Thalcusite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Thalcusite
Formula:
Tl2Cu3FeS4
Colour:
Gray, bronzy-black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
6.15
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
The name reflects its composition: thallium, copper (latin "cuprum") and sulfur.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3930
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3930:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
07ea5f18-bf42-4c07-a9c3-17da1a9e6ab0
IMA Classification of Thalcusite
Approved
IMA Formula:
(Cu,Fe)4Tl2S4
Approval year:
1975
First published:
1976
Classification of Thalcusite
2.BD.30
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl
2.5.5.1
2 : SULFIDES
5 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:2
2 : SULFIDES
5 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:2
3.5.16
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Thl | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Thl | 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 Thalcusite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Gray, bronzy-black
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN10=82 - 92 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
Parallel to grain elongation
Parallel to grain elongation
Density:
6.15 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.54 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured on synthetic material
Optical Data of Thalcusite
Anisotropism:
Moderate; pale yellowish to very dark gray
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
|---|---|---|
| 440nm | 29.3% | 30.7% |
| 480nm | 29.6% | 30.1% |
| 520nm | 29.7% | 30.8% |
| 560nm | 27.9% | 29.8% |
| 600nm | 28.4% | 30.3% |
| 640nm | 29.7% | 33.0% |
| 680nm | 30.7% | 34.5% |
| 700nm | 31.7% | 35.9% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 35.9%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Rose-gray to pale lilac
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Pale gray with brownish-lilac tint to dark gray.
Chemistry of Thalcusite
Mindat Formula:
Tl2Cu3FeS4
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
K,Pb,Cr,Sb,As
Crystallography of Thalcusite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.882(5) Å, c = 13.25(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 3.413
Unit Cell V:
199.68 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Comment:
Point Group: 42m, 4mm, 422, or 4/m 2/m 2/m.; Space Group: I4md, I42m, I4mm, I422, or I4/mmm.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014164 | Thalcusite | Berger R (1989) Synthesis and characterization of the layered metal TlCu2S2 Journal of the Less-Common Metals 147 141-148 | 1989 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.91 Å | (100) |
| 2.53 Å | (100) |
| 3.73 Å | (80) |
| 1.941 Å | (50) |
| 1.717 Å | (50) |
| 3.31 Å | (40) |
| 2.18 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Thalcusite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Platy deposits, rarely elongated, mostly as grains 10-15 microns in diameter.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 77165.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Cu-Ni sulfide deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Kovalenker V.A., Laputina I.P., Evstigneeva T.L., Izoitko V.M. (1976) Thalcusite, Cu3-xTl2Fe1+xS4 - a new thallium sulfide from copper-nickel ores of the Talnakh deposits. Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 105: 202-206.
Synonyms of Thalcusite
Other Language Names for Thalcusite
Relationship of Thalcusite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Bukovite | (Cu3Fe)Σ4Tl2Se4 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm |
| Murunskite | K2(Cu,Fe)4S4 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm |
| Sabatierite | TlCu6Se4 | Orth. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Thalcusite associated with Lafossaite | Tl(Cl,Br) |
| 4 photos of Thalcusite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 3 photos of Thalcusite associated with Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| 2 photos of Thalcusite associated with Tuperssuatsiaite | Fe3+Fe3+2(Na◻)◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Thalcusite associated with Polylithionite | KLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2 |
| 1 photo of Thalcusite associated with Seligmannite | PbCuAsS3 |
| 1 photo of Thalcusite associated with Omariniite | Cu8Fe2ZnGe2S12 |
| 1 photo of Thalcusite associated with Putzite | (Cu4.7Ag3.3)GeS6 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.BD. | UM2004-33-S:AgCuHgSe | (Ag,Cu)8Hg3(S,Se)7 |
| 2.BD. | Vrančiceite | Cu10Hg3S8 |
| 2.BD.05 | Imiterite | Ag2HgS2 |
| 2.BD.10 | Gortdrumite | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 |
| 2.BD.15 | Balkanite | Cu9Ag5HgS8 |
| 2.BD.15 | Danielsite | (Cu,Ag)14HgS8 |
| 2.BD.20 | Donharrisite | Ni3HgS3 |
| 2.BD.25 | Carlinite | Tl2S |
| 2.BD.30 | Bukovite | (Cu3Fe)Σ4Tl2Se4 |
| 2.BD.30 | Murunskite | K2(Cu,Fe)4S4 |
| 2.BD.35 | Rohaite | (Tl,Pb,K)2Cu8.7Sb2S4 |
| 2.BD.40 | Chalcothallite | Tl2(Cu,Fe)6SbS4 |
| 2.BD.45 | Sabatierite | TlCu6Se4 |
| 2.BD.50 | Crookesite | Cu7(Tl, Ag)Se4 |
| 2.BD.55 | Brodtkorbite | Cu2HgSe2 |
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 Thalcusite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3930.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Thalcusite
Localities for Thalcusite
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 | |
| DE BRODTKORB +3 other references |
| PUTZ +1 other reference | |
Canada | |
| 166-175. +2 other references |
Greenland | |
| Petersen (2001) |
| Karup-Møller et al. (2001) |
| Karup-Møller et al. (2001) | |
| Karup-Møller et al. (2001) | |
| Karup-Møller et al. (2001) | |
India | |
| Mukherjee et al. (1998) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) | |
Namibia | |
| Blaß et al. (2021) |
Poland | |
| Oszczepalski et al. (2017) |
Romania | |
| www.researchgate.net (n.d.) |
Russia | |
| [Lapis 1993:4 p.13-20] |
| Kovalenker et al. (1976) +2 other references |
Sweden | |
| Kramm et al. (1988) |
Switzerland | |
| Guastoni et al. (1) +1 other reference |
Ukraine | |
| Nechaev et al. (1993) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Taylor |
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Lengenbach Quarry, Fäld, Binn, Goms, Valais, Switzerland