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Sabatierite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Sabatierite
Formula:
TlCu6Se4
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
6.78 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Germain Sabatier (b. 1923 - January 28, 2021), French mineralogist, and director of research at C.N.R.S., Orléans,. France.
Thalcusite-Sabatierite Group
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3492
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3492:6
IMA Classification of Sabatierite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Cu6TlSe4
Approval year:
1976
First published:
1978
Classification of Sabatierite
2.BD.45
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
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
2.4.12.2
2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
3.5.13
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Sab | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Sab | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Sabatierite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN15=54 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
6.78 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Sabatierite
Anisotropism:
Strong, with undulatory extinction, colors in pale gray-blue to dark yellow-brown.
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 420nm | 31.0% | 33.2% |
| 440nm | 30.9% | 34.3% |
| 460nm | 30.6% | 33.8% |
| 480nm | 30.1% | 33.0% |
| 500nm | 29.5% | 32.2% |
| 520nm | 28.7% | 31.5% |
| 540nm | 27.9% | 30.6% |
| 560nm | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 580nm | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 600nm | 25.3% | 27.2% |
| 620nm | 24.5% | 26.0% |
| 640nm | 23.8% | 24.8% |
| 660nm | 23.0% | 23.8% |
| 680nm | 22.2% | 22.7% |
| 700nm | 21.3% | 21.6% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 34.3%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Bluish gray with slight cream tint.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
In pale brown to pale blue.
Chemistry of Sabatierite
Mindat Formula:
TlCu6Se4
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Sabatierite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.986(4) Å, b = 5.624(4) Å, c = 9.778(8) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.709 : 1 : 1.739
Unit Cell V:
219.20 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Comment:
Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.089 Å | (100) |
| 2.706 Å | (70) |
| 1.991 Å | (70) |
| 2.445 Å | (60) |
| 1.847 Å | (60) |
| 3.987 Å | (50) |
| 2.525 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
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 Sabatierite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Radiating polycrystalline aggregates, to 0.05 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Sabatierite
Other Language Names for Sabatierite
Relationship of Sabatierite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Bukovite Group:
| Bukovite | (Cu3Fe)Σ4Tl2Se4 | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm |
| Murunskite | K2(Cu,Fe)4S4 | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm |
| Thalcusite | Tl2Cu3FeS4 | Tet. |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 6 photos of Sabatierite associated with Berzelianite | Cu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12) |
| 5 photos of Sabatierite associated with Clausthalite | PbSe |
| 4 photos of Sabatierite associated with Eucairite | AgCuSe |
| 3 photos of Sabatierite associated with Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| 2 photos of Sabatierite associated with 'Pitchblende' | UO2 |
| 1 photo of Sabatierite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Sabatierite associated with Tyrrellite | Cu(Co,Ni)2Se4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.BD. | Vrančiceite | Cu10Hg3S8 |
| 2.BD. | 'UM2004-33-S:AgCuHgSe' | (Ag,Cu)8Hg3(S,Se)7 |
| 2.BD.05 | Imiterite | Ag2HgS2 |
| 2.BD.10 | Gortdrumite | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 |
| 2.BD.15 | Danielsite | (Cu,Ag)14HgS8 |
| 2.BD.15 | Balkanite | Cu9Ag5HgS8 |
| 2.BD.20 | Donharrisite | Ni3HgS3 |
| 2.BD.25 | Carlinite | Tl2S |
| 2.BD.30 | Bukovite | (Cu3Fe)Σ4Tl2Se4 |
| 2.BD.30 | Thalcusite | Tl2Cu3FeS4 |
| 2.BD.30 | Murunskite | K2(Cu,Fe)4S4 |
| 2.BD.35 | Rohaite | (Tl,Pb,K)2Cu8.7Sb2S4 |
| 2.BD.40 | Chalcothallite | Tl2(Cu,Fe)6SbS4 |
| 2.BD.50 | Crookesite | Cu7(Tl, Ag)Se4 |
| 2.BD.55 | Brodtkorbite | Cu2HgSe2 |
Other Information
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 Sabatierite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3492.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Sabatierite
Reference List:
Johan, Zdenek, Kvacek, Milan, Picot, Paul (1978) La sabatierite, un nouveau séléniure de cuivre et de thallium. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 101 (5) 557-560 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1978.7227
Fleischer, Michael, Burns, Roger G., Cabri, Louis J., Chao, George Y., Hogarth, D. D., Pabst, Adolf (1979) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 64 (11-12) 1329-1334 pp.1331-1332
Localities for Sabatierite
Showing 5 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Czech Republic | |
| Škácha et al. (2017) |
| American Mineralogist 73:933 +2 other references |
Germany | |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Simon et al. (1997) |
Sweden | |
| Jonsson et al. (2014) |
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Bukov Mine, Rožná deposit, Rožná, Žďár nad Sázavou District, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic