Jun 11 2014
Billingsleyite was named after Paul Billingsley (1887–1962), a mining geologist, who discovered the type material.
Properties of Billingsleyite
The following are the key properties of billingsleyite:
- Cell Data
- Space group: n.d
- a = ∼ 14.82
- b = ∼ 14.82
- c = 10.48
- Z = 8
- Crystal Data
- Orthorhombic
- Point group: n.d
- Fine-grained aggregates
- X-ray powder pattern: 3.05 (10), 3.19 (7), 3.53 (6), 2.83 (6), 2.49 (6), 3.34 (5), 6.11 (4)
| Elements |
Content 1 |
| Ag |
75.59 |
| S |
16.28 |
| As |
5.73 |
| Sb |
1.50 |
| insol. |
0.61 |
| Fe |
0.06 |
| Cu |
0.02 |
| Total |
99.79 |
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 5.14 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of billingsleyite = 5.74 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PE Billingsleyite = 194.26 barns/electron
U = PE Billingsleyite x ρ electron density = 999.03 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.0014113625
Boson index = 0.9985886375 |
| Radioactivity |
Billingsleyite is not radioactive |
How to Identify Billingsleyite
Billingsleyite can be identified in the field by its lead-gray color variations. Its opaque form has indistinct cleavage. This mineral has a metallic luster.
The density of billingsleyite is 5.9 to 5.94 g/cm3, with a hardness of 2.5 – approximate to finger nail.
Global Distribution
Billingsleyite is distributed in the following places:
- USA - In the North Lily mine, East Tintic district, Utah Co. Utah
- Germany - Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Wolfach, Oberwolfach Rankach valley, Clara Mine
- Mexico - Mun. de Temascaltepec, Temascaltepec de González (Temascaltepec), Guitarra Mine
Occurrence of Billingsleyite and Useful Mineral Association
Billingsleyite might occur in a body of high-grade silver ore.
It is often associated with minerals such as acanthite, tennantite, pyrite, bismuthinite, and galena.
References