Lead grey metallic inclusions of the very rare sulphosalt mineral benavidesite in brown alabandite in an analyzed sample by SEM/EDS, from the TL in Uchucchacua mine, Peru. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Benavidesite
Benavidesite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula Pb₄MnSb₆S₁₄.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/c).
Key properties: specific gravity 5.6; Dark gray with a brownish tint streak; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Bnv, IMA status: approved, named in 1980.
Found in a metamorphosed iron sulfide deposit in association with submarine felsic volcanism (Sätra mine, Sweden); in telescoped polymetallic mineralization in association with dacitic intrusions (Uchuc-Chacua deposit, Peru).
It is found associated with Galena, manganoan sphalerite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, alabandite, uchucchacuaite, quartz, bustamite, rhodonite, calcite (Uchuc-Chacua deposit, Peru); galena.
The mineral was named to honor the contributions of Alberto Benavides (1920–), Peruvian mining engineer, to the development of mining in Peru.