ROUTHIERITE

    Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
    Subclass : Sulfosalts
    Crystal system : Tetragonal
    Chemistry : (Tl,Cu,Ag)HgAsS3
    Rarity : Very rare

Routhierite is one of the thallium and arsenic sulfosalts that occurs in low-temperature hydrothermal deposits, sometimes within hydrothermalized dolomites. It was named in honor of Pierre Routhier, Professor of Applied Geology at the University of Paris VI. Routhierite is a reddish-black mineral with a metallic luster that forms xenomorphic grains. It occupies millimeter-sized veinlets that crisscross black dolomites, accompanied by quartz, stibnite, pyrite, orpiment and many mineralogical rarities including other thallium sulfosalts (laffittite, chabourneite, pierrotite). Its identification requires advanced analytical means.

Main photo : Routhierite in polished section from Jas-Roux, Hautes-Alpes, France © Vincent Bourgoin

Routhierite in the World

This extremely rare mineral was observed in the large Canadian gold deposit of Hemlo (Ontario). It is formed by the action of a hydrothermal event, rich in arsenic and thallium.

Routhierite in France

In France, routhierite discovered in the hydrothermal deposits of Jas-Roux at the foot of the Chabournéou Glacier in the French Hautes-Alpes.

Twinning

Polysynthetic twins are known but only visible in polished section.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes listed for this mineral species.


Hardness : 3.5
Density : 5.83
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : Undetermined

TP : Translucent to opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None