Potosiite Mineral Data

General Potosiite Information

Chemical Formula:

Pb6Sn2FeSb2S14

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 2,228.89 gm

Iron 2.51 % Fe

Tin 10.65 % Sn

Antimony 10.92 % Sb

Lead 55.78 % Pb

Sulfur 20.14 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Pb₆Sn₂Fe²⁺Sb₂S₁₄

Environment:

On layered sulfide ore in a complex xenothermal-type hodrothermal tin deposit associated with subvolcanic granitic intrusives.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1981

Locality:

Andacaba deposit, Potosi, Bolivia. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for its locality.

Name Pronunciation:

Potosiite + Pronunciation

Potosiite Image

Images:

Potosiite Franckeite

Comments: Visually indistinguishable metallic potosiite/franckeite crystals to 6 mm..
Location: San Jose mine, Oruro City, Oruro Department, Bolivia. Scale: Crystal size 6 mm.
© Rob Lavinsky

Potosiite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.9961:1:2.9285

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.915, b = 5.938, c = 17.39, Z = 1; alpha = 91.63°, beta = 91.02°, gamma = 90.84° V = 610.38 Den(Calc)= 6.06

Crystal System:

Triclinic - PinacoidalH-M Symbol ( 1) Space Group: P 1 ?

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.88(1), 2.94(1), 3.45(0.9),4.32(0.9), 1.92(0.1), 2.07(0.1), 2.16(0.1), 5.76(0.1),

Physical Properties of Potosiite

Cleavage:

{001} Perfect, {010} Good

Color:

White.

Density:

6.2

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Habit:

Aggregates - Made of numerous individual crystals or clusters.

Habit:

Microscopic Crystals - Crystals visible only with microscopes.

Habit:

Pseudo Hexagonal - Crystals show a hexagonal outline.

Hardness:

2.5 - Finger Nail

Luster:

Metallic

Optical Properties of Potosiite

Optical Data:

NCalc= 1.64 - from Gladstone-Dale relationship (KC = 0.1053) where Ncalc=Dcalc*KC+1
NCalc= 1.65 - from Gladstone-Dale relationship (KC = 0.1053) where Ncalc=Dmeas*KC+1

RL Anisotrophism:

Moderate, bluish gray to grayish pale yellow.

RL Color:

White.

RL Pleochroism:

Faint, from bluish gray to yellowish gray.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Potosiite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
486 nm	36.20	36.90
551 nm	34.90	35.35
589 nm	34.40	35.10
656 nm	33.90	34.50

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Potosiite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	30%	60%	90%	100%	120%	150%	180%	210%	240%	260%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Potosiite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=5.13 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Potosiite =6.06 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.14
Boson Index = 0.86

Photoelectric:

PE_Potosiite=1,085.46 barns/electron
U=PE_Potosiite x rElectron Density=5,571.87 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

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

Potosiite Classification

Dana Class:

03.01.04.04 (03)Sulfides - Sulfosalts

(03.01)where z/y > 4 - (A+)i (A++)j [By Cz], A=metals, B=semi-metals, C=non-metals

(03.01.04)Cylindrite Group

03.01.04.01 Cylindrite Pb3Sn4FeSb2S14 P1 1

03.01.04.02 Franckeite (Pb,Sn)6FeSn2Sb2S14 P1 1

03.01.04.03 Incaite Pb4Sn4FeSb2S15 P1 ? 1

03.01.04.04 Potosiite Pb6Sn2FeSb2S14 P 1 ? 1

03.01.04.05 Abramovite! Pb2SnInBiS7 P1 1

03.01.04.06 Coiraite! (Pb,Sn)12.5As3Sn5FeS28 Unk Mono

Strunz Class:

02.HF.25b 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.H - Sulfosalts of SnS Archetype

02.HF -With SnS and PbS archetype structure units

02.HF.25b Franckeite (Pb,Sn)6FeSn2Sb2S14 P1 1

02.HF.25b Incaite Pb4Sn4FeSb2S15 P1 ? 1

02.HF.25b Potosiite Pb6Sn2FeSb2S14 P 1 ? 1

02.HF.25b Coiraite! (Pb,Sn)12.5As3Sn5FeS28 Unk Mono

Other Potosiite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Dana8) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Potosiite :
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 Potosiite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
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Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Español

Print or Cut-and-Paste your Potosiite Specimen Label here :

Potosiite

Pb6Sn2FeSb2S14
Dana No: 03.01.04.04 Strunz No: 02.HF.25b
Locality:

Notes: