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Butianite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Butianite
Formula:
Ni6SnS2
Specific Gravity:
7.62 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Named after the Chinese words “Bu Tian”, meaning patching the sky. It is derived from the story of “Nu Wa Bu Tian” in ancient Chinese mythology. The goddess Nu Wa patched the fractured wall of Heaven to save the early World after Pan Gu’s creation. See also nuwaite.
Type Locality:
The Sn analogue of nuwaite. Compare the chemically similar 'UM1981-20-S:NiSbSnTe'. Beside the latter, there is currently no other known natural Ni-Sn sulphide.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
47863
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:47863:2
Similar Names
| Buchonite | A rock subtype |
IMA Classification of Butianite
Approved
Approval year:
2016
First published:
2018
Approval history:
Approved in 2016 (IMA 2016-028).
Classification of Butianite
2.LA.65
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
L : Unclassified Sulfosalts
A : Without essential Pb
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
L : Unclassified Sulfosalts
A : Without essential Pb
Mineral Symbols
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 |
|---|---|---|
| But | 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 Butianite
Transparency:
Opaque
Density:
7.62 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Chemistry of Butianite
Mindat Formula:
Ni6SnS2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Butianite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I4/mmm
Setting:
I4/mmm
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.650 Å, c = 18.141 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 4.97
Unit Cell V:
241.7 ų
Z:
2
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.535 Å | (100) |
| 3.023 Å | (12) |
| 1.963 Å | (14) |
| 1.825 Å | (38) |
| 1.703 Å | (10) |
| 1.693 Å | (30) |
| 1.290 Å | (12) |
| 1.241 Å | (11) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
| 6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
Type Occurrence of Butianite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Grains, 0.5 to 1.4 μm in width and 1-8 μm long.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical collections of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, USA (registration number USNM 7616)
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
(Ni5.93Fe0.13)(Sn0.52Ge0.41)(S1.56Te0.45)
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
| Ni | 62.1 % |
|---|---|
| Sn | 8.9 % |
| Te | 10.3 % |
| S | 8.9 % |
| Ge | 5.3 % |
| Fe | 1.3 % |
| Total: | 96.8 % |
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Very late-stage, vapor-deposited, alteration products in the Allende CV3 carbonaceous chondrite.
Synonyms of Butianite
Other Language Names for Butianite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.LA. | Thunderbayite | TlAg3Au3Sb7S6 |
| 2.LA. | Auerbakhite | MnTl2As2S5 |
| 2.LA. | Biagioniite | Tl2SbS2 |
| 2.LA. | Ferrofettelite | [Ag6As2S7][Ag10FeAs2S8] |
| 2.LA. | Gladkovskyite | MnTlAs3S6 |
| 2.LA.10 | Dervillite | Ag2AsS2 |
| 2.LA.15 | Daomanite | CuPtAsS2 |
| 2.LA.20 | Vaughanite | TlHgSb4S7 |
| 2.LA.25 | Criddleite | TlAg2Au3Sb10S10 |
| 2.LA.30 | Fettelite | [Ag6As2S7][Ag10HgAs2S8] |
| 2.LA.35 | Chaméanite | (Cu,Fe)4As(Se,S)4 |
| 2.LA.40 | Arcubisite | Ag6CuBiS4 |
| 2.LA.45 | Mgriite | Cu3AsSe3 |
| 2.LA.50 | Benleonardite | [Ag6(Sb,As)2S6Te][Ag9Cu(S,Te)2Te2] |
| 2.LA.55 | Tsnigriite | Ag9SbTe3S3 |
| 2.LA.60 | Borovskite | Pd3SbTe4 |
| 2.LA.65 | Jonassonite | AuBi5S4 |
| 2.LA.65 | Nuwaite | Ni6GeS2 |
| 2.LA.70 | Raberite | Tl5Ag4As6SbS15 |
| 2.LA.75 | Spaltiite | Tl2Cu2As2S5 |
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 Butianite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-47863.html
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References for Butianite
Reference List:
Hålenius, U., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2016) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2016, CNMNC Newsletter 32. Mineralogical Magazine, 80 (5) 915-922 doi:10.1180/minmag.2016.080.084
Localities for Butianite
Showing 1 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.
Mexico (TL) | |
| Hålenius et al. (2016) |
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Allende meteorite, Pueblito de Allende, Chihuahua, Mexico