"Ustarasite was defined by Sakharova (1955) on the basis of chemical analysis and X-ray powder data. The mineral is compositionally close to synthetic Phase V of Otto & Strunz (1968), which is ∼PbBi4S7 (lillianite–pavonite super-family).
Unit-cell data are needed to validate ustarasite." (Moëlo et al., 2008).

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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

4123

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:4123:8

IMA Classification of UstarasiteHide

IMA status:

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959), Questionable

IMA Formula:

Pb(Bi,Sb)₆S₁₀

Type description reference:

Sakharova, M. S. (1955): Bismuth sulfosalts of Ustarasaisk deposit. Trudy Mineralogicheskogo Muzeya, Akademiya Nauk SSSR (1955), 7, 112-126

Classification of UstarasiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2025):

2.JB.40e

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
J : Sulfosalts of PbS archetype
B : Galena derivatives, with Pb

Dana 8th ed.:

3.8.11.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
8 : 1 < ø < 2

Hey's CIM Ref.:

5.6.33

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

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

Symbol	Source	Reference
Utr	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of UstarasiteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Silver-grey, white in reflected light.

Hardness:

2½ on Mohs scale

Cleavage:

Perfect
One perfect; another present

Optical Data of UstarasiteHide

Anisotropism:

Strong

Colour in reflected light:

white

Chemistry of UstarasiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Pb(Bi,Sb)₆S₁₀ (?)

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Bi	70.374 %
S	17.997 %
Pb	11.629 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Bi, Pb, S, Sb - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Cu,Fe,As

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.53 Å	(100)
1.102 Å	(100)
1.057 Å	(100)
3.08 Å	(70)
2.508 Å	(70)
1.915 Å	(70)
1.732 Å	(70)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of UstarasiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Ustarasai Bi deposit (Ustarasaisk), Brichmulla village, Pskem Range, Tashkent Region, Uzbekistan

General Appearance of Type Material:

Prismatic crystals; may be bent or twisted.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Sakharova, M. S. (1955): Bismuth sulfosalts of Ustarasaisk deposit. Trudy Mineralogicheskogo Muzeya, Akademiya Nauk SSSR (1955), 7, 112-126

Other Language Names for UstarasiteHide

German:Ustarasit

Simplified Chinese:柱硫铋铅矿

Spanish:Ustarasita

Varieties of UstarasiteHide

Silver-bearing Ustarasite

A variety of ustarasite that contains up to about 5% (w/w) of silver.

Relationship of Ustarasite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Lillianite Homologous Series Group

Other Members of Lillianite Homologous Series:

Andreadiniite	CuHgAg₇Pb₇Sb₂₄S₄₈	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
Arsenquatrandorite	Ag_17.6Pb_12.8Sb_38.1As_11.5S₉₆	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
Aschamalmite	Pb_6-3xBi_2+xS₉	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
Brusnitsynite	Mn₃CuPbAs₃Sb₂S₁₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
Clino-oscarkempffite	Ag₁₅Pb₆Sb₂₁Bi₁₈S₇₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
Erzwiesite	Ag₈Pb₁₂Bi₁₆S₄₀	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm
Eskimoite	Ag₇Pb₁₀Bi₁₅S₃₆	Mon.
Fizélyite	Ag₅Pb₁₄Sb₂₁S₄₈	Mon. 2/m
Gustavite	AgPbBi₃S₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Heyrovskýite	Pb₆Bi₂S₉	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cccm
Holubite	Ag₃Pb₆(Sb₈Bi₃)S₂₄	Mon. 2/m
Jasrouxite	Ag₁₆Pb₄(Sb₂₄As₁₆)S₇₂	Tric. 1 : P1
Lasmanisite	Ag₁₂Pb₁₃Mn₁₁Sb₄₄S₉₆	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
Lazerckerite	Ag_3.75Pb_4.50(Sb_7.75Bi₄)S₂₄	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
Lillianite	Pb_3-2xAg_xBi_2+xS₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Menchettiite	AgPb_2.40Mn_1.60Sb₃As₂S₁₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
Oscarkempffite	Ag₁₀Pb₄(Sb₁₇Bi₉)S₄₈	Orth. mm2
Ourayite	Ag₃Pb₄Bi₅S₁₃	Orth.
Oyonite	Ag₃Mn₂Pb₄Sb₇As₄S₂₄	Mon. 2/m
Quatrandorite	AgPbSb₃S₆	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
Ramdohrite	Pb_5.9Fe_0.1Mn_0.1In_0.1Cd_0.2Ag_2.8Sb_10.8S₂₄	Mon. 2/m
Roshchinite	Ag₁₉Pb₁₀Sb₅₁S₉₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
Schirmerite	PbAgBi₃S₆ - Pb₃Ag_1.5Bi_3.5S₉	Orth.
Senandorite	AgPbSb₃S₆	Orth. mm2 : Pmn2₁
Staročeskéite	Ag_0.70Pb_1.60(Bi_1.35Sb_1.35)_Σ2.70S₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm
Tarutinoite	Ag₃Pb₇Bi₇S₁₉	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
Terrywallaceite	AgPb(Sb,Bi)₃S₆	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
Treasurite	Ag₇Pb₆Bi₁₅S₃₂	Mon.
Uchucchacuaite	AgMnPb₃Sb₅S₁₂	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmm
Vikingite	Ag₅Pb₈Bi₁₃S₃₀	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
Xilingolite	Pb₃Bi₂S₆	Mon.

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.JB.	Clino-oscarkempffite	Ag₁₅Pb₆Sb₂₁Bi₁₈S₇₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.JB.	Arsenquatrandorite	Ag_17.6Pb_12.8Sb_38.1As_11.5S₉₆	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.JB.	Ginelfite	Ag₂(Ag_0.5Fe)TlPb_23.5(Sb,As)_33.5S₇₆	Tric. 1 : P1
2.JB.	Andreadiniite	CuHgAg₇Pb₇Sb₂₄S₄₈	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.JB.	Chukotkaite	AgPb₇Sb₅S₁₅	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.JB.	Selenojunoite	Cu₂Pb₃Bi₈Se₁₆	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.	Lechnerite	Ag₁₀Cu₄HgPb₃₃Sb₅₈S₁₂₈	Tric. 1 : P1
2.JB.	Cuprosenandorite	Ag₁₆Cu₈Pb₂₄Sb₇₂S₁₄₄	Orth. mm2 : Pna2₁
2.JB.	Morleyite	Ag₂CuPb₂₅Sb₂₄As₄S_68.5	Tric. 1 : P1
2.JB.	Lazerckerite	Ag_3.75Pb_4.50(Sb_7.75Bi₄)S₂₄	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.JB.	Lasmanisite	Ag₁₂Pb₁₃Mn₁₁Sb₄₄S₉₆	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
2.JB.	Montpelvouxite	AgPb₁₆Sb₂₇As₁₈S₈₄	Tric. 1 : P1
2.JB.	Senandorite	AgPbSb₃S₆	Orth. mm2 : Pmn2₁
2.JB.	Oscarkempffite	Ag₁₀Pb₄(Sb₁₇Bi₉)S₄₈	Orth. mm2
2.JB.05	Diaphorite	Ag₃Pb₂Sb₃S₈	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.JB.10	Cosalite	Pb₂Bi₂S₅	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.JB.15	Marrite	AgPbAsS₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.JB.15	Freieslebenite	AgPbSbS₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.JB.20	Cannizzarite	Pb₄₈Bi₅₆S₁₃₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
2.JB.20	Wittite	Pb₉Bi₁₂(S,Se)₂₇	Mon.
2.JB.25j	Rouxelite	Cu₂HgPb₂₃Sb₂₇S_65.5	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.25i	Neyite	Ag₂Cu₆Pb₂₅Bi₂₆S₆₈	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.25a	Junoite	Cu₂Pb₃Bi₈(S,Se)₁₆	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.25f	Ángelaite	Cu₂AgPbBiS₄	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.JB.25c	Nordströmite	CuPb₃Bi₇(Se₄S₁₀)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
2.JB.25i	Cuproneyite	Cu₇Pb₂₇Bi₂₅S₆₈	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.25g	Nuffieldite	Cu_1.4Pb_2.4Bi_2.4Sb_0.2S₇	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.JB.25h	Weibullite	Pb₅Bi₈Se₇S₁₁	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.JB.25d	Proudite	CuPb_7.5Bi_9.33(S,Se)₂₂	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.25b	Felbertalite	Cu₂Pb₆Bi₈S₁₉	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.30a	Jordanite	Pb₁₄As₆S₂₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
2.JB.30a	Geocronite	Pb₁₄Sb₆S₂₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
2.JB.30a	Arsenmarcobaldiite	Pb₁₂(As_3.2Sb_2.8)_Σ6S₂₁	Tric. 1 : P1
2.JB.30b	Kirkiite	Pb₁₀Bi₃As₃S₁₉	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
2.JB.30c	Tsugaruite	Pb₂₈As₁₅S₅₀Cl	Orth. mm2 : Pnn2
2.JB.30a	Marcobaldiite	Pb₁₂(Sb₃As₂Bi)_Σ6S₂₁	Tric. 1 : P1
2.JB.35d	Pellouxite	(Cu,Ag)Pb₁₀Sb₁₂S₂₇O(Cl,S)_0.6	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.35e	Chovanite	Pb_15-2xSb_14+2xS₃₆O_x (x ~ 0.2)	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.35a	Zinkenite	Pb₉Sb₂₂S₄₂	Hex. 6 : P6₃
2.JB.35c	Pillaite	Pb₉Sb₁₀S₂₃ClO_0.5	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.35b	Scainiite	Pb₁₄Sb₃₀S₅₄O₅	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.35f	Tubulite	Ag₂Pb₂₂Sb₂₀S₅₃	Mon. m : Pb
2.JB.40a	Fizélyite	Ag₅Pb₁₄Sb₂₁S₄₈	Mon. 2/m
2.JB.40a	Ramdohrite	Pb_5.9Fe_0.1Mn_0.1In_0.1Cd_0.2Ag_2.8Sb_10.8S₂₄	Mon. 2/m
2.JB.40a	Bursaite	Pb₅Bi₄S₁₁ (?)	Orth.
2.JB.40	UM1988-05-S:AgBiCuHgPb	(Hg,Ag,Cu,Pb)₅Pb₅Bi₁₁S₂₇
2.JB.40	UM1988-06-S:AgBiCuHgPb	(Pb,Hg)₁₂(Cu,Ag)₃(Bi,Sb)₁₀(S,Te)₂₇
2.JB.40a	Terrywallaceite	AgPb(Sb,Bi)₃S₆	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.JB.40a	Jasrouxite	Ag₁₆Pb₄(Sb₂₄As₁₆)S₇₂	Tric. 1 : P1
2.JB.40a	Tarutinoite	Ag₃Pb₇Bi₇S₁₉	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.40a	Oyonite	Ag₃Mn₂Pb₄Sb₇As₄S₂₄	Mon. 2/m
2.JB.40b	Heyrovskýite	Pb₆Bi₂S₉	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cccm
2.JB.40a	Quatrandorite	AgPbSb₃S₆	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.JB.40a	Erzwiesite	Ag₈Pb₁₂Bi₁₆S₄₀	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm
2.JB.40a	Vikingite	Ag₅Pb₈Bi₁₃S₃₀	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.40a	Lillianite	Pb_3-2xAg_xBi_2+xS₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.JB.40b	Baiamareite	Ag₄Pb₁₂Fe₄Sb₂₀S₄₈	Mon. 2/m
2.JB.40a	Staročeskéite	Ag_0.70Pb_1.60(Bi_1.35Sb_1.35)_Σ2.70S₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm
2.JB.40a	Roshchinite	Ag₁₉Pb₁₀Sb₅₁S₉₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.JB.40b	Aschamalmite	Pb_6-3xBi_2+xS₉	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.40b	Eskimoite	Ag₇Pb₁₀Bi₁₅S₃₆	Mon.
2.JB.40a	Menchettiite	AgPb_2.40Mn_1.60Sb₃As₂S₁₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.JB.40a	Holubite	Ag₃Pb₆(Sb₈Bi₃)S₂₄	Mon. 2/m
2.JB.40a	Brusnitsynite	Mn₃CuPbAs₃Sb₂S₁₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.JB.40a	Treasurite	Ag₇Pb₆Bi₁₅S₃₂	Mon.
2.JB.40c	Ourayite	Ag₃Pb₄Bi₅S₁₃	Orth.
2.JB.40a	Uchucchacuaite	AgMnPb₃Sb₅S₁₂	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmm
2.JB.40d	Schirmerite	PbAgBi₃S₆ - Pb₃Ag_1.5Bi_3.5S₉	Orth.
2.JB.40a	Xilingolite	Pb₃Bi₂S₆	Mon.
2.JB.40a	Gustavite	AgPbBi₃S₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.JB.55	Gratonite	Pb₉As₄S₁₅	Trig. 3m : R3m
2.JB.60	Marrucciite	Hg₃Pb₁₆Sb₁₈S₄₆	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.JB.65	Vurroite	Pb₂₀Sn₂(Bi,As)₂₂S₅₄Cl₆	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.JB.65	Tazieffite	Pb₂₀Cd₂(As,Bi)₂₂S₅₀Cl₁₀	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.JB.70	Daliranite	PbHgAs₂S₅	Mon.

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 UstarasiteHide

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https://www.mindat.org/min-4123.html
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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for UstarasiteHide

Reference List:

Sakharova, M. S. (1955): Bismuth sulfosalts of Ustarasaisk deposit. Trudy Mineralogicheskogo Muzeya, Akademiya Nauk SSSR (1955), 7, 112-126 (in Russian).

Sakharova, M. S. (1955): Bismuth sulfosalts of Ustarasaisk deposit. Trudy Mineralogicheskogo Muzeya, Akademiya Nauk SSSR (1955), 7, 112-126

American Mineralogist (1956): 41: 814 (Abs.).

Otto, H.H., Strunz, H. (1968) Zur Kristallchemie synthetischer Blei-Wismut Spießglanze. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen: 108: 1-19.

(2005) Ustarasite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Moëlo, Yves, Makovicky, Emil, Mozgova, Nadejda N., Jambor, John L., Cook, Nigel, Pring, Allan, Paar, Werner, Nickel, Ernest H., Graeser, Stephan, Karup-Møller, Sven, Balic-unic, Tonči, Mumme, William G., Vurro, Filippo, Topa, Dan (2008) Sulfosalt systematics: a review. Report of the sulfosalt sub-committee of the IMA Commission on Ore Mineralogy. European Journal of Mineralogy, 20 (1) 7-62 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2008/0020-1778

Localities for UstarasiteHide

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.


China
Guangdong Chaozhou Raoping Co. ⓘ Lianhuashan W-Au deposit	Zhenru Zhang et al. (1987)
Hainan Ledong Co. ⓘ Baolun Mine	Bin Shu et al. (2006)
Jiangxi Ganzhou Anyuan Co. ⓘ Pangushan Mine	Yingchen Ren et al. (1986) +4 other references
Yudu Co. ⓘ Tieshanlong Mine (Huangsha Mine)	Zhenru Zhang et al. (1987) +2 other references

Greece
Attica East Attica Lavreotiki Agios Konstantinos (Kamariza) ⓘ Kamariza mines (Kamareza mines)	Voudouris (2005) +1 other reference

Kazakhstan
Akmola Region Stepnogorsk Stepnyak group ⓘ Ishke-Ulmes deposit	Spiridonov (1982)

Serbia
ⓘ Boranja orefield	Slobodan A. Radosavljević et al. (2013) +1 other reference
ⓘ Kolarice deposit	Slobodan A. Radosavljević et al. (2016)

Spain
Galicia A Coruña Malpica ⓘ Corcoesto deposit	Minero (2014)

USA
Alaska Fairbanks North Star Borough Fairbanks Mining District ⓘ Ester Dome	Walsh et al. (1991)

Uzbekistan (TL)
Tashkent Region Pskem Range Brichmulla village ⓘ Ustarasai Bi deposit (Ustarasaisk) (TL)	Sakharova (1955) +1 other reference

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Ustarasite

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of UstarasiteHide

Classification of UstarasiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of UstarasiteHide

Optical Data of UstarasiteHide

Chemistry of UstarasiteHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of UstarasiteHide

Other Language Names for UstarasiteHide

Varieties of UstarasiteHide

Relationship of Ustarasite to other SpeciesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for UstarasiteHide

References for UstarasiteHide

Localities for UstarasiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide