Kostovite Mineral Data

General Kostovite Information

Chemical Formula:

CuAuTe4

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 770.91 gm

Copper 8.24 % Cu

Tellurium 66.21 % Te

Gold 25.55 % Au

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

CuAuTe₄

Environment:

From gold and platinum-bearing replacement copper deposits.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1966

Locality:

Chelopech Deposit, Srednogorie zone, Sofia, Bulgaria. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for Ivan Kostov (1912-), Bulgarian mineralogist.

Name Pronunciation:

Kostovite + Pronunciation

Kostovite Image

Images:

Kostovite

Comments: B&W, oil immersion, XPL image of a twinned grain of kostovite surrounded by native tellurium (Te), chalcopyrite (Cp), Tennantite (Tn) and barite (Ba). (AmMin, v51:29).
Location: Chelopech copper deposit, Bulgaria. Scale: Magnification 1,000 X.
© American Mineralogist

Images:

Kostovite

Comments: Dark gray metallic fragment of kostovite embedded in epoxy.
Location: Chelopech Mine, Chelopech Obshchina, Balkan Mts (Stara-Planina Mts), Sofiya (Sofia) Oblast, Bulgaria. Scale: See Image.
© Rruff Database

Kostovite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.8665:1:0.5

Cell Dimensions:

a = 16.5, b = 8.84, c = 4.42, Z = 4; V = 644.70 Den(Calc)= 7.94

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - PyramidalH-M Symbol (mm2) Space Group: Pma2

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.03(1), 2.1(0.9), 2.93(0.6),

Physical Properties of Kostovite

Cleavage:

{???} Distinct

Color:

Gray white.

Density:

8.43

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Fracture:

Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals.

Habit:

Microscopic Crystals - Crystals visible only with microscopes.

Hardness:

2-2.5 - Gypsum-Finger Nail

Luster:

Metallic

Optical Properties of Kostovite

RL Anisotrophism:

Distinct.

RL Color:

Creamy white.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Kostovite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	38.70	54.00
420 nm	41.50	55.90
440 nm	44.00	57.70
460 nm	46.00	59.20
480 nm	47.50	60.30
500 nm	48.80	61.10
520 nm	49.70	61.60
540 nm	50.50	61.70
560 nm	51.20	61.60
580 nm	51.70	61.40
600 nm	52.10	61.20
620 nm	52.30	61.00
640 nm	52.50	60.80
660 nm	52.70	60.70
680 nm	52.90	60.70
700 nm	53.30	60.70

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

Calculated Properties of Kostovite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=6.51 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Kostovite =7.94 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.05
Boson Index = 0.95

Photoelectric:

PE_Kostovite= 675.89 barns/electron
U=PE_Kostovite x rElectron Density=4,399.57 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Kostovite is Not Radioactive

Kostovite Classification

Dana Class:

02.12.13.04 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(02.12)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:2

(02.12.13)Krennerite Group

02.12.13.01 Krennerite AuTe2 Pma2 mm2

02.12.13.02 Calaverite AuTe2 C 2/m 2/m

02.12.13.03 Sylvanite (Au,Ag)2Te4 P 2/c 2/m

02.12.13.04 Kostovite CuAuTe4 Pma2 mm2

Strunz Class:

02.EA.15 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.E - Metal Sulfides, M:S £ 1:2

02.EA -M:S = 1:2

02.EA.15 Krennerite AuTe2 Pma2 mm2

02.EA.15 Kostovite CuAuTe4 Pma2 mm2

Other Kostovite Information

References:

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

See Also:

Links to other databases for Kostovite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info

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Ask about Kostovite here :
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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Kostovite Specimen Label here :

Kostovite

CuAuTe4
Dana No: 02.12.13.04 Strunz No: 02.EA.15
Locality:

Notes: