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Chalcothallite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Photos of Chalcothallite (6)Discuss Chalcothallite

Chalcothallite Gallery Search Photos of Chalcothallite

Edit Chalcothallite Add Synonym Edit CIF structures Clear Cache

Chalcothallite, etc.

Taseq Slope, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland

Chalcothallite, etc.

Taseq Slope, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland

Chalcothallite, etc.

Taseq Slope, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland

Chalcothallite, etc.

Taseq Slope, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland

Chalcothallite, etc.

Taseq Slope, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland

Chalcothallite, etc.

Taseq Slope, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland

Chalcothallite, etc.

Taseq Slope, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland

Chalcothallite, etc.

Taseq Slope, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland

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About ChalcothalliteHide

Formula:

Tl₂(Cu,Fe)₆SbS₄

Colour:

Lead Grey to iron black

Lustre:

Metallic

Hardness:

2 - 2½

Specific Gravity:

6.6

Crystal System:

Tetragonal

Name:

For the chemical composition.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Mount Nakkaalaaq, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland

This page provides mineralogical data about Chalcothallite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

978

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:978:8

IMA Classification of ChalcothalliteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

(Tl¹⁺,K)₂(Cu¹⁺,Cu²⁺,Fe²⁺,Ag¹⁺)_6.3Sb^3-S^2-₄

Approval year:

1966

First published:

1967

Type description reference:

Semenov, E.I., Sørensen, H., Bessmertnaja, M.S., Novorossova, L.E. (1967) Chalcothallite – a new sulphide of copper and thallium from the Ilímaussaq alkaline intrusion, South Greenland. Meddelelser om Grønland, 181(5), 13-26.

Classification of ChalcothalliteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

2.BD.40

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl

Dana 8th ed.:

3.2.7.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
2 : ø = 4

Hey's CIM Ref.:

5.5.16

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
5 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Tl

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference for Standard
Ccth	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of ChalcothalliteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Lead Grey to iron black

Comment:

Iridescent tarnish

Streak:

Black

Hardness:

2 - 2½ on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₅₀=68 - 76 kg/mm² - Vickers

Comment:

VHN on (001)

Tenacity:

Waxy

Cleavage:

Perfect
perfect on {001}
indistinct on {100} {010}

Comment:

Plastic, tectonically deformed.

Density:

6.6 g/cm³ (Measured) 6.74 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of ChalcothalliteHide

Anisotropism:

Distinct in orange to red-browns

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁ (%)	R₂ (%)
400nm	27.6%	31.0%
420nm	27.1%	30.5%
440nm	26.5%	30.1%
460nm	26.0%	29.6%
480nm	25.5%	29.2%
500nm	25.1%	28.8%
520nm	24.9%	28.4%
540nm	24.7%	28.1%
560nm	24.6%	27.7%
580nm	24.7%	27.3%
600nm	24.7%	26.9%
620nm	24.8%	26.6%
640nm	24.8%	26.2%
660nm	24.8%	26.0%
680nm	24.9%	25.7%
700nm	24.9%	25.5%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 31.0%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in red

Colour in reflected light:

Creamy white to light gray with brownish creamy tint

Pleochroism:

Visible

Chemistry of ChalcothalliteHide

Mindat Formula:

Tl₂(Cu,Fe)₆SbS₄

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Tl	39.302 %
Cu	36.659 %
S	12.332 %
Sb	11.707 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Cu, Fe, S, Sb, Tl - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Pb,Se

Crystallography of ChalcothalliteHide

Crystal System:

Tetragonal

Class (H-M):

4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal

Space Group:

I4/mmm

Setting:

I4/mmm

Cell Parameters:

a = 3.827(1) Å, c = 34.280(1) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 8.957

Unit Cell V:

502.06 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Lamellar aggregatesd to 2cm

Twinning:

Fine grid of lamellae parallel to (110) and (110)

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4

View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0014710	Chalcothallite	Makovicky E, Johan Z, Karup-Moller S (1980) New data on bukovite, thalcusite, chalcothallite and rohaite Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Abhandlungen 138 122-146		1980	Ilimaussaq massif, Greenland	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Chalcothallite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Makovicky E'
'Johan Z'
'Karup-Moller S'
_journal_name_full 'Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Abhandlungen'
_journal_volume 138 
_journal_year 1980
_journal_page_first 122
_journal_page_last 146
_publ_section_title
;
 New data on bukovite, thalcusite, chalcothallite and rohaite
;
_database_code_amcsd 0014710
_chemical_compound_source 'Ilimaussaq massif, Greenland'
_chemical_formula_sum '(Tl1.8 K.2) Cu5.51 Fe.72 Ag.12 Sb S4'
_cell_length_a 3.827
_cell_length_b 3.827
_cell_length_c 34.280
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 502.062
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      6.807
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'I 4/m m m'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,z'
  '1/2-y,1/2-x,1/2+z'
  'y,x,-z'
  '1/2+y,1/2+x,1/2-z'
  'y,-x,-z'
  '1/2+y,1/2-x,1/2-z'
  '-y,x,z'
  '1/2-y,1/2+x,1/2+z'
  'x,-y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  'x,y,-z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  'y,x,z'
  '1/2+y,1/2+x,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,-z'
  '1/2-y,1/2-x,1/2-z'
  '-y,x,-z'
  '1/2-y,1/2+x,1/2-z'
  'y,-x,z'
  '1/2+y,1/2-x,1/2+z'
  '-x,y,z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  'x,-y,-z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Tl   0.00000   0.00000   0.14830   0.90000   0.02700
K   0.00000   0.00000   0.14830   0.10000   0.02700
Cu1   0.00000   0.50000   0.05700   0.86000   0.02200
Fe1   0.00000   0.50000   0.05700   0.12000   0.02200
Ag1   0.00000   0.50000   0.05700   0.02000   0.02200
Cu2   0.00000   0.50000   0.25000   0.86000   0.03700
Fe2   0.00000   0.50000   0.25000   0.12000   0.03700
Ag2   0.00000   0.50000   0.25000   0.02000   0.03700
Cu3   0.50000   0.50000   0.00000   0.35000   0.03100
Sb   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000   1.00000   0.01700
S1   0.50000   0.50000   0.09300   1.00000 ?
S2   0.50000   0.50000   0.21400   1.00000   0.04500

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
2.447 Å	(100)
1.913 Å	(100)
3.803 Å	(70)
3.015 Å	(70)
3.630 Å	(50)
2.704 Å	(50)
2.580 Å	(50)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of ChalcothalliteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Mount Nakkaalaaq, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland

General Appearance of Type Material:

Lamellar agrgegates tp to 3x3x0.5 cm in ussingite.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

National School of Mines, Paris, France.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Ussingite veins in poikilitic sodalite syenite.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Analcime	Epistolite	Galena	Microcline	Molybdenite
Natrolite	Niobophyllite	Sphalerite	Tugtupite	Ussingite

Reference:

Synonyms of ChalcothalliteHide

IMA1966-008

Other Language Names for ChalcothalliteHide

Dutch:Chalcothalliet

German:Chalkothallit
Chalcothallit

Russian:Халькоталлит

Simplified Chinese:硫锑铊铁铜矿

Spanish:Chalcothallita

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:

4 photos of Chalcothallite associated with Ussingite	Na₂AlSi₃O₈OH
3 photos of Chalcothallite associated with Cuprostibite	Cu₂(Sb,Tl)
2 photos of Chalcothallite associated with Aegirine	NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆
1 photo of Chalcothallite associated with Sphalerite	ZnS
1 photo of Chalcothallite associated with Sodalite	Na₄(Si₃Al₃)O₁₂Cl
1 photo of Chalcothallite associated with Natrolite	Na₂Al₂Si₃O₁₀ · 2H₂O
1 photo of Chalcothallite associated with Steenstrupine-(Ce)	Na₁₄Mn²⁺₂Fe³⁺₂Ce₆Zr(Si₆O₁₈)₂(PO₄)₆(PO₃OH)(OH)₂ · 2H₂O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.BD.	Vrančiceite	Cu₁₀Hg₃S₈	Tric. 1 : P1
2.BD.	'UM2004-33-S:AgCuHgSe'	(Ag,Cu)₈Hg₃(S,Se)₇
2.BD.05	Imiterite	Ag₂HgS₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/c
2.BD.10	Gortdrumite	Cu₂₄Fe₂Hg₉S₂₃	Tric. 1 : P1
2.BD.15	Danielsite	(Cu,Ag)₁₄HgS₈	Orth.
2.BD.15	Balkanite	Cu₉Ag₅HgS₈	Mon. 2/m : P2/c
2.BD.20	Donharrisite	Ni₃HgS₃	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.BD.25	Carlinite	Tl₂S	Trig. 3 : R3
2.BD.30	Bukovite	(Cu₃Fe)_Σ4Tl₂Se₄	Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.BD.30	Thalcusite	Tl₂Cu₃FeS₄	Tet.
2.BD.30	Murunskite	K₂(Cu,Fe)₄S₄	Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.BD.35	Rohaite	(Tl,Pb,K)₂Cu_8.7Sb₂S₄	Orth.
2.BD.45	Sabatierite	TlCu₆Se₄	Orth.
2.BD.50	Crookesite	Cu₇(Tl, Ag)Se₄	Tet.
2.BD.55	Brodtkorbite	Cu₂HgSe₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for ChalcothalliteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-978.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Look for Chalcothallite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

Buy from D. Joyce minerals

References for ChalcothalliteHide

Reference List:

Fleischer, Michael (1968) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 53 (9-10) 1775-1780

Fleischer, Michael, Chao, George Y., Mandarino, J. A. (1979) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 64 (5-6) 652-659 p.658

Makovicky, E., Johan, Z., Karup-Møller, S. (1980) New data on bukovite, thalcusite, chalcothallite and rohaite. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen: 138: 122-146.

(2005) Chalcothallite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for ChalcothalliteHide

Showing 4 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

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Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Greenland
Kujalleq ⓘ Ilímaussaq complex	Petersen (2001)
ⓘ Kuannersuit Plateau (Kvanefjeld)	Karup-Møller et al. (2001)
ⓘ Mount Nakkaalaaq (TL)	Semenov et al. (1967)
ⓘ Taseq Slope	Karup-Møller et al. (2001)

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Chalcothallite

About ChalcothalliteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of ChalcothalliteHide

Classification of ChalcothalliteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of ChalcothalliteHide

Optical Data of ChalcothalliteHide

Chemistry of ChalcothalliteHide

Crystallography of ChalcothalliteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of ChalcothalliteHide

Synonyms of ChalcothalliteHide

Other Language Names for ChalcothalliteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for ChalcothalliteHide

References for ChalcothalliteHide

Localities for ChalcothalliteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide