Hutchinsonite

Hutchinsonite, Orpiment Locality: Quiruvilca Mine (La Libertad Mine; ASARCO Mine), Quiruvilca District, Santiago de Chuco Province, La Libertad Department, Peru Size: miniature, 5.6 x 5.4 x 1.4 cm © Rob Lavinsky / iRocks

Chemical Formula: TlPbAs5S9
Locality: Binnental, Valais, Switzerland.
Name Origin: Named for Arthur Hitchinson (1866-1937), Professor of Mineralogy, Cambridge University, England.

Hutchinsonite is a sulfosalt mineral of thallium, arsenic and lead with formula TlPbAs5S9. Hutchinsonite is a rare hydrothermal mineral.

It was first discovered in Binnental, Switzerland in 1904 and named after Cambridge mineralogist Arthur Hutchinson, F.R.S. (1866–1937).

Physical Properties

Cleavage: {100} Good
Color: Cherry red, Pink, Black.
Density: 4.6
Diaphaneity: Subtranslucent to opaque
Fracture: Brittle – Conchoidal – Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.
Hardness: 1.5-2 – Talc-Gypsum
Luster: Sub Metallic
Streak: red

Photo:

Hutchinsonite from Quiruvilca mine, Santiago de Chuco prov., La Libertad dept., Peru © Dakota Matrix
This sample of hutchinsonite is displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The sample is about 12×12 cm and is from Henderson mine #2, Quiruvilea, La Libertad, Peru.
Quiruvilca Mine (La Libertad Mine; ASARCO Mine), Quiruvilca District, Santiago de Chuco Province, La Libertad Department, Peru © Elmar Lackner 2009