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Northstarite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Northstarite
Formula:
Pb6(Te4+O3)5(S6+O3S2-)
Colour:
beige
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
6.888 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
From the type locality
New structure type. First combination of tellurate and thiosulfate groups among minerals. Chemically somewhat resembles adanite, schieffelinite, and to some extent also eztlite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
53865
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:53865:1
IMA Classification of Northstarite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Pb2+6(Te4+O3)5(S6+O3S2-)
Approval year:
2019
First published:
2020
Classification of Northstarite
7.JA.20
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
J : Thiosulfates
A : Thiosulfates of Pb
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
J : Thiosulfates
A : Thiosulfates of 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nsr | 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 Northstarite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Beige
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
6.888 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Northstarite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Northstarite
Mindat Formula:
Pb6(Te4+O3)5(S6+O3S2-)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Northstarite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
P63
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.253(1) Å, c = 11.6747(8) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.139
Unit Cell V:
1,062.87 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.12 Å | (21) |
| 3.098 Å | (100) |
| 2.957 Å | (74) |
| 2.140 Å | (44) |
| 1.940 Å | (13) |
| 1.733 Å | (41) |
| 1.706 Å | (18) |
| 1.626 Å | (31) |
Reference:
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Northstarite
General Appearance of Type Material:
short prisms with pyramidal terminations, up to about 1 mm in length
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the mineralogical collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA, catalogue number 67291.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Upper dumps, North Star Mine, Mammoth, Tintic Mining District, East Tintic Mountains, Utah, USA