Skutterudite Mineral Data

Skutterudite Mineral Data +

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General Skutterudite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Co,Ni)As3-x

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 246.18 gm

Cobalt 17.95 % Co

Nickel 5.96 % Ni

Arsenic 76.09 % As

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Co_0.75Ni_0.25As_2.5

Environment:

Hydrothermal ore mineral found in high temperature veins with other Ni-Co minerals.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1845

Locality:

Skutterud, Norway. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after its locality. Smaltite In reference to smalt, a deep blue glaze in which this mineral was used to furnish the necessary cobalt.

Synonym:

ICSD 9188

PDF 10-328

Smaltite

Skutterudite Image

Images:

Click Here for Larger Skutterudite Image

Skutterudite Erythrite

Comments: Erythrite crystal on massive skutterudite.
Location: Bou Azzer, Morocco. Scale: Crystal size 1.5 cm.
© John Veevaert

Images:

Skutterudite

Comments: Cubic crystals of Skutterudite on matrix.
Location: Bou Azzer, Anti-Atlas Mountains, Morrocco. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Images:

Skutterudite

Comments: Bright, untarnished, metallic crystals of skutterudite up to 1 cm.
Location: Bou Azzer, Morocco. Scale: Picture size 3 cm.
© Minernet

Skutterudite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 8.19, Z = 8; V = 549.35 Den(Calc)= 5.95

Crystal System:

Isometric - DiploidalH-M Symbol (2/m 3) Space Group: I m3

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.592(1), 1.835(0.35), 2.193(0.35),

Forms:

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Forms: [ 1 1 1] [ 1 0 0]

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Crystal Structure:

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Mandel N , Donohue J , Acta Crystallographica, Section B , 27 (1971) p.2288-2289, The refinement of the crystal structure of skutterudite, CoAs3, Locality: Bou-Azzer, Morocco

Physical Properties of Skutterudite

Cleavage:

[100] Distinct, [111] Distinct

Color:

White, Light steel gray.

Density:

6.1 - 6.9, Average = 6.5

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Fracture:

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

Habit:

Colloform - Forming from a gel or colloidal mass.

Habit:

Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Hardness:

5.5-6 - Knife Blade-Orthoclase

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Metallic

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

black

Optical Properties of Skutterudite

RL Color:

Gray, creamy or golden white.

RL Pleochroism:

None.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Skutterudite in Air**
λ	R	∑ R(λ)
400 nm	59.10
420 nm	57.80
440 nm	56.50
460 nm	55.60
480 nm	55.00
500 nm	54.50
520 nm	54.20
540 nm	54.00
560 nm	53.80
580 nm	53.60
600 nm	53.50
620 nm	53.20
640 nm	53.00
660 nm	52.90
680 nm	52.80
700 nm	52.70

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Skutterudite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	20%	40%	60%	80%	100%	120%	140%	160%	170%
R

Calculated Properties of Skutterudite

Electron Density:

r_electron=5.31 gm/cc
note: r_Skutterudite=5.95 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00067
Boson Index = 0.99933

Photoelectric:

PE_Skutterudite= 64.18 barns/electron
U=PE_Skutterudite x r_electron= 340.49 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Skutterudite is Not Radioactive

Skutterudite Classification

Dana Class:

2.12.17.1 (2)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

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

(2.12.17)Dana Group

2.12.17.1 Skutterudite (Co,Ni)As3-x I m3 2/m 3

2.12.17.2 Nickel-skutterudite (Ni,Co)As3-x I m3 2/m 3

2.12.17.3 Kieftite CoSb3 I m3 2/m 3

Strunz Class:

II/D.29-10 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

II/D - Sulfides with metal: sulfur, selenium and tellurium < 1:1, Tellurides with Copper, Silver, Gold

II/D.29 - Skutterudite - Iridisite series

II/D.29-10 Skutterudite (Co,Ni)As3-x I m3 2/m 3

II/D.29-20 Nickel-skutterudite (Ni,Co)As3-x I m3 2/m 3

II/D.29-25 Kieftite CoSb3 I m3 2/m 3

II/D.29-30 Iridisite* (Ir,Cu,Rh,Ni,Pt)S2 Unk Cubic

II/D.29-40 Gaotaiite Ir3Te8 P a3 2/m 3

Other Skutterudite Information

References:

NAME( Sinkankas66) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

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

Skutterudite

(Co,Ni)As3-x
Dana No: 2.12.17.1 Strunz No: II/D.29-10
Locality:

Notes: