Digital image in reflected plane polarized light (B) and back-scattered electron image (D) showing eliopoulosite from the chromitite of Agios Stefanos. Abbreviations: Elp = eliopoulosite, Tsk = tsikourasite, Aw = awaruite, Chr = chromite. The image is published in an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). — Photo: Bindi, Luca and Zaccarini, Federica and Bonazzi, Paola and Grammatikopoulos, Tassos and Tsikouras, Basilios and Stanley, Chris and Garuti, Giorgio · CC BY 4.0
Eliopoulosite
Eliopoulosite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula V₇S₈.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group P3_221).
Key properties: specific gravity 4.545; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Epo, IMA status: approved, named in 2020.
Found in heavy mineral concentrates from massive podiform chromitite hosted in a strongly altered mantle tectonite in an ophiolite complex.
It is found associated with Nickelphosphide, awaruite, tsikourasite, grammatikopoulosite.
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Demetrios Eliopoulos (1947-2019), Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) and his widow, Professor Maria Eliopoulos (nee Economou, b. 1947).