Emplectite with Chalcopyrite Dimensions: Crystal 0.8 mm long Locality: Würm, Käfersteige mine, Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany — Photo: Henk Smeets – tomeikminerals.com · CC BY 4.0
Emplectite
Emplectite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula CuBiS₂.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pnma). It is a member of the Chalcostibite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2; specific gravity 6.38; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Emp, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1855.
Found in hydrothermal veins with other sulfides and sulfosalts formed at medium temperatures.
It is found associated with Chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, molybdenite, quartz, fluorite (Hornı́ Slavkov, Czech Republic); tetrahedrite–tennantite, luzonite–famatinite, pyrite.
Its name comes from the Greek for interwoven or entwined; in reference to its sometimes intimate association with quartz.