Schapbachite

schapbachite

matildite

ourayite

gustavite

Images

Formula: Ag0.4Pb0.2Bi0.4S
Sulphosalt, paramorph of matildite
Hardness: 3 to 4
Streak: Black
Colour: Dark grey
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Schapbachite occurs as inclusions in quartz (Webmin).

Localities

The type locality is the Silberbrünnle Mine, Haigerach valley, Gengenbach, Ortenaukreis, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Several examples of hydrothermal vein-type mineralisation with matildite, schapbachite, ourayite, eskimoite, berryite, benjaminite, miharaite and gustavite occur along the Northern Kinzigtal Fault in the Schwarzwald ore district, in southwestern Germany. The sequence of mineralisation starts with gustavite, ourayite and eskimoite, followed by native bismuth and bismuthinite. These assemblages are overgrown or replaced by a schapbachite, which later exsolved into galena and matildite. Subsequently, this intergrowth was again overgrown by berryite, benjaminite, chalcopyrite and tennantite. The temperature of formation of the sulphosalt assemblages straddles the conversion of schapbachite to matildite and is inferred to be between 144oC and 179oC (CM 48.441-466).

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