Aschamalmite
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Aschamalmite is named for its occurrence at Ascham Alm, Austria.

Discovered in 1982;   IMA status: Valid (IMA approved 1983)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Pb₆Bi₂S₉

Lead Bismuth Sulfide

Molecular Weight:

1,949.75 gm

Composition:

Bismuth

21.44 %

Bi

Lead

63.76 %

Pb

Sulfur

14.80 %

S

100.00 %

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Sulfosalts

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

2/E.29-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

2.JB.40b

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
J : Sulfosalts of PbS archetype
B : Galena derivatives, with Pb

Related to:

Aschamalmite - Heyrowskyite Series. Closely related to Heyrovskýite.

Varieties:

None

Synonyms:

IMA1982-089

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

As prismatic, lathlike crystals, to 5 cm; also as thick, slightly bent plates.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Perfect on {001}

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

3.5;  VHN₅₀=150 - 181 kg/mm²

Density:

7.27 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Lead-Gray; creamy White in reflected light

Transparency:

Opaque

Luster:

Metallic

Refractive Index:

R1–R2: (470) 45.1–48.1, (546) 43.4–46.3, (589) 42.9–46.3, (650) 42.9–46.3

Birefringence:

0.000 (opaque)

Dispersion:

n/a

Pleochroism:

None

Anisotrophism:

Moderate; from gray to red-brown. Color in reflected light: Creamy white.

Occurances

Geological Setting:

In alpine veins, cutting gneiss

Common Associations:

Albite, Calcite, Chlorite, Cosalite, Galena, Orthoclase, Quartz

Common Impurities:

None

Type Locality:

Ascham Alm - southeast of Ascham Alm - Breitfuß Mt. - Sonntagskopf Mt. area, Untersulzbach valley, Hohe Tauern Mts, Salzburg, Austria

Year Discovered:

1982 (IMA approved 1983)

View mineral photos:

Aschamalmite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Aschamalmite is a very rare Lead Bismuth Sulfosalt. It is opaque with a metallic luster and Anisotropic with a creamy white color in reflected light. It is typically found in gneiss or Quartz and can be created as a rare and attractive cabochon with flashy metallic Aschamalmite contrasting against pure white Quartz.

The only locations for finding Aschamalmite are near Ascham Alm, Untersulzbachtal, Salzburg, Austria (the Type Locality); Upper Leckbachgraben, Leckbachgraben, Nasenkopf Mt., Habach valley, Hohe Tauern Mts, Salzburg, Austria; Tignai, Bussoleno, Susa Valley, Torino Province, Piedmont, Italy; Rio del Castello, Cedo Alp, Basso Valley, Vigezzo Valley, Ossola Valley, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy; at Granite Gap, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, USA.
 

  
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