Heteromorphite - Encyclopedia
Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
Subclass : Sulfosalts
Crystal system : Monoclinic
Chemistry : Pb7Sb8S19
Rarity : Very rare
Heteromorphite is probably the rarest of the lead and antimony sulfosalts found in hydrothermal veins. It is a mineral which accompanies sphalerite and more common sulfosalts (semseyite, plagionite) in an ordinarily quartz matrix. Its name comes from the Greek heteros (other) and morphê (form) in allusion to the morphological difference existing between this mineral and a supposed dimorph with a feathery texture. Heteromorphite occurs in small, sometimes elongated, pyramidal crystals, often rounded or twisted, gathered in subparallel, iron-black aggregates.
Main photo : Heteromorphite on pyrite from Mundo Nuevo Mine, Peru © Jean-François Carpentier
Heteromorphite in the World
Twinning
No twin known for this mineral species.
Fakes and treatments
No fakes recorded for this mineral species.
Hardness : 2.5 to 3
Density : 5,73
Fracture : Irregular
Streak : Black
TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : -
Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None