Mawsonite
| Mawsonite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Sulfosalt minerals |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Cu6Fe2SnS8 |
| Strunz classification | 2.CB.20 |
| Crystal symmetry |
Tetragonal scalenohedral H-M symbol: (42m) Space group: P4m2 |
| Unit cell | a = 7.603 Å, c = 5.358 Å, Z = 1; V = 309.72 Å3 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Brownish orange |
| Crystal habit | Exsolution grains within bornite |
| Crystal system | Tetragonal |
| Mohs scale hardness | 3.5-4 |
| Luster | Metallic |
| Diaphaneity | Opaque |
| Specific gravity | 4.65 (calculated) |
| Pleochroism | Strong |
| Common impurities | Zn,Se |
| Other characteristics | Magnetic |
| References | [1][2][3] |
Mawsonite is a brownish orange sulfosalt mineral, containing copper, iron, tin, and sulfur: Cu6Fe2SnS8.[1]
Discovery and occurrence
It was first described in 1965 for occurrences in the Royal George mine, Swinton, Tingha, Hardinge County, New South Wales; and the North Lyell mine, Mount Lyell Mines, Queenstown district, Tasmania. It was named for Australian geologist and Antarctic explorer, Sir Douglas Mawson (1882–1958).[1] It occurs within hydrothermal copper deposits in altered volcanic rocks. It also occurs in skarn deposits and as disseminations in altered granites. It occurs in association with bornite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite, digenite, idaite, stannite, stannoidite, pyrrhotite, pentlandite, tennantite, enargite, luzonite–famatinite, kiddcreekite, mohite, native bismuth, galena and sphalerite.[2]