Bravoite - Encyclopedia
Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
Subclass : Sulfides
Crystal system : Cubic
Chemistry : (Ni,Fe)S2
Rarity : Uncommon
Bravoite is an infrequent sulfide of iron and nickel, isomorphic with pyrite. It is found in basic to ultrabasic igneous rocks and in low temperature hydrothermal veins where it appears to be of secondary origin. It was named in honor of the Peruvian scientist José J. Bravo. Bravoite forms octahedral, cubic or pyritohedral crystals often sharp, reaching 1 cm, encrustations or nodular masses with fibroradiated texture. Bravoite crystals often show zoned growth with alternating bands of pyrite or intergrowths with this mineral. They are a light bronze hue, reminiscent of pyrite, and tarnish to a purplish steel-grey. It is an accessory ore of nickel and cobalt.
Main photo : Bravoite from Dashkesan, Azerbaijan © Boris Z. Kantor
Bravoite in the World
Twinning
No known twin for this mineral species.
Fakes and treatments
No fake recorded for this mineral species but very certainly often confused with other sulphides such as pyrite or chalcopyrite with which it is also commonly associated.
Hardness : 6 to 6.5
Density : 4.62 to 4.72
Fracture : Irregular to conchoidal
Trace : Black
TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : -
Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None