Kostovite
Kostovite is a rare orthorhombic-pyramidal gray white telluride mineral containing copper and gold with chemical formula AuCuTe4.[1][2][3]
| Kostovite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Telluride mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | AuCuTe4 |
| 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 | [1][2][3][4][5] |
It was discovered by Bulgarian mineralogist Georgi Terziev (Георги Терзиев) (1935–1972), who named it in honor of his professor Ivan Kostov (Иван Костов) (1913–2004).[6][7] In 1965 kostovite was approved as a new species by the International Mineralogical Association.[8] The type locality is the Chelopech copper ore deposit, Bulgaria.[9] 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),[10] 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).[11]
See also
References
- Handbook of Mineralogy information page for Kostovite
- Mindat information page for Kostovite
- Webmineral information page for Kostovite
- Information about Kostovite at RRUFF Database
- Kostovite (IMA 1965-002) at Mineralienatlas Lexicon
- Terziev, G. (1966). "Kostovite, A Gold-Copper Telluride from Bulgaria" (PDF). The American Mineralogist. 51. pp. 29–36.
- Hey, M.H. (1966). "Twenty-fourth list of new mineral names" (PDF). Mineralogical Magazine. 36. p. 1140.
- "International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and New Names" (PDF). Mineralogical Magazine. 36. 1968. pp. 1143–45.
- Information about Chelopech Au-Cu Mine, Chelopech, Sofiya Oblast (Sofia Oblast), Bulgaria at Mindat.org
- Kostovite at 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). pp. 1–22.
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Look up kostovite in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
Further reading
- G. Van Tendeloo; S. Amelinckx (1986). "High-resolution electron-microscopic study of the modulated structure of kostovite". Acta Crystallographica. 42: 121–130. doi:10.1107/S0108768186098488.