Algodonite - Encyclopedia

    Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
    Subclass : Arsenides
    Crystal System : Hexagonal
    Chemistry : MnS
    Rarity : Fairly common

Algodonite is a rare mineral found in copper and silver deposits. It owes its name to its site of discovery : the Algodones mine (Chile). It is generally massive, sometimes with a botryoidal or reniform appearance ; it is extremely rare in developed crystals and always very small in size. Agodonite has a strong metallic luster and a silvery-white to steel-gray color that tarnishes quickly in air to iridescent brown-black masses that stain fingers. Algodonite concentrates arsenic from copper deposits (polymetallic veins, "red-bed" type deposits, clusters in basic lavas), in which it associates with domeykite, its most faithful companion, cuprite, native copper and frequently native silver. Locally it is an accessory ore of copper, it is sometimes cut into cabochons.

Algodonite in the World

The deposits that have provided good samples are rare: copper mines in Michigan in the United States (Champion, Mohawk), Tsumeb (Namibia), Talmessi (Iran). Main photo © Christopher O'Neill.

Algodonite in France

In France, algodonite is known at Clue de Roua, near Daluis (Alpes-Maritimes). Right photo © Pascal Chollet.

Twinning

No twin known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fake reported for this mineral species.



Hardness :  4
Density : 8.38
Fracture : Sub-conchoidal
Trace : Black




TP : Opaque
RI : Not measurable
Birefringence : None
Optical character : None
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None


Solubility : Nitric acid

Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None

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