Maldonite Mineral Data

General Maldonite Information

Chemical Formula:

Au2Bi

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 602.91 gm

Bismuth 34.66 % Bi

Gold 65.34 % Au

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Au₂Bi

Environment:

Found in gold-quartz veins, probable high temperature mineral. Intergrown with gold and bismuth.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1870

Locality:

Nugget reef, near Maldon, Victoria, Australia. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the locality.

Name Pronunciation:

Maldonite + Pronunciation

Maldonite Image

Images:

Maldonite

Comments: PPL polished section showing maldonite grain associated with native bismuth (Bi) and exsolved bismuth-gold areas..
Location: Escanaba Trough at the southern end of the Gorda Ridge. (Geology, v36:815). Scale: See Image.
© Geology

Maldonite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 7.958, Z = 8; V = 503.98 Den(Calc)= 15.89

Crystal System:

Isometric - HexoctahedralH-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: F d3m

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.41(1), 1.537(0.6), 2.3(0.5),

Physical Properties of Maldonite

Cleavage:

{001} Distinct, {110} Distinct

Color:

Copper red, Reddish white, Black, Silver white.

Density:

15.46

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Fracture:

Sectile - Curved shavings or scrapings produced by a knife blade, (e.g. graphite).

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Habit:

Octahedral Crystals - Occurs as octahedral shaped crystals.

Hardness:

1.5-2 - Talc-Gypsum

Luster:

Metallic

Optical Properties of Maldonite

RL Color:

Silver white with a pint tinge..

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Maldonite in Air**
λ	R	∑ R(λ)
400 nm	47.00
420 nm	48.60
440 nm	50.20
460 nm	51.60
480 nm	52.80
500 nm	54.00
520 nm	55.00
540 nm	55.80
560 nm	56.50
580 nm	56.90
600 nm	57.30
620 nm	57.40
640 nm	57.50
660 nm	57.70
680 nm	58.10
700 nm	58.60

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Maldonite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	20%	40%	60%	80%	100%	120%	140%	160%	180%
R

Calculated Properties of Maldonite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=12.7 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Maldonite =15.9 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 3.4661756E-7
Boson Index = 0.9999996534

Photoelectric:

PE_Maldonite=1,809.55 barns/electron
U=PE_Maldonite x rElectron Density=22987.22 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

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

Maldonite Classification

Dana Class:

01.01.03.01 (01)Native Elements

(01.01)with metallic elements other than the platinum group

(01.01.03)Dana Group

01.01.03.01 Maldonite Au2Bi F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

02.AA.40 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.A - Simple Sulfides, Selenides, etc

02.AA -Alloys of metalloids with Cu, Ag, Sn, Au

02.AA.40 Maldonite Au2Bi F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

Other Maldonite Information

References:

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

See Also:

Links to other databases for Maldonite :
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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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Maldonite Specimen Label here :

Maldonite

Au2Bi
Dana No: 01.01.03.01 Strunz No: 02.AA.40
Locality:

Notes: