Jordanite

Jordanite Location: Lengenbach quarry, Binntal, Valais, Switzerland. Scale: Crystal size 2 mm. Copyright: © Walter Gabriel

Chemical Formula: Pb14(As,Sb)6S23
Locality: Binnental, Valais, Switzerland.
Name Origin: Named after H. Jordan from Saarbrucken.

Jordanite is a sulfosalt mineral with chemical formula Pb14(As,Sb)6S23 in the monoclinic crystal system, named after the German scientist Dr H. Jordan (1808–1887) who discovered it in 1864.

Lead-grey in colour (frequently displaying an iridescent tarnish), its streak is black and its lustre is metallic. Jordanite has a hardness of 3 on Mohs scale, has a density of approximately 6.4, and a conchoidal fracture.

The type locality is the Lengenbach Quarry in the Binn Valley, Wallis, Switzerland.

Physical Properties

Cleavage: {010} Distinct
Color: Lead gray.
Density: 5.5 – 6.4, Average = 5.95
Diaphaneity: Opaque
Fracture: Brittle – Conchoidal – Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.
Hardness: 3 – Calcite
Luster: Metallic
Streak: black

Photos :

Wurtzite with Jordanite Agios Philippos Mine, Kirki Mines, Évros, Thracia  Greece (10/2013) Specimen size: 5.8 × 5.2 × 3.5 cm = 2.3” × 2.0” × 1.4” Main crystal size: 0.2 × 0.2 cm = 0.1” × 0.1” © Fabre Minerals
Jordanite (Huge Crystal !) Lengenbach, Binntal, valais Switzerland Miniature, 4 x 2 x 1.7 cm “Courtesy of Rob Lavinsky, The Arkenstone, www.iRocks.com”
Lengenbach Quarry, Imfeld (Im Feld; Feld; Fäld), Binn Valley, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland © 2004 M. Kampf