Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Colquechaca, Potosi, Bolivie
SIZE : 6.5 x 4 cm

This sample shows gray canfieldite (silver and antimonides sulfide mineral) whith a metallic luster. The canfieldite is massive but one can also see some edges and facets of pseudo-octahedric crystals. This sample measures 6.5 x 4 cm.

Coming from Colquechaca, Potosi silver-bearing district, Bolivia, this specimen was acquired thanks to support from Total. It is kept in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Canfieldite

HISTORY : Species dedicated to Frederick Alexander Canfield (1849-1926), American mining engineer and collector

Species first described in 1893 by Samuel Lewis Penfield (1856-1906), professor of mineralogy at the Yale University (USA)

Type-locality: Avilargus, la Paz, Bolivia

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Ag8 Sn S6
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Orthorhombic
COLOR : Steel gray, reddish
DIAPHANIETY : Opaque
LUSTER : Metallic
STREAK : Black-gray
MORPHOLOGY : Crystals showing pseudo-octahedra and dodecahedra combinations
HARDNESS : 2,5
DENSITY : 6,311

CHEMICAL CLASS : II - Sulfides, arsenides,
GROUP : Argyrodite
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 2/B.08-20
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 2.BA.45

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Canfieldite

Canfieldite

MNHN N°200.168

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