Aikinite Mineral Data

Aikinite Mineral Data +

General Aikinite Information

Chemical Formula:

PbCuBiS3

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 575.92 gm

Copper 11.03 % Cu

Bismuth 36.29 % Bi

Lead 35.98 % Pb

Sulfur 16.70 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

PbCuBiS₃

Environment:

Found in hydrothermal veins.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1843

Locality:

There are numerous minor localities. In the USA, in Utah, at the Sells mine, Alta, Salt Lake Co. In Nevada, near Cucomungo Spring and near the Sylvania Mountains, Esmeralda Co. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

For Dr. Arthur Aikin (1773-1854), a founder and long-time Secretary of the Geological Society of London, England.

Synonym:

ICSD 9120

PDF 47-1736

Aikinite Image

Images:

Aikinite

Comments: Gray metallic prismatic crystals of aikinite and crystalline quartz.
Location: Mike Mine, San Juan County, Colorado, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Images:

Aikinite Berryite

Comments: Fine-grained, gray, metallic granular berryite with silvery, metallic, prismatic aikinite.
Location: Mike Mine, San Juan County, Colorado. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Aikinite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.9693:1:0.3484

Cell Dimensions:

a = 11.297, b = 11.654, c = 4.061, Z = 4; V = 534.65 Den(Calc)= 7.15

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - DipyramidalH-M Symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: Pbnm

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.17(1), 3.66(0.9), 3.59(0.8),

Crystal Structure:

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Kohatsu I , Wuensch B J , Acta Crystallographica, Section B , 27 (1971) p.1245-1252, The crystal structure of aikinite, PbCuBiS3, Note: B(3,3) altered for Pb and Cu, in order to reproduce Biso

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Aikinite
[1]

Physical Properties of Aikinite

Cleavage:

[010] Indistinct

Color:

Lead gray, Grayish black, Reddish brown.

Density:

6.1 - 6.8, Average = 6.44

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Habit:

Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Hardness:

2-2.5 - Gypsum-Finger Nail

Luster:

Metallic

Streak:

grayish black

Optical Properties of Aikinite

RL Anisotrophism:

Distinct.

RL Color:

White, cream.

RL Pleochroism:

Cream white to pure white or light brown.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Aikinite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	44.70	45.70
420 nm	44.90	45.80
440 nm	45.10	45.90
460 nm	45.40	46.20
480 nm	45.80	46.80
500 nm	46.30	47.30
520 nm	46.40	47.50
540 nm	46.30	47.30
560 nm	46.00	47.00
580 nm	45.50	46.70
600 nm	45.00	46.30
620 nm	44.60	45.90
640 nm	44.20	45.40
660 nm	43.70	45.00
680 nm	43.30	44.50
700 nm	43.00	44.00

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Aikinite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	30%	60%	90%	100%	120%	150%	180%	200%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Aikinite

Electron Density:

r_electron=6.01 gm/cc
note: r_Aikinite=7.15 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.08076
Boson Index = 0.91924

Photoelectric:

PE_Aikinite=1,358.58 barns/electron
U=PE_Aikinite x r_electron=8,163.38 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Aikinite is Not Radioactive

Aikinite Classification

Dana Class:

3.4.5.1 (3)Sulfides - Sulfosalts

(3.4)where z/y > 3 - (A+)i (A++)j [By Cz], A=metals, B=semi-metals, C=non-metals

(3.4.5)Aikinite Group (Orthorhombic containing Pb, Cu, Bi, & S)

3.4.5.1 Aikinite PbCuBiS3 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

3.4.5.2 Krupkaite PbCuBi3S6 P mc2₁ mm2

3.4.5.3 Gladite PbCuBi5S9 P nma 2/m 2/m 2/m

3.4.5.4 Hammarite Pb2Cu2Bi4S9(?) Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

3.4.5.5 Friedrichite Pb5Cu5Bi7S18 Pb21m mm2

3.4.5.6 Pekoite PbCuBi11(S,Se)18 P 2₁am mm2

3.4.5.7 Lindstromite Pb3Cu3Bi7S15 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

3.4.5.8 IMA2000-044! Pb1.6Cu1.6Bi6.4S12 P mc2₁ mm2

Strunz Class:

II/E.30-10 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

II/E - Sulfosalts (S : As,Sb,Bi = x) Lead-Sulfosalts (Pb-Cu/Ag) with predominant Vismut x = 6.0 - 1.6

II/E.30 - Aikinite - Pekoite series

II/E.30-10 Aikinite PbCuBiS3 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

II/E.30-15 Soucekite PbCuBi(S,Se)3 Pn21m mm2

II/E.30-20 Friedrichite Pb5Cu5Bi7S18 Pb21m mm2

II/E.30-25 Emilite! Cu10.7Pb10.7Bi21.3S48 P mc2₁ mm2

II/E.30-30 Hammarite Pb2Cu2Bi4S9(?) Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

II/E.30-40 Lindstromite Pb3Cu3Bi7S15 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

II/E.30-50 Krupkaite PbCuBi3S6 P mc2₁ mm2

II/E.30-54 Paarite! Cu1.7Pb1.7Bi6.3S12 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

II/E.30-60 Gladite PbCuBi5S9 P nma 2/m 2/m 2/m

II/E.30-70 Pekoite PbCuBi11(S,Se)18 P 2₁am mm2

Other Aikinite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic1) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

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Aikinite

PbCuBiS3
Dana No: 3.4.5.1 Strunz No: II/E.30-10
Locality:

Notes: