CYLINDRITE

    Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
    Subclass : Sulfides
    Crystal system : Triclinic
    Chemistry : Pb3Sn4FeSb2S14
    Rarity : Rare

Cylindrite is a complex sulfide of lead and tin. It is a mineral that is found almost exclusively in lead and tin hydrothermal veins. Its name comes from the Greek kulindros (roller) and reflects the cylindrical shape of its crystalline aggregates. Indeed, cylindrite is a mineral with a curious appearance, occurring in cylindrical aggregates and in columnar or tubular masses reaching up to 5 cm in length and 3 cm in diameter, sometimes grouped into spheres. It is black in color and has a strong metallic luster. It was an occasional tin ore in some Bolivian mines.

Main photo : Cylindrite from Itos Mine, Oruro, Bolivia © Gianfranco Ciccolini

Cylindrite in the World

Magnificent centimeter-sized specimens "in rolls" were discovered in the mines of Poopo (Oruro, Bolivia) and in Smirnowsk (Russia). It is also reported in Argentina at San Miguel and Mina Pirquitas, in Ireland at Navan Mine and in Japan at Suginomori Mine.

Right photo : Cylindrite from Santa Cruz Mine, Poopo, Oruro, Bolivia © Eugene & Sharon Cisneros

Cylindrite in France

Cylindrite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

No known twin for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes listed for this mineral species.


Hardness : 2.5
Density : 5.43 to 5.49
Fracture : Underterminated
Streak : Black

TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Nitric acid and hydrochloric acid


Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None

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