Jun 11 2014
Cervelleite was named after Dr. Bernard Cervelle (1940– ), a French mineralogist associated with the University of Paris, France, for his work in ore microscopy.
Properties of Cervelleite
The following are the key properties of cervelleite:
- Cell Data
- Space group: n.d
- a = 14.03(1)
- Z = 24
- Crystal Data
- Cubic
- Point group: n.d
- Rimming acanthite, to 30µm thick, and as vermiform inclusions in hessite, also intergrown with benleonardite
- X-ray powder pattern: 5.00 (vvs), 4.24 (vs), 6.29 (s), 3.766 (ms), 4.64 (m), 5.74 (w), 2.596 (w)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
| Ag |
73.0 |
72.99 |
| Te |
22.2 |
21.59 |
| S |
5.3 |
5.42 |
| Cu |
0.1 |
- |
| Total |
100.6 |
100.00 |
- Optical Properties
- Optical class: Isotropic
- R: (400) 39.8, (420) 40.0, (440) 40.1, (460) 40.0, (480) 39.7, (500) 39.3, (520) 38.9, (540) 38.3,(560) 37.8, (580) 37.2, (600) 36.8, (620) 36.3, (640) 35.8, (660) 35.4, (680) 34.9, (700) 34.4
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 7.39 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of acanthite = 8.53 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PE Cervelleite = 268.83 barns/electron
U = PE Cervelleite x ρ electron density = 1,986.09 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.01
Boson index = 0.99 |
Radioactivity
|
Cervelleite is not radioactive
|
How to Identify Cervelleite
Cervelleite can be identified in the field by its color variations, such as gray, and black. Its opaque form has no cleavage. This mineral has a metallic luster.
The hardness of cervelleite is 1.5 - between talc and gypsum.
Global Distribution
Cervelleite is distributed in the following places:
- Mexico - From the Moctezuma (Bambolla) mine, 12km south of Moctezuma, Sonora
- Argentina - Chubut, Gastre Department, Los Manantiales District, Angela mine; Río Negro, Valcheta, San Martin Pluton, San Martín Mine
- USA – Arizona, Cochise Co. Tombstone Hills, Tombstone District, Empire Mine; California, San Bernardino Co. Baker, Otto Mountain
- China - Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Prefecture, Qixia District, Qixiashan Mine (Chihsiashan Mine; Nanjing lead- zinc mine); Liaoning Province (Manchuria; Dongbei Region), Huludao Prefecture, Jianchang Co. Bajiazi Zn-Pb-Ag deposit
- Egypt - Red Sea Governorate, Eastern Desert, Um Samiuki, Samiuki mine
- Japan - Honshu Island, Chubu Region, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shimoda City, Rendaiji, Kawazu mine (Rendaiji mine; Rendaizi mine)
Occurrence of Cervelleite and Useful Mineral Association
Cervelleite occurs in fracture fillings in highly altered and silicified rhyolite vitrophyre in a hydrothermal Au–Te deposit.
It is often associated with minerals such as silver, acanthite, benleonardite, pyrite, hessite, dolomite, quartz, and sphalerite.
References