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Jamesonite  (inclusions in Quartz)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Jamesonite is named to honor Robert Jameson (1774–1854), Scottish mineralogist, Edinburgh, Scotland, who first described the mineral.

Discovered in 1825.   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Pb₄Fe²⁺Sb₆S₁₄

Lead Iron Antimony Sulfide

Molecular Weight:

2,064.07 gm

Composition:

Iron

2.71 %

Fe

Antimony

35.39 %

Sb

Lead

40.15 %

Pb

Sulfur

21.75 %

O

100.00 %

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Sulfides

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

2/E.22-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

2.HB.15

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

Related to:

Benavidesite-Jamesonite Series. Dimorphous with Parajamesonite.

Synonyms:

Axotomous Antimony Glance, Comuccite, Cornuccite, Domingite, Jamesonite (of Haidinger), Pfaffite (of Huot), Sakharovaite, Tinder Ore, Warrenite (of Eakins), Wolfsbergite (of Huot)

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Crystals elongated || [001], acicular and fibrous, to 10 cm; striated k [001]; rarely in rings and spheres. As feltlike masses; massive, columnar, also radial and plumose.

Twinning:

On {100}; lamellae very commonly observed in polished section.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Good on {001}; reported on {010} and {120}

Fracture:

n/a

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

2.5; VHN = 66–86 (100 g load)

Density:

5.63 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Gray-Black, lead Gray, Steel Gray, dark lead Gray; iridescent at times

Transparency:

Opaque

Luster:

Metallic

Refractive Index:

R1–R2: (400) 38.4–45.1, (420) 38.1–44.9, (440) 37.7–44.8, (460) 37.6–45.0, (480) 37.4–45.1, (500) 37.3–45.0, (520) 37.0–44.7, (540) 36.6–44.3, (560) 36.1–43.8, (580) 35.7–43.2, (600) 35.3–42.6, (620) 34.8–41.9, (640) 34.2–41.0, (660) 33.6–40.1, (680) 33.0–39.2, (700) 32.5–38.5

Pleochroism:

Distinct

Anisotrophism:

Strong; Color in reflected light: Gray-Black

Occurances

Geological Setting:

Typically a late-stage hydrothermal mineral in Pb–Ag–Zn veins formed at low to medium temperatures.

Common Associations:

Other lead Sulfosalts, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Galena, Tetrahedrite, Stibnite, Quartz, Siderite, Calcite, Dolomite, Rhodochrosite.

Common Impurities:

Cu, Zn, Ag, Bi

Type Locality:

Cornwall, England, UK

Year Discovered:

1825

View mineral photos:

Jamesonite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Jamesonite is one of a few sulfide minerals that form fine acicular crystals that appear as hair-like fibers. Jamesonite also forms larger prismatic crystals that can be confused with Stibnite. Jamesonite has been called feather ore and gray antimony. Jamesonite is rarely available as inclusions in Quartz cabochons. This material is available from Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Jamesonite is available from numerous localities, but only a few have provided rich material. From Cornwall, England, around St. Endellion [TL] and St. Kew. In Germany, at Freiberg, Saxony; and near Magdesprung, Selke Valley, and Clausthal, Harz Mountains. From Príbram, Czech Republic. At Aranyidka, Baia Sprie (Felsöbánya), and Herja (Kisbánya), Baia Mare (Nagybánya) district, Romania. From Trepca, Serbia. At Sala, Västmanland, Sweden. From Machacamarca, Poopó, and Huanuni, Oruro, Bolivia. In Mexico, from the Noche Buena mine, near Mazapil; the Santa Rita mine, Nieves; and in relatively thick crystals from the Noria mine, near Sombrerete, Zacatecas. In the USA, in Idaho, at Slate Creek, Shoshone County From the Dachang district, Guangxi Autonomous Region, China.
 

  
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