Emplectite - Encyclopedia
Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
Subclass : Sulfosalts
Crystal system : Orthorhombic
Chemistry : CuBiS2
Rarity : Rare
Emplectite is a rare sulphide of hydrothermal copper-bismuth metalliferous veins, in which it is associated with other minerals of these metals, notably wittichenite. Its name comes from the Greek emplektos (intertwined) because it is often found in association with quartz. It occurs in elongated to acicular prismatic crystals, striated parallel to [001], usually not very spectacular. Its luster is metallic, its grayish to tin-white color, becoming bronzed by oxidation. Mixite pseudomorphs are common. It is an occasional bismuth ore.
Main photo : Emplectite from the Clara Mine, Germany © Michael Förch
Emplectite in the World
Twinning
Contact twins are observable on polished sections.
Fakes and treatments
No fake listed for this mineral species.
Hardness : 2
Density : 6.38
Fracture : Irregular to conchoidal
Streak : Black
TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : Nitric acid
Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None