Microscopic black grains of lapieite (a very rare Ni-Cu-Sb sulphide) forming inclusions in massive sulphides in mariposite-rich metamorphic rock from the type locality in Lapie river (Lapie River, St Cyr Range, Watson Lake, Yukon, Canada), in a sample that has three sides polished because it was analyzed by the former owner of the specimen, the Vandenbroucke Museum. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lapieite
Lapieite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula CuNiSbS₃.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group P2_12_12_1). It is a member of the Lapieite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4.5–5; specific gravity 4.966; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Lap, IMA status: approved, named in 1983.
Found in a highly altered and mineralized glacial erratic (Lapie River, Canada).
It is found associated with Nickelian pyrite, gersdorffite, polydymite, millerite, marcasite, tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, spinel, magnetite, mica, quartz (Lapie River, Canada); zinkenite.
The name refers to the Lapie River, Canada.