Athabascaite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Athabascaite
Lake Athabasca, Canada
Formula:
Cu5Se4
Colour:
Light grey, bluish-grey to white
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
6.59 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named for Lake Athabasca, which crosses the border between Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. The type locality is near the lake.
This page provides mineralogical data about Athabascaite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
408
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:408:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
5144da18-e3d7-40a8-9178-b76ed1fd8718
IMA Classification of Athabascaite
Approved
Approval year:
1969
First published:
1970
Approval history:
IMA1969-022
Classification of Athabascaite
2.BA.25
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
2.16.17.1
2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
3.1.13
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Atb | 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 Athabascaite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Light grey, bluish-grey to white
Comment:
May tarnish blue and/or deep yellow.
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN15=78 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
6.59 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Athabascaite
Anisotropism:
Strong, creamy white to dark blue
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 21.2% | 25.1% |
| 420nm | 19.9% | 25.2% |
| 440nm | 19.6% | 25.3% |
| 460nm | 19.3% | 25.4% |
| 480nm | 19.0% | 25.5% |
| 500nm | 18.6% | 25.6% |
| 520nm | 18.3% | 25.6% |
| 540nm | 17.8% | 25.5% |
| 560nm | 17.4% | 25.4% |
| 580nm | 16.9% | 25.1% |
| 600nm | 16.3% | 25.0% |
| 620nm | 15.5% | 24.5% |
| 640nm | 15.0% | 24.2% |
| 660nm | 14.2% | 23.7% |
| 680nm | 13.4% | 23.1% |
| 700nm | 12.5% | 22.4% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 25.6%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Light gray to blue-gray
Chemistry of Athabascaite
Mindat Formula:
Cu5Se4
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
S
Crystallography of Athabascaite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.227 Å, b = 11.982 Å, c = 6.441 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.687 : 1 : 0.538
Unit Cell V:
634.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Commonly laths to 100 microns, sometimes larger
Comment:
Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 12.10 Å | (5) |
| 6.00 Å | (5) |
| 4.11 Å | (5) |
| 3.44 Å | (30) |
| 3.34 Å | (5) |
| 3.235 Å | (100) |
| 3.112 Å | (10) |
| 3.015 Å | (60) |
| 2.870 Å | (20) |
| 2.744 Å | (20) |
| 2.606 Å | (5) |
| 2.490 Å | (20) |
| 2.391 Å | (5) |
| 2.200 Å | (5) |
| 2.105 Å | (20) |
| 1.997 Å | (80) |
| 1.893 Å | (50) |
| 1.817 Å | (30) |
| 1.720 Å | (5) |
| 1.694 Å | (20) |
| 1.664 Å | (40) |
| 1.374 Å | (30) |
| 1.294 Å | (30) |
| 1.205 Å | (20) |
| 1.149 Å | (20) |
| 1.132 Å | (20) |
| 1.074 Å | (5) |
Comments:
Martin Lake mine, Canada. Harris, Cabri, and Kaiman (1969)
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]) |
Geological Setting:
In basaltic rocks
Type Occurrence of Athabascaite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Canada, Ottawa; Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, M29432.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
As inclusions in and replacements of umangite, as stringers and veinlets in carbonate veins cutting basalt.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Harris, D.C., Cabri, L.J., Kaiman, S. (1970) Athabascaite, a new copper selenide mineral from Martin Lake, Saskatchewan. Canadian Mineralogist: 10: 207-215.
Synonyms of Athabascaite
Other Language Names for Athabascaite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Athabascaite associated with Tyrrellite | Cu(Co3+,Ni3+)2Se4 |
| 2 photos of Athabascaite associated with Berzelianite | Cu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12) |
| 2 photos of Athabascaite associated with Umangite | Cu3Se2 |
| 2 photos of Athabascaite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 2 photos of Athabascaite associated with Clausthalite | PbSe |
| 1 photo of Athabascaite associated with Crookesite | Cu7(Tl, Ag)Se4 |
| 1 photo of Athabascaite associated with Krut'aite | CuSe2 |
| 1 photo of Athabascaite associated with Olsacherite | Pb2(Se6+O4)(SO4) |
| 1 photo of Athabascaite associated with Chalcomenite | CuSeO3 · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Athabascaite associated with Clinochalcomenite | CuSeO3 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.BA. | Orileyite | (Fe,Cu)2As |
| 2.BA. | Alburnite | Ag8GeTe2S4 |
| 2.BA. | Dzierżanowskite | CaCu2S2 |
| 2.BA. | Makotoite | Ag12(Cu3Au)S8 |
| 2.BA. | Xuwenyuanite | Ag9Fe3+Te2S4 |
| 2.BA.05 | Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| 2.BA.05 | Djurleite | Cu31S16 |
| 2.BA.05 | Geerite | Cu8S5 |
| 2.BA.05 | Roxbyite | Cu9S5 |
| 2.BA.10 | Anilite | Cu7S4 |
| 2.BA.10 | Digenite | Cu9S5 |
| 2.BA.15 | Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| 2.BA.20 | Bellidoite | Cu2Se |
| 2.BA.20 | Berzelianite | Cu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12) |
| 2.BA.25 | Umangite | Cu3Se2 |
| 2.BA.30 | Rickardite | Cu7Te5 |
| 2.BA.30 | Weissite | Cu2-xTe |
| 2.BA.35 | Acanthite | Ag2S |
| 2.BA.35 | Spryite | Ag8(As3+0.5As5+0.5)S6 |
| 2.BA.40 | Mckinstryite | Ag5-xCu3+xS4 |
| 2.BA.40 | Stromeyerite | AgCuS |
| 2.BA.40d | UM2003-13-S:AgAuCu | Ag6AuCu2S5 |
| 2.BA.42 | Honeaite | Au3TlTe2 |
| 2.BA.45 | Jalpaite | Ag3CuS2 |
| 2.BA.45 | Kurilite | Ag8Te3Se |
| 2.BA.45 | Selenojalpaite | Ag3CuSe2 |
| 2.BA.47 | Spiridonovite | (Cu1-xAgx)2Te |
| 2.BA.50 | Eucairite | AgCuSe |
| 2.BA.50 | Wuyanzhiite | Cu2S |
| 2.BA.52 | Argentite | Ag2S |
| 2.BA.55 | Aguilarite | Ag4SeS |
| 2.BA.55 | Naumannite | Ag2Se |
| 2.BA.60 | Cervelleite | Ag4TeS |
| 2.BA.60 | Hessite | Ag2Te |
| 2.BA.60 | Chenguodaite | Ag9Fe3+Te2S4 |
| 2.BA.65 | Henryite | (Cu,Ag)3+xTe2 , with x ~ 0.40 |
| 2.BA.65 | Stützite | Ag5-xTe3, x = 0.24-0.36 |
| 2.BA.70 | Argyrodite | Ag8GeS6 |
| 2.BA.70 | Canfieldite | Ag8SnS6 |
| 2.BA.70 | Putzite | (Cu4.7Ag3.3)GeS6 |
| 2.BA.75 | Fischesserite | Ag3AuSe2 |
| 2.BA.75 | Penzhinite | (Ag,Cu)4Au(S,Se)4 |
| 2.BA.75 | Petrovskaite | AuAgS |
| 2.BA.75 | Petzite | Ag3AuTe2 |
| 2.BA.75 | Uytenbogaardtite | Ag3AuS2 |
| 2.BA.80 | Bezsmertnovite | (Au,Ag)4Cu(Te,Pb) |
| 2.BA.80 | Bilibinskite | PbCu2Au3Te2 |
| 2.BA.80 | Bogdanovite | (Au,Te,Pb)3(Cu,Fe) |
Fluorescence of Athabascaite
Not fluorescent in UV
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 Athabascaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-408.html
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References for Athabascaite
Localities for Athabascaite
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 | |
| Marquez-Zavalia et al. (2021) |
| Excalibur mineral specimen |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... | |
Bolivia | |
| doi:10.3390/min7050068 +2 other references |
Canada | |
| G.S.C. Bulletin 330. +1 other reference |
| King (n.d.) |
| HARRIS et al. (1969) +2 other references |
China | |
| Jiayong Pan et al. (2009) |
Czech Republic | |
| Škácha et al. (2017) |
| Sejkora et al. (2012) |
| Scharm et al. (2000) |
| Scharmová et al. (1995) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
| Anthony et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
| Thorne (n.d.) |
DR Congo | |
| Canadian Mineralogist 46 (2008) +1 other reference |
France | |
| Anthony et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
Germany | |
| Simon et al. (1997) |
| Wittern (2001) |
Sweden | |
| Sandström (2007) +1 other reference |
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Bukov Mine, Rožná deposit, Rožná, Žďár nad Sázavou District, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic