NEW PB-AS-BEARING EULYTITE FROM THE GALECHNOE DEPOSIT, EASTERN YAKUTIA

Abstract

Eulytite, Bi4(SiO4)3, is a rare mineral. Since its discovery in Schneeberg and Johanngeorgenstadt (Saxony, Germany) by Breithaupt in 1827, this mineral has been reported from only a few other localities: Hechtsberg and the Clara Mine (Germany), Dognecea (Romania), Cornwall (England), Southwick Cliffs (Scotland), the Evans-Lou quarry (Canada), Pala pegmatites (United States), Smrkovec (Czech Republic), and Wombat Hill, Australia. In all the deposits, the eulytite associates with Bi-bearing minerals: bismuthite, bismuthinite, and native bismuth. Eulytite from the Uralian deposits was studied in cathode and UV rays. However, its exact locality, chemistry, physical properties, and relations with other minerals were not reported. Hence, the data reported below can be considered the description of the first reliable finding of eulytite in Russia.