Lorándite

A variety of Minerals

Lorándite specimen - rock identification

What is Lorándite?

Lorándite is a thallium arsenic sulfosalt with the chemical formula: TlAsS2. Though rare, it is the most common thallium-bearing mineral. Lorandite occurs in low-temperature hydrothermal associations and in gold and mercury ore deposits. Associated minerals include stibnite, realgar, orpiment, cinnabar, vrbaite, greigite, marcasite, pyrite, tetrahedrite, antimonian sphalerite, arsenic and barite. The mineral is being used for detection of solar neutrino via a certain nuclear reaction involving thallium. It has a monoclinic crystal structure consisting of spiral chains of AsS3 tetrahedra interconnected by thallium atoms, and can be synthesized in the laboratory.

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Lorándite Localities Map

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North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

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Key Characteristics

Composition of Lorándite

The crystal structure of lorandite is monoclinic, space group P21/a, Z = 4, with the lattice constants a = 1.228 nm, b = 1.130 nm, c = 0.6101 nm and β = 104.5 °. It consists of spiral chains of AsS3 tetrahedra oriented to the [010] crystal axis. The chains are covalently interlinked by irregularly coordinated Tl atoms (chain interconnections not shown in the picture), and breaking of these links is responsible for crystal cleavage.

More Images

Lorándite specimen 2
© Robert M. Lavinsky

Quick Facts

Physical Properties

Color
Cochineal- to carmine-red; often dark lead-gray on the surface and frequently coated by an ochre-yellow powder.
Hardness (Mohs)
2 - 2.5
Density
5.53 g/cm³
Streak
Cherry-red

Chemical Properties

Chemical Formula
TlAsS2
Elements
As, S, Tl
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