Rathite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Rathite
Formula:
Ag2Pb12-xTlx/2As18+x/2S40
May contain minor Sb substituting for As.
Substitution 2Pb <-> Tl + As. Topa & Kolitsch (2018) revised the general formula to AgxTlyPb16-2(x+y)As16+x+y-zSbzS40 (with 1.6 < x < 2, 0 < y < 3, 0 < z < 3.5).
Substitution 2Pb <-> Tl + As. Topa & Kolitsch (2018) revised the general formula to AgxTlyPb16-2(x+y)As16+x+y-zSbzS40 (with 1.6 < x < 2, 0 < y < 3, 0 < z < 3.5).
Colour:
Silver to lead-gray, tarnishes iridescent
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
5.33 - 5.41
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named after Gerhard vom Rath (1830-1888), Professor of Mineralogy, Bonn, Germany.
Type Locality:
Berlepsch et al. (2002) note that Ag substitution is probably essential in the structure and makes the mineral different from dufrénoysite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3370
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3370:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
21757685-ac68-471f-a95f-055754e7cc74
IMA Classification of Rathite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ag2Pb12-xTlx/2As18+x/2S40
First published:
1896
Classification of Rathite
2.HC.05d
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
C : With only Pb
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
C : With only Pb
3.7.12.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
5.7.47
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
7 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb and other metals
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
7 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb and other metals
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Rat | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Rat | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Rathite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Silver to lead-gray, tarnishes iridescent
Streak:
Chocolate-brown
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
{100} perfect.
{100} perfect.
Parting:
On {010}.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
5.33 - 5.41 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.31 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Rathite
Anisotropism:
Strong; olive-green or yellow and bluish violet
Reflectivity:
Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
---|---|---|
400nm | 40.0% | 45.2% |
420nm | 39.2% | 44.8% |
440nm | 38.4% | 44.3% |
460nm | 37.8% | 43.7% |
480nm | 37.2% | 43.7% |
500nm | 36.6% | 42.8% |
520nm | 36.0% | 42.3% |
540nm | 35.4% | 41.8% |
560nm | 34.7% | 41.0% |
580nm | 34.0% | 40.2% |
600nm | 33.3% | 39.3% |
620nm | 32.6% | 38.4% |
640nm | 31.9% | 37.6% |
660nm | 31.3% | 36.7% |
680nm | 30.7% | 35.9% |
700nm | 30.2% | 35.2% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 45.2%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
White
Internal Reflections:
Deep red
Pleochroism:
Strong
Chemistry of Rathite
Mindat Formula:
Ag2Pb12-xTlx/2As18+x/2S40
May contain minor Sb substituting for As.
Substitution 2Pb <-> Tl + As. Topa & Kolitsch (2018) revised the general formula to AgxTlyPb16-2(x+y)As16+x+y-zSbzS40 (with 1.6 < x < 2, 0 < y < 3, 0 < z < 3.5).
May contain minor Sb substituting for As.
Substitution 2Pb <-> Tl + As. Topa & Kolitsch (2018) revised the general formula to AgxTlyPb16-2(x+y)As16+x+y-zSbzS40 (with 1.6 < x < 2, 0 < y < 3, 0 < z < 3.5).
Crystallography of Rathite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.496(1) Å, b = 7.969(1) Å, c = 25.122(3) Å
β = 100.704(2)°
β = 100.704(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.066 : 1 : 3.152
Unit Cell V:
1,671.28 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Prismatic to short prismatic and striated [001].
Twinning:
On {100} producing polysynthetic pseudo-orthorhombic crystals; also on {3¯01}. Exhibits polysynthetic twin lamellae of irregular thickness.
Comment:
Data from Berlepsch et al. (2002).
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0010628 | Rathite | Marumo F, Nowacki W (1965) The crystal structure of rathite-I Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 122 433-456 | 1965 | Lengenbach quarry, Binnatal, Switzerland | 0 | 293 | |
0010712 | Rathite | Engel P, Nowacki W (1970) Die kristallstruktur von rathit-II [As25 S56|PbVII6.5 PBIX12] Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 131 356-375 | 1970 | Lengenbach, Binnatal, Switzerland | 0 | 293 | |
0011095 | Rathite | Berlepsch P, Armbruster T, Topa D (2002) Structural and chemical variations in rathite, Pb8Pb4-x(Tl2As2)x(Ag2As2)As16S40: modulations of a parent structure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 217 581-590 | 2002 | Valais, Switzerland | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
2.75 Å | (100) |
3.60 Å | (80) |
3.39 Å | (70) |
2.87 Å | (70) |
4.19 Å | (60) |
2.97 Å | (60) |
2.22 Å | (50) |
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 Rathite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Striated crystals to a few millimeters in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland, B742.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Dolomite
Synonyms of Rathite
Other Language Names for Rathite
Relationship of Rathite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Argentobaumhauerite | Ag1.5Pb22As33.5S72 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Argentodufrénoysite | Ag3Pb26As35S80 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Argentoliveingite | Ag3+xPb36-2xAs51+xS112 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Barikaite | Ag3Pb10(Sb8As11)S40 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Baumhauerite | Pb12As16S36 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Bernarlottiite | Pb6(As5Sb3)S18 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Boscardinite | TlPb4(Sb7As2)S18 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Carducciite | (Ag2Sb2)Pb12(As,Sb)16S40 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Dekatriasartorite | TlPb58As97S204 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Dufrénoysite | Pb2As2S5 | Mon. 2 : P21 |
Écrinsite | AgTl3Pb4As11Sb9S36 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Enneasartorite | Tl6Pb32As70S140 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Guettardite | Pb8(Sb0.56As0.44)16S32 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Hendekasartorite | Tl2Pb48As82S172 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Heptasartorite | Tl7Pb22As55S108 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Hyršlite | Pb8As10Sb6S32 | Mon. 2 : P21 |
Incomsartorite | Tl6Pb144As246S516 | Mon. 2/m |
Interliveingite | AgPb18As25S56 | Mon. 2 : P21 |
Liveingite | Pb9As13S28 | Mon. 2 : P21 |
Parapierrotite | TlSb5S8 | Mon. m |
Philrothite | TlAs3S5 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Pierrotite | Tl2(Sb,As)10S16 | Orth. mm2 : Pna21 |
Polloneite | AgPb46As26Sb23S120 | Mon. 2 : P21 |
Sartorite | PbAs2S4 | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
Twinnite | Pb0.8Tl0.1Sb1.3As0.8S4 | Mon. 2/m |
Veenite | Pb16Sb9-xAs7+xS40, x ~ 0-0.5 | Mon. 2 : P21 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
17 photos of Rathite associated with Realgar | As4S4 |
12 photos of Rathite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
9 photos of Rathite associated with Hendekasartorite | Tl2Pb48As82S172 |
2 photos of Rathite associated with Smithite | AgAsS2 |
1 photo of Rathite associated with Imhofite | Tl5.8As15.4S26 |
1 photo of Rathite associated with Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
1 photo of Rathite associated with Orpiment | As2S3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.HC. | Bernarlottiite | Pb6(As5Sb3)S18 |
2.HC.05b | Argentobaumhauerite | Ag1.5Pb22As33.5S72 |
2.HC.05b | Baumhauerite | Pb12As16S36 |
2.HC.05d | Dufrénoysite | Pb2As2S5 |
2.HC.05a | Guettardite | Pb8(Sb0.56As0.44)16S32 |
2.HC.05c | Liveingite | Pb9As13S28 |
2.HC.05f | Parapierrotite | TlSb5S8 |
2.HC.05f | Pierrotite | Tl2(Sb,As)10S16 |
2.HC.05a | Sartorite | PbAs2S4 |
2.HC.05a | Twinnite | Pb0.8Tl0.1Sb1.3As0.8S4 |
2.HC.05d | Veenite | Pb16Sb9-xAs7+xS40, x ~ 0-0.5 |
2.HC.05g | Marumoite | Pb32As40S92 |
2.HC.05d | Rathite-IV | PbAs2S4 |
2.HC.05f | Philrothite | TlAs3S5 |
2.HC.05h | Polloneite | AgPb46As26Sb23S120 |
2.HC.05e | Heptasartorite | Tl7Pb22As55S108 |
2.HC.05e | Hendekasartorite | Tl2Pb48As82S172 |
2.HC.05e | Écrinsite | AgTl3Pb4As11Sb9S36 |
2.HC.05b | Baumhauerite II | |
2.HC.05c | Argentoliveingite | Ag3+xPb36-2xAs51+xS112 |
2.HC.05e | Incomsartorite | Tl6Pb144As246S516 |
2.HC.05d | Argentodufrénoysite | Ag3Pb26As35S80 |
2.HC.05a | Hyršlite | Pb8As10Sb6S32 |
2.HC.05e | Dekatriasartorite | TlPb58As97S204 |
2.HC.10a | Fülöppite | Pb3Sb8S15 |
2.HC.10c | Heteromorphite | Pb7Sb8S19 |
2.HC.10b | Plagionite | Pb5Sb8S17 |
2.HC.10d | Rayite | Pb8(Ag,Tl)2Sb8S21 |
2.HC.10d | Semseyite | Pb9Sb8S21 |
2.HC.15 | Boulangerite | Pb5Sb4S11 |
2.HC.15 | Falkmanite | Pb3Sb2S6 |
2.HC.20 | Robinsonite | Pb4Sb6S13 |
2.HC.25 | Moëloite | Pb6Sb6S14(S3) |
2.HC.30 | Dadsonite | Pb23Sb25S60Cl |
2.HC.35 | Owyheeite | Ag3Pb10Sb11S28 |
2.HC.35 | Zoubekite | AgPb4Sb4S10 |
2.HC.40 | Parasterryite | Ag4Pb20Sb14As10S58 |
2.HC.50 | Lopatkaite | Pb5Sb3AsS11 |
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 Rathite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3370.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Rathite
Localities for Rathite
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).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Spain | |
| Crespo et al. (2000) |
Switzerland (TL) | |
| Zeits. Kryst. Min. (1896) +3 other references |
50. (in German) +2 other references | |
Ukraine | |
| Bobrov et al. (2006, August) +1 other reference |
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Lengenbach Quarry, Fäld, Binn, Goms, Valais, Switzerland