Jun 12 2014
Aguilarite was named after Ponciano Aguilar, the former super-intendent of the San Carlos mine, Guanajuato, Mexico, where the material was originally located.
Properties of Aguilarite
The following are the key properties of Aguilarite:
- Cell Data
- Space group: n.d
- a = 4.33
- b = 7.09
- c = 7.76
- Z = 2
- Crystal Data
- Orthorhombic
- Point group: n.d
- Skeletal pseudododecahedral crystals
- Elongated in the direction of a pseudocubic or pseudo-octahedral edge, to 3cm
- Massive
- X-ray powder pattern: 2.43 (100), 2.88 (50), 1.48 (40), 2.23 (30), 1.73 (30), 2.67 (20), 2.59 (20)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
Content 3 |
Content 4 |
| Ag |
79.6 |
79.41 |
78.9 |
79.50 |
| Se |
15.2 |
13.96 |
15.6 |
14.59 |
| S |
6.4 |
5.93 |
5.5 |
5.91 |
| Cu |
- |
0.50 |
- |
- |
| Total |
101.2 |
99.80 |
100.0 |
100.00 |
- Optical Properties
- Anisotropism: Very weak or isotropic
- R1–R2: (400) 34.8–35.1, (420) 34.7–35.2, (440) 34.6–35.2, (460) 34.7–35.3, (480) 34.8–35.3, (500) 34.8–35.4, (520) 34.6–35.6, (540) 34.1–35.5, (560) 33.5–35.2, (580) 32.8–34.6, (600) 32.1–33.8, (620) 31.5–33.9, (640) 31.0–32.4, (660) 30.6–31.8, (680) 30.2–31.4, (700) 30.0–31.0
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 6.63 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of Aguilarite = 7.56 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PEAguilarite = 218.58 barns/electron
U = PEAguilarite x ρ electron density = 1,449.92 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.01
Boson index = 0.99 |
Radioactivity
|
Aguilarite is not radioactive
|
How to Identify Aguilarite
Aguilarite can be identified in the field by its color variations, such as gray, iron-gray, and black. Its opaque form has no cleavage. This mineral has an adamantine–metallic luster, with a grayish-black streak. The fracture on this mineral is hackly-jagged, torn surfaces.
The density of aguilarite is 7.4 to 7.56 g/cm3, with a hardness of 2 to 3 - between gypsum and calcite.
Global Distribution
Aguilarite is distributed in the following places:
- Mexico - From Guanajuato, in the San Carlos mine [TL] and others; at the Chontalpan mine, Taxco, Guerrero
- USA - In Idaho, from Silver City, Owyhee Co. and at the 4th of July mine, Yankee Fork, Custer Co. Also from the Comstock Lode, Virginia City, Storey Co. Nevada; in Washington, at the L-D mine, Wenatchee, Chelan Co. and the Knob Hill mine, Republic, Ferry Co. and from Cuchillo, Winston district, Sierra Co. New Mexico
- Australia - From the Woluma goldfield, New South Wales
- New Zealand - At the Maritoto mine, north-east of Paeroa
- Japan - In the Sanru mine, Hokkaido
Occurrence of Aguilarite and Useful Mineral Association
Aguilarite occurs in hydrothermal deposits rich in silver and selenium, but distinctly deficient in sulfur.
It is often associated with minerals such acanthite, silver, naumannite, proustite, pearceite, quartz, calcite, and stephanite.
References