Rickardite | |
---|---|
General | |
Category | Telluride mineral |
Formula (repeating unit) | Cu7Te5 |
IMA symbol | Rkd[1] |
Strunz classification | 2.BA.30 |
Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
Crystal class | Dipyramidal (mmm) H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
Space group | Pmmn |
Identification | |
Color | Red-violet (fresh), darkens |
Mohs scale hardness | 3+1⁄2 |
Luster | Metallic |
Streak | Red |
Diaphaneity | Opaque |
Rickardite is a telluride mineral, a copper telluride (Cu7Te5)[2] or Cu3-x (x = 0 to 0.36)Te2.[3] It was first described for an occurrence in the Good Hope Mine, Vulcan district, Gunnison County, Colorado, US,[4] and named for mining engineer Thomas Arthur Rickard (1864–1953).[2] It is a low temperature hydrothermal mineral that occurs associated with vulcanite, native tellurium, cameronite, petzite, sylvanite, berthierite, pyrite, arsenopyrite and bornite.[3]