Monday, 4 February 2013

Alabandite

11:40 am OHM

Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima Department, Peru
© fabreminerals

Formula: MnS
System: Isometric
Colour: Iron black, brown, ...
Hardness: 3½ - 4
Member of: Galena Group
Name: The name is derived from its supposed discovery locality at Alabanda, Aïdin, Turkey.

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Type Occurrence of Alabandite

Type Locality: Sacarîmb (Sãcãrâmb; Szekerembe; Nagyág), Hunedoara Co., Romania
Year of Discovery: 1832

Occurrences of Alabandite

Geological Setting: May occur in large quantities in epithermal polymetallic sulfide veins and especially in low-temperature manganese deposits. An uncommon constituent of a number of meteorites.

Physical Properties of Alabandite

Lustre: Sub-Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency): Opaque
Colour: Iron black, brown, greyish black, green; dull brown (tarnished)
Comment: gray-white in polished section; deep green to brown and red in thin slivers.
Streak: dark green, brown
Hardness (Mohs): 3½ - 4
Hardness (Vickers): VHN100=164 - 176 kg/mm2
Tenacity: Brittle
Cleavage: Perfect
on {100}
Fracture: Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured): 3.95 - 4.04 g/cm3
Density (calculated): 4.053 g/cm3

Chemical Properties of Alabandite

Formula: MnS
Essential elements: Mn, S
All elements listed in formula: Mn, S
Common Impurities: Fe,Mg,Co

Photos

This sample of alabandite is displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Alabandite is a sulfide mineral of manganese with the composition MnS. This sample is about 7x5 cm and is from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. It also contains chlorargyrite and calcite.

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