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Pierrotite

A valid IMA mineral species
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05609460017271925831674.jpg
Pierrotite

Jas Roux, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
00510110017360477115597.jpg
Pierrotite

Lookout Pass Mining District, Tooele County, Utah, USA
06133480017271925963945.jpg
Pierrotite

Jas Roux, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
05609460017271925831674.jpg
Pierrotite

Jas Roux, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
00510110017360477115597.jpg
Pierrotite

Lookout Pass Mining District, Tooele County, Utah, USA
06133480017271925963945.jpg
Pierrotite

Jas Roux, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
05609460017271925831674.jpg
Pierrotite

Jas Roux, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
00510110017360477115597.jpg
Pierrotite

Lookout Pass Mining District, Tooele County, Utah, USA
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About PierrotiteHide

05116410017271925935842.jpg
Roland Pierrot (1930-1998)
Formula:
Tl2(Sb,As)10S16
Sb:As of type material is ca. 3:2.
Colour:
Grayish black
Lustre:
Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
4.97
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Sartorite Group
Name:
Named in 1970 by Claude Guillemin, Zdeněk Johan, Claude P. Laforêt, and Paul Picot in honour of Roland Pierrot (14 May 1930, Guéret, Creuse, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France - 9 November 1998, Orléans, Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire, France), a French mineralogist. He was Head of the Mineralogy Department and General Secretary of the National Geographical Service at BRGM (French Geological Survey).
Dimorph of:
Parapierrotite
Compare jankovićite, rebulite, gillulyite, drechslerite, and gungerite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3209
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3209:0

IMA Classification of PierrotiteHide

Classification of PierrotiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2025):
2.HC.05f

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
C : With only Pb
Dana 8th ed.:
3.8.7.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
8 : 1 < ø < 2
Hey's CIM Ref.:
5.5.17

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
5 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Tl

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference
PieIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of PierrotiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Grayish black
Streak:
Red-brown
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
4.97 g/cm3 (Measured)    4.75 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of PierrotiteHide

Anisotropism:
moderate
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
400nm35.9%39.6%
420nm35.2%38.8%
440nm34.5%38.0%
460nm33.7%37.2%
480nm33.1%36.6%
500nm32.5%36.0%
520nm31.9%35.5%
540nm31.3%35.0%
560nm30.7%34.5%
580nm30.2%34.0%
600nm29.7%33.4%
620nm29.1%32.8%
640nm28.6%32.1%
660nm28.0%31.5%
680nm27.4%30.9%
700nm26.7%30.3%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 39.6%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
white
Internal Reflections:
red

Chemistry of PierrotiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Tl2(Sb,As)10S16

Sb:As of type material is ca. 3:2.
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Sb56.913 %
S23.981 %
Tl19.107 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
As, S, Sb, Tl - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of PierrotiteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Pna21
Setting:
Pna21
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.77 Å, b = 38.8 Å, c = 8.03 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.226 : 1 : 0.207
Unit Cell V:
2,732.42 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Axes are in a new setting; old transformation abc -> bac

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0010859PierrotiteEngel P, Gostojic M, Nowacki W (1983) The crystal structure of pierrotite, Tl2(Sb,As)10S16 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 165 209-2151983Jas-Roux, Hutes-Alps, France0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.63 Å(80)
3.59 Å(100)
3.49 Å(90)
2.84 Å(80)
2.70 Å(90)
2.52 Å(60)
2.47 Å(60)
2.35 Å(80)
Comments:
ICDD 25-938

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of PierrotiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Jas Roux, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
General Appearance of Type Material:
Gray black laths and polycrystalline aggregates.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Hydrothermal deposit in limestone.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Realgar
Reference:
Guillemin, Claude, Johan, Zdenek, Laforêt, Claude, Picot, Paul (1970) La pierrotite Tl2(Sb,As)10 S17, une nouvelle espèce minérale. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 93 (1) 66-71 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1970.6429

Synonyms of PierrotiteHide

Other Language Names for PierrotiteHide

German:Pierrotit
Simplified Chinese:硫锑铊矿
Spanish:Pierrotita

Relationship of Pierrotite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Sartorite Group
Other Members of Sartorite Group:
ArgentobaumhaueriteAg1.5Pb22As33.5S72Tric. 1 : P1
ArgentodufrénoysiteAg3Pb26As35S80Tric. 1 : P1
ArgentoliveingiteAg3+xPb36-2xAs51+xS112Tric. 1 : P1
BarikaiteAg3Pb10(Sb8As11)S40Mon. 2/m : P21/b
BaumhaueritePb12As16S36Tric. 1 : P1
BernarlottiitePb6(As5Sb3)S18Tric. 1 : P1
BoscardiniteTlPb4(Sb7As2)S18Tric. 1 : P1
Carducciite(Ag2Sb2)Pb12(As,Sb)16S40Mon. 2/m : P21/b
DekatriasartoriteTlPb58As97S204Mon. 2/m : P21/b
DufrénoysitePb2As2S5Mon. 2 : P21
ÉcrinsiteAgTl3Pb4As11Sb9S36Tric. 1 : P1
EnneasartoriteTl6Pb32As70S140Mon. 2/m : P21/b
GeueriteAg2Tl4Pb4As22S40Mon. 2/m : P21/b
GiuşcăiteAg2Tl4Pb4As20Sb2S40Mon. m
GuettarditePb8(Sb0.56As0.44)16S32Mon. 2/m : P21/b
HendekasartoriteTl2Pb48As82S172Mon. 2/m : P21/b
HeptasartoriteTl7Pb22As55S108Mon. 2/m : P21/b
HyršlitePb8As10Sb6S32Mon. 2 : P21
IncomsartoriteTl6Pb144As246S516Mon. 2/m
InterliveingiteAgPb18As25S56Mon. 2 : P21
LiveingitePb20As24S56Mon. 2 : P21
ParapierrotiteTlSb5S8Mon. m
PhilrothiteTlAs3S5Mon. 2/m : P21/b
PolloneiteAgPb46As26Sb23S120Mon. 2 : P21
RathiteAg2Pb12-xTlx/2As18+x/2S40Mon. 2/m : P21/b
SartoritePbAs2S4Mon. 2/m : P21/m
Twinnite Pb0.8Tl0.1Sb1.3As0.8S4Mon. 2/m
VeenitePb16Sb9-xAs7+xS40, x ~ 0-0.5Mon. 2 : P21

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
3 photos of Pierrotite associated with RealgarAs4S4
3 photos of Pierrotite associated with RouthieriteTl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6
2 photos of Pierrotite associated with SmithiteAgAsS2
1 photo of Pierrotite associated with LaffittiteAgHgAsS3
1 photo of Pierrotite associated with Wakabayashilite[(As,Sb)6S9][As4S5]

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.HC.BernarlottiitePb6(As5Sb3)S18Tric. 1 : P1
2.HC.HuntingdonitePb19Sb16As6S51Cl2Tric. 1 : P1
2.HC.MoiraitePb12Sb8As8S36Tric. 1 : P1
2.HC.05fParapierrotiteTlSb5S8Mon. m
2.HC.05gMarumoitePb32As40S92Mon. 2 : P21
2.HC.05bBaumhauerite II
2.HC.05dRathiteAg2Pb12-xTlx/2As18+x/2S40Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HC.05eHeptasartoriteTl7Pb22As55S108Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HC.05dDufrénoysitePb2As2S5Mon. 2 : P21
2.HC.05eHendekasartoriteTl2Pb48As82S172Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HC.05bArgentobaumhaueriteAg1.5Pb22As33.5S72Tric. 1 : P1
2.HC.05cArgentoliveingiteAg3+xPb36-2xAs51+xS112Tric. 1 : P1
2.HC.05bBaumhaueritePb12As16S36Tric. 1 : P1
2.HC.05dVeenitePb16Sb9-xAs7+xS40, x ~ 0-0.5Mon. 2 : P21
2.HC.05eDekatriasartoriteTlPb58As97S204Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HC.05aHyršlitePb8As10Sb6S32Mon. 2 : P21
2.HC.05eIncomsartoriteTl6Pb144As246S516Mon. 2/m
2.HC.05cLiveingitePb20As24S56Mon. 2 : P21
2.HC.05cJohnjamboritePb14Sb8.5As7.5S38Tric. 1 : P1
2.HC.05dRathite-IVPbAs2S4
2.HC.05dArgentodufrénoysiteAg3Pb26As35S80Tric. 1 : P1
2.HC.05eÉcrinsiteAgTl3Pb4As11Sb9S36Tric. 1 : P1
2.HC.05aSartoritePbAs2S4Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.HC.05aTwinnite Pb0.8Tl0.1Sb1.3As0.8S4Mon. 2/m
2.HC.05fPhilrothiteTlAs3S5Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HC.05hPolloneiteAgPb46As26Sb23S120Mon. 2 : P21
2.HC.05aGuettarditePb8(Sb0.56As0.44)16S32Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HC.10aFülöppitePb3Sb8S15Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.HC.10dSemseyitePb9Sb8S21Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.HC.10dRayitePb8(Ag,Tl)2Sb8S21Mon.
2.HC.10cHeteromorphitePb7Sb8S19Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.HC.10bPlagionitePb5Sb8S17Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.HC.15FalkmanitePb3Sb2S6Mon.
2.HC.15BoulangeritePb5Sb4S11Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HC.20RobinsonitePb4Sb6S13Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.HC.25MoëloitePb6Sb6S14(S3)Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 2
2.HC.30DadsonitePb23Sb25S60ClTric. 1 : P1
2.HC.35ZoubekiteAgPb4Sb4S10Orth.
2.HC.35Proto-owyheeiteAg9Pb40Sb45S112Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HC.35OwyheeiteAg3Pb10Sb11S28Mon. 2/m
2.HC.40ParasterryiteAg4Pb20Sb14As10S58Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HC.50LopatkaitePb5Sb3AsS11Mon. 2/m : P21/b

Fluorescence of PierrotiteHide

In UV light:
Not fluorescent

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
Contains thallium - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest.

Internet Links for PierrotiteHide

References for PierrotiteHide

Localities for PierrotiteHide

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 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.
France (TL)
 
  • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
    • Hautes-Alpes
      • Gap
        • La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar
Bull.Soc.fr.Min.Crist. (1970) +3 other references
North Macedonia
 
  • Kavadarci Municipality
    • Ržanovo
Djordjevic et al. (2021)
Russia
 
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Serovsky District
      • Turya river
        • Tur'insk
Vikentyev (2015) +4 other references
USA
 
  • Utah
    • Tooele County
      • Lookout Pass Mining District
        • Little Valley
Mineralogical Society of America - ... +1 other reference
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