Ferdowsiite (original) (raw)
A valid IMA mineral species
About FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
A Pb-bearing variety was also described (Makovicky et al., 2013).
Specific Gravity:
5.3 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
The name is for one of the greatest Persian personalities, Ferdowsi Tousi (935–1020), one of the greatest Persian poets to have ever lived. His life-long endeavor to preserve the national identity, language and heritage of his homeland, especially through one of the greatest poetic masterpieces, the Shahnameh, won him lasting fame and honor.
Superstructure of PbS.
Member of the group of ABX2-type sulfosalts of silver, combining antimony and arsenic, with a crystal structure different from other members of this group.
Related to sangenaroite and ~Sb5As3 analogue of the latter.
Unique IdentifiersHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:43594:7
01a8b78f-51bb-43d6-9447-c1b48539e4ea
IMA Classification of FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
IMA Formula:
Ag8(Sb5As3)S16
Type description reference:
Makovicky, Emil, Topa, Dan, Tajeddin, Husein, Putz, Hubert, Zagler, Georg (2013) Ferdowsiite: a new mineral from the Barika ore deposit, Iran. The Canadian Mineralogist, 51 (5) 727-734 doi:10.3749/canmin.51.5.727
Classification of FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
2.JA.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
J : Sulfosalts of PbS archetype
A : Galena derivatives with little or no Pb
Mineral SymbolsHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Fdw | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
5.3 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Could not be measured due to lack of material.
Optical Data of FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Anisotropism:
Distinct in air, and further enhanced in oil. Rotation tints vary between dark brown and bluish grey
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 32.3% | 37.4% |
| 420nm | 36.1% | 38.5% |
| 440nm | 35.7% | 37.8% |
| 460nm | 35.1% | 37.3% |
| 470nm | 34.9% | 37.3% |
| 480nm | 34.9% | 37.4% |
| 500nm | 34.3% | 37.1% |
| 520nm | 34.1% | 36.7% |
| 540nm | 33.5% | 36.3% |
| 546nm | 33.4% | 35.9% |
| 560nm | 33.3% | 35.9% |
| 580nm | 32.4% | 35.3% |
| 589nm | 32.4% | 35.1% |
| 600nm | 32.3% | 35.1% |
| 620nm | 31.8% | 34.4% |
| 640nm | 31.0% | 33.8% |
| 650nm | 30.7% | 33.5% |
| 660nm | 30.4% | 33.0% |
| 680nm | 29.8% | 32.6% |
| 700nm | 29.2% | 31.9% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 38.5%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Greyish white
Internal Reflections:
Not observable
Comments:
Distinct, white to grey
Chemistry of FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Mindat Formula:
Ag8(Sb5As3)S16
A Pb-bearing variety was also described (Makovicky et al., 2013).
Crystallography of FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.677(2) Å, b = 5.799(1) Å, c = 13.839(3) Å
β = 96.175(4)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.496 : 1 : 2.386
Morphology:
Elongated crystals
X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.225 Å | (96) |
| 3.205 Å | (100) |
| 2.900 Å | (78) |
| 2.750 Å | (90) |
| 2.707 Å | (73) |
| 1.998 Å | (41) |
| 1.979 Å | (39) |
| 1.940 Å | (22) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological EnvironmentHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Type Occurrence of FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
General Appearance of Type Material:
Associated with large corroded crystals of arsenquatrandorite and is partly replaced by guettardite. It also corrodes smithite. Often associated with tetrahedrite/tennantite and forms worm-like symplectites with it.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Department of Materials Engineering and Physics, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria, specimen number 15006.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit of Cretaceous age, situated in the metamorphic Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone. Greenschist metamorphism and deformation in shear zones overprint the original synvolcanic stratiform mineralization.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Makovicky, E., Topa, D., Tajeddin, H., Putz, H., Zagler, G. (2013): Ferdowsiite: A new mineral from the Barika Ore Deposit, Iran. The Canadian Mineralogist, 51, 727-734.
Synonyms of FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Varieties of FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Common AssociatesHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Other InformationHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
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 FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
References for FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Reference List:
Makovicky, Emil, Topa, Dan, Tajeddin, Husein, Putz, Hubert, Zagler, Georg (2013) Ferdowsiite: a new mineral from the Barika ore deposit, Iran. The Canadian Mineralogist, 51 (5) 727-734 doi:10.3749/canmin.51.5.727
Localities for FerdowsiiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 
symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
Locality ListHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 
- 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.
| Iran (TL) | |
|---|---|
| West Azerbaijan Province Sardasht County Sardasht ⓘ Barika ore deposit (TL) | Williams et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
| Italy | |
| Tuscany Lucca Province Stazzema Sant'Anna di Stazzema ⓘ Monte Arsiccio Mine | Biagioni et al. (2017) |
| Peru | |
| Lima Oyón Province Oyón District Uchucchacua area ⓘ Uchucchacua Mine | In the collection of Brent Thorne. ... |
| Spain | |
| Andalusia Almería Pechina Baños de Alhamilla ⓘ Mina Casualidad | Rewitzer et al. (part2) |