Valleriite Mineral Data

General Valleriite Information

Chemical Formula:

4(Fe,Cu)S•3(Mg,Al)(OH)2

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 475.92 gm

Magnesium 8.68 % Mg

Aluminum 7.37 % Al

Iron 25.82 % Fe

Copper 24.03 % Cu

Hydrogen 0.42 % H

Sulfur 26.95 % S

Oxygen 6.72 % O

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Fe²⁺_2.2Cu_1.8S₄Mg_1.7Al_1.3(OH)₂

Environment:

An alteration product of chalcopyrite in chromatites and dunites.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1870

Locality:

Aurora mine, Ljusnarsberg, and Kaveltorp, Kopparberg, Sweden. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for Goran Wallerius (Vallerius) (1683-1742), a Swedish mining geologist.

Name Pronunciation:

Valleriite + Pronunciation

Valleriite Image

Images:

Valleriite

Comments: Bronze-brown colored metallic valleriite, somewhat foliated.
Location: Pima Mine, near Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Images:

Valleriite Plumbopalladinite Cubanite Pentlandite

Comments: Polished Section image (PPL) of plumbopalladinite (Pl) with polarite Po), surrounded by a rim of isoferroplatinum (Iso) with cubanite (Cu), pentlandite (Pe), and valleriite (Va).
Location: Majak Mine, Talnakh, Norilsk, Ural, Russia. Scale: Picture Size 0.7 mm.
© Thomas Witzke

Valleriite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:8.99261

Cell Dimensions:

a = 3.792, c = 34.1, Z = 2; V = 424.64 Den(Calc)= 3.72

Crystal System:

Trigonal - Hexagonal ScalenohedralH-M Symbol (3 2/m) Space Group: R 3m

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 5.71(1), 11.4(1), 3.37(0.6),

Physical Properties of Valleriite

Cleavage:

{0001} Perfect

Color:

Bronze, Gray.

Density:

3.09 - 3.14, Average = 3.11

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Habit:

Nodular - Tuberose forms having irregular protuberances over the surface.

Hardness:

1-1.5 - Talc or a little harder

Luster:

Metallic

Optical Properties of Valleriite

RL Anisotrophism:

Strong, golden yellow.

RL Pleochroism:

Strong, pale yellow to deep brown.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Valleriite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	11.00	8.60
420 nm	10.80	9.60
440 nm	10.60	10.60
460 nm	10.40	11.60
480 nm	10.40	12.70
500 nm	10.30	13.80
520 nm	10.20	15.00
540 nm	10.20	16.20
560 nm	10.20	17.20
580 nm	10.20	18.10
600 nm	10.20	19.00
620 nm	10.20	19.70
640 nm	10.20	20.40
660 nm	10.30	21.10
680 nm	10.30	21.70
700 nm	10.40	22.30

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Valleriite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	90%	100%	180%	270%	360%	450%	540%	630%	720%	810%	860%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Valleriite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.58 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Valleriite =3.72 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.01
Boson Index = 0.99

Photoelectric:

PE_Valleriite= 20.16 barns/electron
U=PE_Valleriite x rElectron Density= 72.08 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

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

Valleriite Classification

Dana Class:

02.14.01.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(02.14)(Hydroxyl or Hydrated)

(02.14.01)Dana Group

02.14.01.01 Valleriite 4(Fe,Cu)S•3(Mg,Al)(OH)2 R 3m 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

02.FD.30 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.F - Sulfides of Arsenic, Alkalies; Sulfides with Halide, Oxide, Hydroxide, H2O

02.FD -With O, OH, H2O

02.FD.30 Haapalaite 2(Fe,Ni)S•1.6(Mg,Fe)(OH)2 R 3m ? 3 2/m

02.FD.30 Valleriite 4(Fe,Cu)S•3(Mg,Al)(OH)2 R 3m 3 2/m

02.FD.30 Yushkinite V1-xS•n(Mg,Al)(OH)2 P 3m1 3m

Other Valleriite Information

References:

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

See Also:

Links to other databases for Valleriite :
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
15 - Scandinavian mineral gallery

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

Valleriite

4(Fe,Cu)S•3(Mg,Al)(OH)2
Dana No: 02.14.01.01 Strunz No: 02.FD.30
Locality:

Notes: