| Kostovite | |
|---|---|
 Exhibition of Kostovite in the National Natural History Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria | |
| General | |
| Category | Telluride mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | AuCuTe4 |
| IMA symbol | Ktv[1] |
| Strunz classification | 2.EA.15 (10 ed) 2/D.16-10 (8 ed) |
| Dana classification | 02.12.13.4 |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Crystal class | Pyramidal (mm2) H-M Symbol: (mm2) |
| Space group | Pma2 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Grayish white |
| Twinning | Fine lamellar |
| Cleavage | Distinct/good |
| Tenacity | Brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2 – 2.5 |
| Luster | Metallic |
| Diaphaneity | Opaque |
| Specific gravity | 7.94 |
| Optical properties | Anisotropic |
| Pleochroism | Visible |
| References | [2][3][4][5][6] |
Kostovite (IMA symbol: Ktv) is a rare orthorhombic-pyramidal gray white telluride mineral containing copper and gold with chemical formula AuCuTe4.[2][3][4]
It was discovered by Bulgarian mineralogist Georgi Ivanov Terziev, who named it in honor of his professor Ivan Kostov (Иван Костов) (1913–2004).[7][8] In 1965 kostovite was approved as a new species by the International Mineralogical Association.[9] The type locality is Chelopech copper ore deposit, Bulgaria.[10] Small deposits have also been found in Kochbulak (Eastern Uzbekistan), Commoner mine (Zimbabwe), Kamchatka (Russian Far East), Ashanti (Ghana), Buckeye Gulch (Leadville, Colorado, US), Bisbee (Arizona, US),[11] Kutemajärvi (Finland), Coranda-Hondol (Romania), Glava (Sweden), Bereznjakovskoje (Southern Urals, Russia), Moctezuma (Sonora, Mexico), Panormos Bay (Tinos Island, Greece), Guilaizhuang Mine, Tongshi complex (Linyi Prefecture, Shandong Province, China), Kalgoorlie-Boulder City, (Goldfields-Esperance region, Western Australia, Australia).[12]
- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ a b Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C. (2005). "Kostovite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineral Data Publishing. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- ^ a b Kostovite, Mindat.org, retrieved 6 August 2022
- ^ a b Barthelmy, David (2014). "Kostovite Mineral Data". Webmineral.com. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- ^ "Information about Kostovite". RRUFF Database.
- ^ "Kostovite (IMA 1965-002)". Mineralienatlas Lexicon.
- ^ Terziev, G. (1966). "Kostovite, A Gold-Copper Telluride from Bulgaria" (PDF). The American Mineralogist. 51: 29–36.
- ^ Hey, M.H. (1966). "Twenty-fourth list of new mineral names" (PDF). Mineralogical Magazine. 36 (276): 1140. Bibcode:1966MinM...36.1126H. doi:10.1180/minmag.1966.036.276.08.
- ^ "International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and New Names" (PDF). Mineralogical Magazine. 36: 1143–45. 1968. doi:10.1180/minmag.1968.036.284.11.
- ^ Information about Chelopech Au-Cu Mine, Chelopech, Sofiya Oblast (Sofia Oblast), Bulgaria, Mindat.org, retrieved 6 August 2022
- ^ "Kostovite". Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
- ^ Bonev, Ivan K.; Petrunov, Rumen; Cook, Nigel J.; Ciobanu, Cristiana L. (2005). "Kostovite and its argentian varieties: Deposits and mineral associations" (PDF). Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology (42): 1–22.