Rathite Mineral Data

General Rathite Information

Chemical Formula:

Pb8Pb4-x(Tl2As2)x(Ag2As2)As16S40

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 5,369.42 gm

Thallium 1.90 % Tl

Silver 4.02 % Ag

Arsenic 25.81 % As

Lead 44.38 % Pb

Sulfur 23.89 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Pb_11.5Tl_0.5Ag₂As_18.5S₄₀

Environment:

In crystalline dolomite with other Pb-As-S minerals.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1896

Locality:

Binnental, Switzerland. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for Gerhard von Rath (1830-1888), Professor of Mineralogy, Bonn, Germany.

Name Pronunciation:

Rathite

Synonym:

ICSD 26778

PDF 9-426

Rathite-I - rathite or dufrenoysite

Wiltshireite

gamma-Rathite

Rathite Image

Images:

Rathite

Comments: Gray metallic foliated rathite, with pyrite in sugary dolomite.
Location: Lengenbach Quarry, Binnental, Valais, Switzerland. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Images:

Rathite

Comments: Black prismatic crystal of rathite with glossy surface and red realgar on white dolomite.
Location: Lengenbach quarry, Binntal, Valais, Switzerland. Scale: Crystal length 5 mm.
© Walter Gabriel

Rathite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.0661:1:3.1524

Cell Dimensions:

a = 8.496, b = 7.969, c = 25.122, Z = 1; beta = 100.704° V = 1,671.28 Den(Calc)= 5.33

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 2₁/n

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.75(1), 3.6(0.8), 3.39(0.7),

Crystal Structure:

Mouse
drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
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S - Stereo Pair on/off
H - Help Screen
I - Data Info
A - Atoms On/Off
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Engel P , Nowacki W , Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie , 131 (1970) p.356-375, Die kristallstruktur von rathit-II [As25 S56|PbVII6.5 PBIX12], Locality: Lengenbach, Binnatal, Switzerland

Physical Properties of Rathite

Cleavage:

{100} Perfect, {010} Parting

Color:

Lead gray.

Density:

5.41

Diaphaneity:

Nearly opaque

Fracture:

Sub Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by semi-curving surfaces.

Habit:

Prismatic - Crystals Shaped like Slender Prisms (e.g. tourmaline).

Hardness:

3 - Calcite

Luster:

Metallic

Streak:

dark brown

Optical Properties of Rathite

RL Anisotrophism:

Intense, olive-green or yellow and bluish violet.

RL Color:

White with deep red internal reflections.

RL Pleochroism:

Strong.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Rathite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	38.60	42.90
420 nm	37.80	42.20
440 nm	37.00	41.50
460 nm	36.20	41.00
480 nm	35.50	40.50
500 nm	34.90	40.00
520 nm	34.30	39.60
540 nm	33.80	39.20
560 nm	33.30	38.60
580 nm	32.80	38.00
600 nm	32.20	37.10
620 nm	31.60	36.20
640 nm	30.80	35.40
660 nm	30.00	34.70
680 nm	29.20	34.10
700 nm	28.40	33.60

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Rathite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	30%	60%	90%	100%	120%	150%	180%	210%	240%	270%	280%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Rathite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.62 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Rathite =5.33 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.09
Boson Index = 0.91

Photoelectric:

PE_Rathite= 849.12 barns/electron
U=PE_Rathite x rElectron Density=3,924.49 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

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

Rathite Classification

Dana Class:

03.07.12.01 (03)Sulfides - Sulfosalts

(03.07)where z/y = 2 - (A+)i (A++)j [By Cz], A=metals, B=semi-metals, C=non-metals

(03.07.12)Dana Group

03.07.12.01 Rathite Pb8Pb4-x(Tl2As2)x(Ag2As2)As16S40 P 2₁/n 2/m

Strunz Class:

02.HC.05d 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.H - Sulfosalts of SnS Archetype

02.HC -With only Pb

02.HC.05d Dufrenoysite Pb2As2S5 P 2₁/m 2/m

02.HC.05d Rathite Pb8Pb4-x(Tl2As2)x(Ag2As2)As16S40 P 2₁/n 2/m

02.HC.05d Veenite Pb2(Sb,As)2S5 P 2₁cn mm2

Other Rathite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic2) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990, AmMin, v 89, p 471) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

See Also:

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

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

Rathite

Pb8Pb4-x(Tl2As2)x(Ag2As2)As16S40
Dana No: 03.07.12.01 Strunz No: 02.HC.05d
Locality:

Notes: