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Franckeite

MNHN N°205.117

visu_57 infos

FROM : Mine San José, district de Oruro, Bolivia
SIZE : 11.5 x 9 cm

general description

This sample measures 11.5 x 9 cm and has grayish black crystals of franckeite with an average size of 0.3 cm.

The crystals are tabular and striated with a metallic lustre. They are united as nearly spherical aggregates with an average diametre of 2 cm.

It comes from the mineral deposit of San José in Bolivia. Acquired thanks to support from Total, it is today 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.

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The Species page

Identity card

SPECIE : Franckeite

HISTORY : Species dedicated to Carl et Ernest Francke, mining engineers

Species first described in 1893 by Alfred Wilhelm Stelzner (1840-1895), German geologist

Type-locality : Las Animas district, Chocaya, Bolivia

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Pb5Sn3Sb2S14
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Triclinic
COLOR : Black grayish
DIAPHANIETY : Opaque
LUSTER : Metallic
STREAK : Black grayish
MORPHOLOGY : Fine crystals, striated, tabular, massive
HARDNESS : 2,5-3,0
DENSITY : 5,88

CHEMICAL CLASS : II - Sulfides, arsenides
GROUP : Cylindrite - franckeite series
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 2/C.17-70
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 2.HB.20

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