BISMUTH-CONTAINING VARIETY OF PETROVICITE FROM THE DOLOMITE VEINS OF THE ERZGEBIRGE

Abstract

A review of selenides from veins of the brownspar association in the Erzebirge Mountains that have been described in the literature and that occur in association with pitchblende, clauthalite, berzelianite, crookesite, eucairite and other selenides encountered a mineral whose properties are reminiscent of petrovicite (Cu3HgPbBiSe5) from Moravia but with a much different Hg:Bi ratio. This selenide contained 10 percent by weight more bismuth than petrovicite and correspondingly 10 percent less mercury. Its empirical formula is very different from that of petrovicite. Its powder pattern is similar to that of petrovicite. The data indicate that the mineral, a selenide of copper, lead, bismuth and mercury, is a high-bismuth variety of petrovicite.