Gallite - Encyclopedia
Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
Subclass : Sulfides
Crystal system : Tetragonal
Chemistry : CuGaS2
Rarity : Very rare
Gallite is a very rare sulfide, present in copper deposits rich in gallium, hence its name. It constitutes xenomorphic areas, exsolutions of 1 to 2 mm maximum in sphalerite, or opaque gray lamellar masses with a metallic luster. It is exceptionally a gallium ore.
Main photo : Exsolutions of gallite in sphalerite in polished section and reflected light from Tsumeb, Namibia © Günter Grundmann
Gallite in the World
Twinning
A twin is known on {111} and parallel to {112}.
Fakes and treatments
No fakes recorded for this mineral species.
Hardness : 3 to 3.5
Density : 4.02
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : Gray to black
TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : -
Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None