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

Polysynthetic twins are known but only visible in polished section.

No fakes listed for this mineral species.