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Formula: Cu1.6Pb1.6Bi6.4S12
Valence: Cu1+1.6Pb2+1.6Bi3+6.4S2-12
Sulphosalt of copper, lead and
bismuth, member of the
aikinite-bismuthinite series
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 6.9 measured, 6.904 calculated
Streak: Greyish black
Colour: Light grey
Environments
Metamorphic environments
hydrothermal environments
Localities
At the type locality, the Western ore field, Mittersill Scheelite deposit, Mittersill, Zell am See District, Salzburg,
Austria, salzburgite and paarite were found in sulphosalt-bearing
quartz veins, hosted by
amphibolites,
hornblendites and
granite gneisses. The veins
cut the metamorphosed (upper greenschist to
lower amphibolite facies)
scheelite deposit. Both salzburgite and
paarite occur as rare elongate homogeneous crystals, up to 0.3 mm long and 0.1 mm
across, and as lamellae in exsolution pairs. The associated minerals are
bismuthinite derivatives in the range
bismuthinite–krupkaite, Ag-bearing
lillianite, makovickyite,
pavonite, cosalite,
cannizzarite, tetradymite,
native bismuth, chalcopyrite and
pyrite. Salzburgite and paarite are
opaque, with a metallic lustre and a greyish black streak
(CM 43.3.909-917).
Salzburgite from the Western ore field -
Image
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