JORDANITE

    Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
    Subclass : Sulfosalts
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : Pb14(As,Sb)6S23
    Rarity : Rare

Jordanite is a rare lead sulfoarsenide, present in certain lead-zinc deposits, particularly those located in carbonate cap rocks. More rarely, it is found in carbonate rocks hydrothermalized by contact metamorphism (marble and dolomitic marbles). The presence of jordanite in the ore induces the formation of lead arsenates (particularly mimetite) in outcrops. Jordanite forms a continuous series with geocronite, its antimoniferous equivalent. It was named in honor of H. Jordan of Saarbruck in Germany who provided the definition samples. Jordanite forms pseudohexagonal tabular crystals, lead gray, opaque with a metallic luster, up to 4 cm. It also exists in fibroradiated masses, and in banding alternating with galena and sphalerite. It is a marginal lead ore.

Main photo : 4 cm jordanite from Lengenbach, Valais, Switzerland © Rock Currier

2 cm jordanite from Pollone Mine, Tuscany, Italy © Rob Lavinsky
Jordanite of Fantiscritti, Carrara, Tuscany, Italy © Matteo Chinellato
Twinned jordanite & pyrite from Lengenbach, Valais, Switzerland © Uwe Haubenreisser
Twinned jordanite from Lengenbach, Valais, Switzerland © Stephan Wolfsried

Jordanite in the World

Jordanite formed imposing masses in the deposits of Djebel Allouf (Tunisia) and Wiesloch, near Heidelberg (Germany). The metamorphic marbles and dolomites of Lengenbach (Switzerland) and Carrara (Tuscany, Italy) are famous for their rare but superb centimeter-sized crystals of jordanite, embedded in calcite or dolomite geodes.

Jordanite in France

In France, jordanite has been reported at the Cougnasses mine (Hautes-Alpes), at Rouvergue near Alès (Gard) and at Ambernac (Charente).

Twinning

Twins are common on {001}, they can be lamellar on {-201}, rare on {-101} and on {101}.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 3
Density : 6.33 to 6.43
Fracture : Conchoidal
Streak : Black

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

Solubility : Nitric acid

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None

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