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Giessenite

A valid IMA mineral species
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02490760017271923377822.jpg
Giessenite

Vena Mines, Hammar, Askersund, Örebro County, Sweden
03783170017271923403962.jpg
Giessenite

Vena Mines, Hammar, Askersund, Örebro County, Sweden
06695320017271923444834.jpg
Giessenite

Turtschi, Giessen, Binn, Goms, Valais, Switzerland
02490760017271923377822.jpg
Giessenite

Vena Mines, Hammar, Askersund, Örebro County, Sweden
03783170017271923403962.jpg
Giessenite

Vena Mines, Hammar, Askersund, Örebro County, Sweden
06695320017271923444834.jpg
Giessenite

Turtschi, Giessen, Binn, Goms, Valais, Switzerland
07027510017271923522732.jpg
Giessenite

Vena Mines, Hammar, Askersund, Örebro County, Sweden
03783170017271923403962.jpg
Giessenite

Vena Mines, Hammar, Askersund, Örebro County, Sweden
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About GiesseniteHide

09890270017271923556782.jpg
The Turschi dolomite outcrop (1993)

Turtschi, Giessen, Binn, Goms, Valais, Switzerland
Formula:
Pb27Cu2(Bi,Sb)19S57
Colour:
Greyish-black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
7.45 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
For the type locality.
Giessenite-Izoklakeite Series.

"There is apparently a quasi-continuous solid solution from giessenite to izoklakeite with increasing Sb/Bi ratio, which is nevertheless always < 1 except for izoklakeite of the type locality (∼ 1.04). The main difference is that the monoclinic symmetry of giessenite (Bi-rich) changes to orthorhombic in izoklakeite (Sb-rich) (Makovicky & Karup-Møller, 1986). The exact Sb/Bi ratio at which the symmetry changes is unknown." (Moëlo et al., 2008)


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
1690
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1690:8

IMA Classification of GiesseniteHide

Classification of GiesseniteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.HB.10b

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
B : With Cu, Ag, Fe, Sn and Pb
Dana 8th ed.:
3.5.12.2

3 : SULFOSALTS
5 : 2.5 < ø < 3
Hey's CIM Ref.:
5.6.27

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
6 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb alone

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
GieIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of GiesseniteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Greyish-black
Streak:
Grayish black
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=65 - Vickers
Density:
7.45 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Chemistry of GiesseniteHide

Mindat Formula:
Pb27Cu2(Bi,Sb)19S57
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Pb48.563 %
Bi34.468 %
S15.866 %
Cu1.103 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Bi, Cu, Pb, S, Sb - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
Fe

Crystallography of GiesseniteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 34.62(3) Å, b = 38.18(5) Å, c = 4.080(8) Å
β = 90.33(5)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.907 : 1 : 0.107
Unit Cell V:
5,392.82 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Fine needles to 1.5 mm.
Twinning:
Intimately on (100)
Comment:
Space group P21/n. Pseudo-orthorhombic. Cell also given as a = 34.51(3), b = 38.18(5), c = 4.080(8), β = 90.33(5)°.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3 62 Å(100)
3.32 Å(50)
3.15 Å(50)
2.49 Å(40)
1.75 Å(40)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of GiesseniteHide

Synonyms of GiesseniteHide

Other Language Names for GiesseniteHide

German:Giessenit
Simplified Chinese:针辉铋铅矿
Spanish:Giessenita

Relationship of Giessenite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Kobellite Homologous Series Group
Other Members of Kobellite Homologous Series:
IzoklakeitePb27(Cu,Fe,Ag)2(Sb,Bi)19S57Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm
KobellitePb22Cu4(Bi,Sb)30S69Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm
TintinaitePb22Cu4(Sb,Bi)30S69Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm
Forms a series with:
IzoklakeiteGiessenite-Izoklakeite Series

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.HB.BarikaiteAg3Pb10(Sb8As11)S40Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HB.Carducciite(Ag2Sb2)Pb12(As,Sb)16S40Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HB.SardashtiteAg9Cu2.5Pb41Sb36.5As7S112Mon. 2/m
2.HB.InterliveingiteAgPb18As25S56Mon. 2 : P21
2.HB.ReckibachiteAg2Pb12As14Sb4S40Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HB.05aSalzburgitePb1.6Cu1.6Bi6.4S12Orth. mm2 : Pmc21
2.HB.05aHammaritePb2Cu2Bi4S9Orth.
2.HB.05cJaskólskiiteCuxPb2+x(Sb,Bi)2-xS5 (x ~ 0.15)Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.HB.05'UM1990-54-Se:BiCuPb'CuPb(Ni,Co)0.3Bi3Se6
2.HB.05aAikinitePbCuBiS3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.HB.05aPekoitePbCuBi11S18Orth. mm2
2.HB.05aFriedrichitePb5Cu5Bi7S18Orth. mm2
2.HB.05bMeneghinitePb13CuSb7S24Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.HB.05aPaaritePb1.7Cu1.7Bi6.3S12Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn
2.HB.05aLindströmitePb3Cu3Bi7S15Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.HB.05aEmilitePb2.7Cu2.7Bi5.3S12Orth. mm2 : Pmc21
2.HB.05aGladitePbCuBi5S9Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.HB.05aKrupkaitePbCuBi3S6Orth. mm2
2.HB.05'UM2000-46-S:BiCuPb'Cu0.33Pb0.33Bi7.67S12
2.HB.10bIzoklakeitePb27(Cu,Fe,Ag)2(Sb,Bi)19S57Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm
2.HB.10cEclarite(Cu,Fe)Pb9Bi12S28Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.HB.10aTintinaitePb22Cu4(Sb,Bi)30S69Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm
2.HB.10aKobellitePb22Cu4(Bi,Sb)30S69Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm
2.HB.15JamesonitePb4FeSb6S14Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HB.15BenavidesitePb4MnSb6S14Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HB.20aNagyágite[Pb3(Pb,Sb)3S6](Au,Te)3Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.HB.20bBuckhorniteAuPb2BiTe2S3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmm
2.HB.20eLuxembourgiteAgCuPbBi4Se8Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.HB.20bJaszczakite[Bi3S3][AuS2]Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
2.HB.20dBerryiteCu3Ag2Pb3Bi7S16Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.HB.20eWatkinsoniteCu2PbBi4(Se,S,Te)8Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.HB.20cMuseumite[Pb2(Pb,Sb)2S8][(Te,Au)2]Mon. 2
2.HB.20eLitochlebiteAg2PbBi4Se8Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.HB.25Meerschautite(Ag,Cu)6Pb43-2xSb44+2xS112Ox (x ~0.5)Mon. 2 : P21

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for GiesseniteHide

References for GiesseniteHide

Reference List:
Graeser, S. (1963) Giessenit - ein neues Pb-Bi-sulfosalz aus dem dolomit des Binnatales. Schweizerische Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 43: 471-478.
Fleischer, Michael (1965) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 50 (1-2) 261-268 p.264
Karup-Møller, S (1973) A giessenite-cosalite-galena-bearing mineral suite from the Bjørkåsen sulphide deposit at Ofoten in northern Norway. Norsk Geologisk Tidsskrift [Norwegian Journal of Geology], 53 (1) 41-64
Armbruster, Thomas; Oberhänsli, Roland (1984) Antimon-reicher Giessenit vom Zervreilasee (Vals, Graubünden) [Antimony-rich Giessenite from Lake Zervreila (Vals, Graubünden)]. Schweizerische mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, 64 (1-2). 21-26
Graeser, S., Harris, D.C. (1986) Giessenite from Giessen near Binn, Switzerland: new data. The Canadian Mineralogist: 24: 19-20.
Makovicky, Emil, Karup-Møller, Sven (1986) New data on giessenite from the Bjørkåsen sulfide deposit at Otoften, northern Norway. The Canadian Mineralogist, 24 (1) 21-25
Hawthorne, F.C., Bladh, K.W., Burke, E.A.J, Grew, E.S., Langley, R.H., Puciewicz, J., Roberts, A.C., Schedler, R.A., Shigley, J.E., Vanko, D.A. (1987) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 72: 222-230.p.229
Moëlo, Y., Roger, G., Maurel-Palacin, D., Marcoux, E., Laroussi, A. (1995) Chemistry of some Pb-(Cu, Fe)-(Sb, Bi sulfosalts from France and Portugal. Implications for the crystal chemistry of lead sulfosalts in the Cu-poor part of the Pb2S2-Cu2S-Sb2S3-Bi2-Bi2S3 system. Mineralogy and Petrology, 53 (4) 229-250 doi:10.1007/bf01160149
Ozawa, T., Saitow, A., Hori, H. (1998): Chemistry and crystallography of Bi-rich izoklakeite from the Otome mine, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan and discussion of the izoklakeite-giessenite series. Mineralogical Journal 20, 179-187.
(2005) Giessenite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America
Roth, P. (2007) Giessenite. in Minerals first discovered in Switzerland and minerals named after Swiss individuals, Kristallografik Verlag (Achberg Germany): 74-75.

Localities for GiesseniteHide

Showing 31 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the Image symbol to view information about a locality. The Image symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

Image - This locality has map coordinates listed. Image - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. Image - Good crystals or important locality for species. Image - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina
 
  • Santa Cruz Province
    • Deseado Department
      • Tres Cerros
Jovic et al. (2011)
Austria
 
  • Carinthia
    • Spittal an der Drau District
      • Heiligenblut am Großglockner
        • Zirmsee area
Pichler (2009)
      • Malta
        • Kölnbreinspitze - Lausnock area
Pichler (2009) +1 other reference
    • Wolfsberg District
      • Frantschach-Sankt Gertraud
        • Brandrücken
Niedermayr et al. (1995)
China
 
  • Guangxi
    • Hechi
      • Nandan County
Pašava et al. (2003)
  • Hunan
    • Loudi
      • Xinhua Co.
Li et al. (2019)
  • Tibet
    • Lhasa
      • Maizhokunggar Co. (Mozhugongka Co.)
Yingchen Ren (1999)
Italy
 
  • Piedmont
    • Metropolitan City of Turin
      • Tavagnasco
        • Tavagnasco Mines
Ciriotti et al. (2019)
Bindi et al. (2016)
  • Tuscany
    • Lucca Province
      • Seravezza
Orlandi (2007) +1 other reference
Japan
 
  • Yamanashi Prefecture
    • Kinpuzan mining district
      • Kofu City
        • Kurobera
Ozawa et al. (1998)
Kosovo
 
  • Mitrovica District
    • Mitrovica
      • Trepča complex
Kołodziejczyk et al. (2017)
Norway
 
  • Nordland
    • Narvik
      • Ballangen
Karup-Møller (1973) +1 other reference
Husdal (2023)
Poland
 
  • Lower Silesian Voivodeship
    • Kamienna Góra County
      • Gmina Kamienna Góra
        • Rędziny
Gołębiowska et al. (2006) +2 other references
    • Lwówek Śląski County
      • Gmina Mirsk
Piestrzela (2019)
Romania
 
  • Maramureș County
    • Borșa
Cook (1998)
Russia
 
  • Zabaykalsky Krai
    • Gazimuro-Zavodsky District
      • Lugokan ore cluster
Redin et al. (2015) +2 other references
Redin et al. (2015)
Gvozdev et al. (2020)
Slovakia
 
  • Banská Bystrica Region
    • Brezno District
Koděra (1986)
        • Mlynná Valley
Pršek et al. (2004)
      • Jarabá
Ozdín D. & Pršek J.
  • Košice Region
    • Gelnica District
      • Mníšek nad Hnilcom
Kúšik et al. (2021)
    • Rožňava District
      • Gemerská Poloma
Števko et al. (2021)
      • Rožňava
Pauliš et al. (2002)
Sweden
 
  • Örebro County
    • Askersund
      • Hammar
Mineralogical Society of America - ...
Switzerland (TL)
 
  • Valais
    • Goms
      • Binn
        • Giessen
Graeser (1963)
    • Martigny
      • Mont Chemin mining district
Stalder et al. (1998)
USA
 
  • North Carolina
    • Wake County
      • Raleigh
Dr. Frank Keutsch analysis.
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