IMA1976-012

Other Language Names for MiharaiteHide

German:Miharait

Russian:Михараит

Simplified Chinese:硫铋铅铁铜矿

Spanish:Miharaita

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.LB.	Ciriottiite	Cu(Cu,Ag)₃Pb₁₉(Sb,As)₂₂(As₂)S₅₆	Mon. 2/m
2.LB.	Hayyanite	Cu₅Ag₁₁Pb₇₆Sb₇₁As₁₇(As²⁺)₈S₂₂₄	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.LB.30	Ardaite	Pb₁₉Sb₁₃S₃₅Cl₇	Mon.
2.LB.30	Launayite	CuPb₁₀(Sb,As)₁₂S₂₀	Mon.
2.LB.30	Madocite	Pb₁₉(Sb,As)₁₆S₄₃	Orth.
2.LB.30	Playfairite	Pb₁₆(Sb,As)₁₉S₄₄Cl	Mon.
2.LB.30	Sorbyite	CuPb₉(Sb,As)₁₁S₂₆	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.LB.30	Sterryite	Cu(Ag,Cu)₃Pb₁₉(Sb,As)₂₂(As-As)S₅₆	Mon. 2/m
2.LB.35	Larosite	(Cu,Ag)₂₁PbBiS₁₃	Orth.
2.LB.40	Petrovicite	Cu₃HgPbBiSe₅	Orth.
2.LB.40	Mazzettiite	Ag₃HgPbSbTe₅	Orth.
2.LB.45	Crerarite	Pt_2-x(Bi,Pb)₁₁(S,Se)₁₁	Tric. 1 : P1
2.LB.50	Quijarroite	Cu₆HgPb₂Bi₄Se₁₂	Orth. mm2 : Pmn2₁
2.LB.55	Znamenskyite	Pb₄In₂Bi₄S₁₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbam

Other InformationHide

Notes:

Miharaite may readily be distinguished from wittichenite: HNO3 (1:1) etches wittichenite slowly, gradually staining to a brown colour, but does not affect miharaite at all.

Miharaite is slightly stained to bluish tinges by KOH (40%). No reaction to KCN (20%), HCl (1:1), FeCl3 (20%), HgCl2(5%) and H2O2.

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 MiharaiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-2708.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

Look for Miharaite on Webmineral

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Look for Miharaite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for MiharaiteHide

Reference List:

Sugaki, Asahiko, Shima, Hiromi, Kitakaze, Arashi (1980) Miharaite, Cu4FePbBiS6, a new mineral from the Mihara mine, Okayama, Japan. American Mineralogist, 65 (7-8) 784-788

Choi, S.G., Imai, N. (1983) Miharaite in bornite-rich copper ore from the Ulsan mine, Republic of Korea. The Journal of the Japanese Association of Mineralogists, Petrologists and Economic Geologists: 78(9): 350-360.

Petrova, I.V., Pobedimskaya, E.A., Bryzgalov, I.A. (1988) Crystal structure of micharaite Cu4FePbBiS6. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 299: 123-127.

Kang Guan, Zhenkuan Luo, Manzhi Wang, and Chuantai Wang (1990) The first discovery of miharaite in China. Acta Mineralogica Sinica: 10(3): 227-231.

Pinto, A., Bowles, J.F.W., Gaspar, O.C. (1994) The mineral chemistry and textures of wittichenite, miharaite, carrolite, mawsonite and In±Bi±Hg tennantite from Neves-Corvo, Portugal. IMA 94. In XVI General Meeting of IMA, Pisa, ItaÂlia, Abstracts.

Izumino, Y., Nakashima, K., Nagashima, M. (2014) Cuprobismutite group minerals (cuprobismutite, hodrušhite, kupčíkite and padĕrite), other Bi-sulfosalts and Bi-tellurides from the Obari mine, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences: 109: 177-190.

(2023) Miharaite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for MiharaiteHide

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

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.

Locality ListHide

- 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.


Argentina
Chubut Province Gastre Department ⓘ Los Manantiales mining district	DE BRODTKORB +1 other reference
ⓘ Angela mine	BRODTKORB +3 other references
Córdoba Province Calamuchita Department Río de Los Sauces District ⓘ Cerro Áspero mining district	DE BRODTKORB
San Juan Province Caucete Department La Huerta Range Marayes mining district ⓘ Caledonia Group mines	February 2009 +3 other references

Bulgaria
Pazardzhik Province Panagyurishte Municipality Elshitsa ⓘ Elshitsa mine	Cook et al. (2002)
Levski ⓘ Radka Mine	Kouzmanov (2004) +1 other reference

Canada
Northwest Territories North Slave Region Great Bear Lake Port Radium District ⓘ Eldorado Mine	Bailey (2017)

China
Hebei Qinhuangdao Qinglong County ⓘ Sanjiazi Mine (Sanjia Mine)	Zhenkuan Luo et al. (1990) +2 other references

Germany
Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Region Freudenstadt Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach ⓘ Daniel im Dehs Mine	Staude et al. (2010)

India
Rajasthan Jaipur district Sikar District Khetri ⓘ Khetri Mines (Ketri Mine)	Ahmed et al. (2018)

Japan
Hyogo Prefecture Yabu City Oya-cho ⓘ Akenobe mine	Fukuoka (1981)
Okayama Prefecture Ibara City Higashi-Mihara Mihara mine ⓘ Honpi deposit (TL)	Sugaki et al. (1980)
Tomata District Kagamino-cho ⓘ Imooka mine	American Mineralogist
Yamagata Prefecture ⓘ Ohari mine (Obari mine)	Izumino et al. (2014)

North Korea
North Hwanghae Province Suan County Hol Kol Mine (Holgol; Suan; Namjong) ⓘ North orebody (New orebody)	Resource Geology

Norway
Buskerud Drammen Konnerud ⓘ Konnerudkollen Mines (Konnerud Mines)	Segalstad et al. (2002)

Portugal
Aveiro Albergaria-a-Velha Branca ⓘ Palhal Mine	Marques de Sá et al. (2010)
Beja Castro Verde Santa Bárbara de Padrões ⓘ Neves-Corvo Mine	Pinto et al. (1994) +2 other references

Romania
Bihor County Nucet ⓘ Băiţa mining district	Cook et al. (2002)

South Korea
Ulsan Buk District ⓘ Ulsan Mine	CHOI et al. (1983) +3 other references

Sweden
Värmland County Arvika Glava ⓘ Glava copper mining field (Yttre Rud Mines)

Miharaite

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of MiharaiteHide

Classification of MiharaiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of MiharaiteHide

Optical Data of MiharaiteHide

Chemistry of MiharaiteHide

Crystallography of MiharaiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of MiharaiteHide

Synonyms of MiharaiteHide

Other Language Names for MiharaiteHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for MiharaiteHide

References for MiharaiteHide

Localities for MiharaiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide