Wittichenite Mineral Data

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General Wittichenite Information

Chemical Formula:

Cu3BiS3

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 495.82 gm

Copper 38.45 % Cu

Bismuth 42.15 % Bi

Sulfur 19.40 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Cu₃BiS₃

Environment:

In hydrothermal veins with other Bi minerals.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1853

Locality:

Wittichen, Baden, Germany. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after its locality.

Name Pronunciation:

Wittichenite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 14305

Klaprothite - mixture with emplectite

PDF 43-1479

Wittichenite Image

Images:

Wittichenite

Comments: Black metallic wittichenite in white barite.
Location: Schmiedestollen, Wittichen, Black Forest, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Wittichenite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.7429:1:0.6488

Cell Dimensions:

a = 7.66, b = 10.31, c = 6.69, Z = 4; V = 528.34 Den(Calc)= 6.23

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - DisphenoidalH-M Symbol (2 2 2) Space Group: P 2₁2₁2₁

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.85(1), 3.08(0.8), 4.55(0.4),

Crystal Structure:

Mouse
drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
Keyboard
S - Stereo Pair on/off
H - Help Screen
I - Data Info
A - Atoms On/Off
P - Polyhedra On/Off
B - Bonds On/Off
Help on Above

Kocman V , Nuffield E W , Acta Crystallographica, Section B , 29 (1973) p.2528-2535, The crystal structure of wittichenite, Cu3BiS3, Locality: Daniel Mine, Wittichen, Baden, Germany

Physical Properties of Wittichenite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Lead gray, Bronze, Steel gray, Tin white.

Density:

6.3 - 6.7, Average = 6.5

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Fracture:

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

Habit:

Columnar - Forms columns

Habit:

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

Habit:

Nodular - Tuberose forms having irregular protuberances over the surface.

Hardness:

2.5 - Finger Nail

Luster:

Metallic

Streak:

black

Optical Properties of Wittichenite

RL Anisotrophism:

Weak, shades of dark brown.

RL Color:

White, creamy to grayish.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Wittichenite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	35.00	36.90
420 nm	34.10	35.80
440 nm	33.20	34.70
460 nm	32.70	34.00
480 nm	32.60	34.10
500 nm	32.90	34.70
520 nm	33.20	35.00
540 nm	33.50	35.20
560 nm	33.60	35.30
580 nm	33.50	35.30
600 nm	33.20	35.20
620 nm	33.00	35.20
640 nm	32.80	35.20
660 nm	32.40	35.00
680 nm	31.70	34.60
700 nm	30.80	34.00

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

Calculated Properties of Wittichenite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=5.48 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Wittichenite =6.23 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.001455567
Boson Index = 0.998544433

Photoelectric:

PE_Wittichenite= 790.87 barns/electron
U=PE_Wittichenite x rElectron Density=4,332.73 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

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

Wittichenite Classification

Dana Class:

03.04.08.01 (03)Sulfides - Sulfosalts

(03.04)where z/y > 3 - (A+)i (A++)j [By Cz], A=metals, B=semi-metals, C=non-metals

(03.04.08)Dana Group

03.04.08.01 Wittichenite Cu3BiS3 P 2₁2₁2₁ 2 2 2

03.04.08.02 Skinnerite Cu3SbS3 P 2₁/c 2/m

03.04.08.03 Moeloite! Pb6Sb6S14(S3) P 2₁221 2 2 2

Strunz Class:

02.GA.20 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.G - Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites

02.GA -Neso-sulfarsenites, etc., without additional S

02.GA.20 Skinnerite Cu3SbS3 P 2₁/c 2/m

02.GA.20 Wittichenite Cu3BiS3 P 2₁2₁2₁ 2 2 2

Other Wittichenite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Wittichenite :
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 Wittichenite here :
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Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Español

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

Wittichenite

Cu3BiS3
Dana No: 03.04.08.01 Strunz No: 02.GA.20
Locality:

Notes: