Achávalite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Achávalite
Luis Achával
Formula:
FeSe
Fe may be replaced by minor Cu.
Colour:
dark grey to black
Lustre:
Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
6.58 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after Luis Achával (June 8 1870, Córdoba - March 20, 1938), civil engineer. Professor at Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Author of "Geografia de Córdoba" with Manuel Rio and president of Academia de Ciencia (Academy of Science). The IMA approved name was achavalite (without diacritic) until 2015 when it was changed to achávalite.
Never adequately described, in need of modern reinvestigation.
Massive fine-grained granular.
A phase "Fe(Se,S)" is reported by Yakovleva et al. (2001).
The Fe analogue of freboldite; chemically also the Fe analogue of klockmannite, and sederholmite (all have the same space group). Also chemically the Se-analogue of troilite.
Massive fine-grained granular.
A phase "Fe(Se,S)" is reported by Yakovleva et al. (2001).
The Fe analogue of freboldite; chemically also the Fe analogue of klockmannite, and sederholmite (all have the same space group). Also chemically the Se-analogue of troilite.
Unique Identifiers
IMA Classification of Achávalite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA status notes:
Renamed by the IMA
First published:
1939
Approval history:
Renamed by IMA in 2015 (IMA 15-E): Spelling changed from achavalite to achávalite.
Classification of Achávalite
2.CC.05
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
C : With Ni, Fe, Co, PGE, etc.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
C : With Ni, Fe, Co, PGE, etc.
3.9.8
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
9 : Sulphides etc. of Fe
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
9 : Sulphides etc. of Fe
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ahv | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Achávalite
Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
dark grey to black
Streak:
grey-black
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
6.58 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Chemistry of Achávalite
Mindat Formula:
FeSe
Fe may be replaced by minor Cu.
Fe may be replaced by minor Cu.
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Achávalite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Setting:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.636 Å, c = 5.946 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.635
Unit Cell V:
68.08 ų
Z:
2
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.778 Å | (100) |
| 2.159 Å | (90) |
| 1.815 Å | (70) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Achávalite
Geological Setting of Type Material:
selenide deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Achávalite
Other Language Names for Achávalite
Relationship of Achávalite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Breithauptite | NiSb | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Freboldite | CoSe | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Kotulskite | Pd(Te,Bi)2-x (x ≈ 0.4) | Hex. |
| Langisite | CoAs | Hex. 6 : P63 |
| Nickeline | NiAs | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mcm |
| Sederholmite | beta-NiSe | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Sobolevskite | PdBi | Hex. |
| Stumpflite | PtSb | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Sudburyite | PdSb | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Vavřínite | Ni2SbTe2 | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Zlatogorite | NiCuSb2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1m |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.CC. | Tilkerodeite | Pd2HgSe3 |
| 2.CC. | UM2007-26-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh | (Ir,Cu,Ni,Pt,Rh,Fe)9S11 |
| 2.CC. | Crowningshieldite | (Ni0.9Fe0.10)S |
| 2.CC. | Eliopoulosite | V7S8 |
| 2.CC. | Kuvaevite | Ir5Ni10S16 |
| 2.CC. | Torryweiserite | Rh5Ni10S16 |
| 2.CC. | Tamuraite | Ir5Fe10S16 |
| 2.CC. | Ferrotorryweiserite | Rh5Fe10S16 |
| 2.CC.05 | Breithauptite | NiSb |
| 2.CC.05 | Freboldite | CoSe |
| 2.CC.05 | Kotulskite | Pd(Te,Bi)2-x (x ≈ 0.4) |
| 2.CC.05 | Langisite | CoAs |
| 2.CC.05 | Nickeline | NiAs |
| 2.CC.05 | Sederholmite | beta-NiSe |
| 2.CC.05 | Sobolevskite | PdBi |
| 2.CC.05 | Stumpflite | PtSb |
| 2.CC.05 | Sudburyite | PdSb |
| 2.CC.05 | Jaipurite | CoS |
| 2.CC.05 | Zlatogorite | NiCuSb2 |
| 2.CC.10 | Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| 2.CC.10 | Smythite | (Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3) |
| 2.CC.10 | Troilite | FeS |
| 2.CC.15 | Cherepanovite | RhAs |
| 2.CC.15 | Modderite | (Co,Fe)As |
| 2.CC.15 | Ruthenarsenite | (Ru,Ni)As |
| 2.CC.15 | Westerveldite | (Fe,Ni,Co)As |
| 2.CC.15 | Minakawaite | RhSb |
| 2.CC.20 | Millerite | NiS |
| 2.CC.20 | Mäkinenite | γ-NiSe |
| 2.CC.20 | UM1990-38-S:CuFeIrNiPtRh | (Ni,Fe,Rh,Cu,Ir,Pt)S |
| 2.CC.25 | Mackinawite | FeS |
| 2.CC.30 | Hexatestibiopanickelite | (Pd,Ni)(Sb,Te) ? |
| 2.CC.30 | Vavřínite | Ni2SbTe2 |
| 2.CC.35a | Braggite | PdPt3S4 |
| 2.CC.35b | Cooperite | PtS |
| 2.CC.35a | Vysotskite | PdS |
| 2.CC.45 | Jacutingaite | Pt2HgSe3 |
| 2.CC.50 | Imgreite | NiTe (?) |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Achávalite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-14.html
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References for Achávalite
Localities for Achávalite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Econ Geol (1997) |
| Ahlfeld Friedrich and Angelelll ... +1 other reference |
China | |
| Handong Qian et al. (2006) |
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Cacheuta Mine, Cerro de Cacheuta, Sierra de Cacheuta, Cacheuta District, Luján de Cuyo department, Mendoza Province, Argentina