Mineralpedia Details for Wittichenite
Wittichenite
Named for its type locality at Wittichen in the Black Forest of Germany. Wittichenite occurs with other bismuth minerals in hydrothermal veins such as at Wittichen, with Cu-Fe sulfides as at Seawaith Tarn, England, and with secondary uranium minerals and selenides of copper, lead, and bismuth as at Kletno, Poland. Wittichenite is a widely distributed mineral.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/wittichenite.pdf
- Formula
- Cu3BiS3
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal Habit
- Massive - Granular, Columnar, Nodular
- Cleavage
- None, None, None
- Luster
- Metallic
- Color
- lead gray, bronze, steel gray, tin white
- Streak
- black
- Class
- Orthorhombic - Disphenoidal
- Fracture
- Brittle
- Hardness
- 2.5
- WebMineral
- View Wittichenite
- Mindat
- View Wittichenite
Wittichenite from Cattle Grid pit, Mt Gunson mine, Pernatty Lagoon, South Australia, Australia
A single 1cm complex Wittichenite crystal with superb, highly reflective faces on the front side.
Well-formed crystal to 4.5mm on matrix.
Superb 9mm crystal with complex faces and showing a bronzy iridescence.
Wittichenite from Daniel mine, Wittichen, Schenkenzell, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Special Info
- Type Locality
Small black tabular crystals to 3mm in Baryte. Type Locality. Ex. Bill Pinch collection.
