Eskebornite - Encyclopedia
Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
Subclass : Selenides
Crystal system : Cubic
Chemistry : CuFeSe2
Rarity : Rare
Eskebornite is the selenium equivalent of chalcopyrite. It is a mineral from hydrothermal selenium deposits (frequently uranium deposits). It owes its name to its place of discovery : Eskeborn in the German Harz. It occurs in tabular crystals of 1 mm maximum, and in xenomorphic coatings mixed with other selenides (clausthalite, berzelianite, umangite, etc...). Its color is copper yellow to brass yellow but it quickly tarnishes to a dark brown turning black. It is a very accessory selenium ore.
Main photo : Eskebornite from Bukov Mine, RCzech Republic © Stephan Wolfsried
Eskebornite in the World
Twinning
No twin known for this mineral species.
Fakes and treatments
No fake listed for this mineral species.
Hardness : 3 to 3.5
Density : 5.35
Fracture : Undeterminated
Streak : Black
TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : 0
Optical character : None
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : -
Magnetism : Paramagnetic
Radioactivity : None