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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.