Ardaite in Galena, Madjarovo ore deposit — Photo: Vassto · CC0
Ardaite
Ardaite is a very rare sulfosalt mineral with chemical formula Pb19Sb13S35Cl7 in the monoclinic crystal system, named after the Arda River, which passes through the type locality.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Ardaite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula Pb₁₇Sb₁₅S₃₅Cl₉.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system. It is a member of the Madocite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 6.44; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Ada, IMA status: approved, named in 1979.
Very rare in polymetallic ore deposits.
It is found associated with Galena, nadorite, chlorian robinsonite, chlorian semseyite, pyrostilpnite, argentian tetrahedrite, anglesite (Madjarovo, Bulgaria); sphalerite, pyrrhotite.
The name refers to the Arda River, Bulgaria, which runs through the Madjarovo deposit.