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Athabascaite

A valid IMA mineral species
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08224290017271921162516.jpg
Athabascaite

Bukov Mine, Rožná deposit, Rožná, Žďár nad Sázavou District, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic
04275370017271921199480.jpg
Athabascaite

Eagle Claims U-Cu-Se occurrence, Beaverlodge Lake area, Saskatchewan, Canada
03981330017271921258948.jpg
Athabascaite

Bukov Mine, Rožná deposit, Rožná, Žďár nad Sázavou District, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic
08224290017271921162516.jpg
Athabascaite

Bukov Mine, Rožná deposit, Rožná, Žďár nad Sázavou District, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic
04275370017271921199480.jpg
Athabascaite

Eagle Claims U-Cu-Se occurrence, Beaverlodge Lake area, Saskatchewan, Canada
03981330017271921258948.jpg
Athabascaite

Bukov Mine, Rožná deposit, Rožná, Žďár nad Sázavou District, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic
08224290017271921162516.jpg
Athabascaite

Bukov Mine, Rožná deposit, Rožná, Žďár nad Sázavou District, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic
04275370017271921199480.jpg
Athabascaite

Eagle Claims U-Cu-Se occurrence, Beaverlodge Lake area, Saskatchewan, Canada
Hide all sections | Show all sections

About AthabascaiteHide

06988780017271921293900.jpg
Lake Athabasca, Canada
Formula:
Cu5Se4
Colour:
Light grey, bluish-grey to white
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
6.59 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named for Lake Athabasca, which crosses the border between Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. The type locality is near the lake.
This page provides mineralogical data about Athabascaite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
408
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:408:4

IMA Classification of AthabascaiteHide

Classification of AthabascaiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2025):
2.BA.25

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
Dana 8th ed.:
2.16.17.1

2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:
3.1.13

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

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

Physical Properties of AthabascaiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Light grey, bluish-grey to white
Comment:
May tarnish blue and/or deep yellow.
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN15=78 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
6.59 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of AthabascaiteHide

Anisotropism:
Strong, creamy white to dark blue
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
400nm21.2% 25.1%
420nm19.9% 25.2%
440nm19.6% 25.3%
460nm19.3% 25.4%
480nm19.0% 25.5%
500nm18.6% 25.6%
520nm18.3% 25.6%
540nm17.8% 25.5%
560nm17.4% 25.4%
580nm16.9% 25.1%
600nm16.3% 25.0%
620nm15.5% 24.5%
640nm15.0% 24.2%
660nm14.2% 23.7%
680nm13.4% 23.1%
700nm12.5% 22.4%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 25.6%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Light gray to blue-gray

Chemistry of AthabascaiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Cu5Se4
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Cu50.149 %
Se49.851 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Cu, Se - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
S

Crystallography of AthabascaiteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.227 Å, b = 11.982 Å, c = 6.441 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.687 : 1 : 0.538
Unit Cell V:
634.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Commonly laths to 100 microns, sometimes larger
Comment:
Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
12.10 Å(5)
6.00 Å(5)
4.11 Å(5)
3.44 Å(30)
3.34 Å(5)
3.235 Å(100)
3.112 Å(10)
3.015 Å(60)
2.870 Å(20)
2.744 Å(20)
2.606 Å(5)
2.490 Å(20)
2.391 Å(5)
2.200 Å(5)
2.105 Å(20)
1.997 Å(80)
1.893 Å(50)
1.817 Å(30)
1.720 Å(5)
1.694 Å(20)
1.664 Å(40)
1.374 Å(30)
1.294 Å(30)
1.205 Å(20)
1.149 Å(20)
1.132 Å(20)
1.074 Å(5)
Comments:
Martin Lake mine, Canada. Harris, Cabri, and Kaiman (1969)

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-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])
Geological Setting:
In basaltic rocks

Type Occurrence of AthabascaiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Martin Lake mine, Beaverlodge Lake area, Saskatchewan, Canada
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Canada, Ottawa; Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, M29432.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
As inclusions in and replacements of umangite, as stringers and veinlets in carbonate veins cutting basalt.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
BaryteBerzelianiteCalciteClausthaliteNative Copper
EskeborniteEucairiteFeldspar GroupHematiteKlockmannite
PyriteQuartzNative SilverTyrrelliteUmangite
Uraninite
Reference:
Harris, D. C, Cabri, L. J., Kaiman, S. (1970) Athabascaite, a new copper selenide mineral from Martin Lake, Saskatchewan. The Canadian Mineralogist, 10 (2) 207-215

Synonyms of AthabascaiteHide

Other Language Names for AthabascaiteHide

Simplified Chinese:斜方硒铜矿
Spanish:Athabascaita
Traditional Chinese:斜方硒銅礦

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
4 photos of Athabascaite associated with TyrrelliteCu(Co,Ni)2Se4
2 photos of Athabascaite associated with UmangiteCu3Se2
2 photos of Athabascaite associated with CalciteCaCO3
2 photos of Athabascaite associated with BerzelianiteCu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12)
2 photos of Athabascaite associated with ClausthalitePbSe
1 photo of Athabascaite associated with PetroviciteCu3HgPbBiSe5
1 photo of Athabascaite associated with Penroseite(Ni,Co,Cu)Se2
1 photo of Athabascaite associated with KruťaiteCuSe2
1 photo of Athabascaite associated with OlsacheritePb2(Se6+O4)(SO4)
1 photo of Athabascaite associated with ChalcomeniteCuSeO3 · 2H2O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.BA.MakotoiteAg12(Cu3Au)S8Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
2.BA.AlburniteAg8GeTe2S4Iso.
2.BA.DzierżanowskiteCaCu2S2Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
2.BA.XuwenyuaniteAg9Fe3+Te2S4Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.BA.Orileyite(Fe,Cu)2As
2.BA.Juxingite Bi6Cu140Fe30S125Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.BA.05DjurleiteCu31S16Mon. 2/m
2.BA.05GeeriteCu8S5Trig. 3
2.BA.05RoxbyiteCu58S32Tric. 1 : P1
2.BA.05ChalcociteCu2SMon. 2/m : P21/b
2.BA.10DigeniteCu9S5Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
2.BA.10AniliteCu7S4Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.BA.15BorniteCu5FeS4Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca
2.BA.20BellidoiteCu2SeTet. 4/m : P42/n
2.BA.20BerzelianiteCu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12)Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m
2.BA.25UmangiteCu3Se2Tet. 4 2m : P4 21m
2.BA.30RickarditeCu7Te5Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
2.BA.30WeissiteCu2-xTeHex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mmm
2.BA.35AcanthiteAg2SMon. 2/m : P21/m
2.BA.35SpryiteAg8(As3+0.5As5+0.5)S6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
2.BA.40dUM2003-13-S:AgAuCuAg6AuCu2S5
2.BA.40MckinstryiteAg5-xCu3+xS4Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.BA.40StromeyeriteAgCuSOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.BA.42HoneaiteAu3TlTe2 Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcm
2.BA.45JalpaiteAg3CuS2Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd
2.BA.45SelenojalpaiteAg3CuSe2Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd
2.BA.45KuriliteAg8Te3SeTrig. 3 : R3
2.BA.47Spiridonovite(Cu1-xAgx)2TeTrig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3c1
2.BA.50WuyanzhiiteCu2STet. 4 2 2 : P43 21 2
2.BA.50EucairiteAgCuSeOrth.
2.BA.52ArgentiteAg2SIso.
2.BA.55NaumanniteAg2SeOrth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21
2.BA.55AguilariteAg4SeSMon. 2/m
2.BA.60ChenguodaiteAg9Fe3+Te2S4Orth.
2.BA.60HessiteAg2TeMon. 2/m : P21/b
2.BA.60CervelleiteAg4TeSMon. 2/m
2.BA.65Henryite(Cu,Ag)3+xTe2 , with x ~ 0.40 Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3c
2.BA.65StütziteAg5-xTe3, x = 0.24-0.36Hex. 6 : P6
2.BA.70ArgyroditeAg8GeS6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
2.BA.70Putzite(Cu4.7Ag3.3)GeS6Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.BA.70CanfielditeAg8SnS6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
2.BA.75FischesseriteAg3AuSe2Iso. 4 3 2 : I41 3 2
2.BA.75UytenbogaardtiteAg3AuS2Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
2.BA.75Penzhinite(Ag,Cu)4Au(S,Se)4Hex. 6 2 2 : P63 2 2
2.BA.75PetrovskaiteAuAgSMon.
2.BA.75PetziteAg3AuTe2Iso. 4 3 2 : I41 3 2
2.BA.80Bezsmertnovite(Au,Ag)4Cu(Te,Pb)Orth.
2.BA.80BilibinskitePbCu2Au3Te2Iso.
2.BA.80Bogdanovite(Au,Te,Pb)3(Cu,Fe)Iso.

Fluorescence of AthabascaiteHide

In UV light:
Not fluorescent in UV

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for AthabascaiteHide

References for AthabascaiteHide

Localities for AthabascaiteHide

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.
Argentina
 
  • La Rioja Province
    • General Lamadrid Department
Marquez-Zavalia et al. (2021)
      • Villa Castelli
Excalibur mineral specimen
Mineralogical Society of America - ...
Bolivia
 
  • Potosí
    • Antonio Quijarro Province
      • Porco Municipality
doi:10.3390/min7050068 +1 other reference
Canada
 
  • Nunavut
    • Kivalliq Region
      • Baker Lake
G.S.C. Bulletin 330. +1 other reference
  • Saskatchewan
    • Beaverlodge Lake area
King (n.d.)
HARRIS et al. (1969) +2 other references
China
 
  • Inner Mongolia
    • Alxa League (Alashan Prefecture)
      • Alxa Right Banner (Alashan Youqi)
Jiayong Pan et al. (2009)
Czech Republic
 
  • Central Bohemian Region
Škácha et al. (2017)
  • Olomouc Region
    • Jeseník District
      • Javorník
        • Zálesí
Sejkora et al. (2012)
  • Plzeň Region
    • Klatovy District
      • Nalžovské Hory
        • Ústaleč
Sejkora et al. (2024)
    • Plzeň-South District
      • Spálené Poříčí
Scharm et al. (2000)
    • Tachov District
      • Zadní Chodov
Scharmová et al. (1995)
  • South Bohemian Region
    • Písek District
      • Kovářov
        • Předbořice
Anthony et al. (1990) +1 other reference
  • Vysočina Region
    • Žďár nad Sázavou District
      • Nové Město na Moravě
Anthony et al. (1990) +1 other reference
      • Rožná
        • Rožná deposit
Thorne (n.d.)
DR Congo
 
  • Lualaba
    • Mutshatsha
      • Kolwezi
Canadian Mineralogist 46 (2008) +1 other reference
France
 
  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
    • Puy-de-Dôme
      • Issoire
        • Le Vernet-Chaméane
Anthony et al. (1990) +1 other reference
Germany
 
  • Lower Saxony
    • Göttingen District
      • Walkenried
        • Zorge
Simon et al. (1997)
  • Saxony-Anhalt
    • Mansfeld-Südharz
      • Mansfeld
Wittern (2001)
Sweden
 
  • Östergötland County
    • Valdemarsvik
Sandström (2007) +1 other reference
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