sample of Meneghinite taken at the Harvard Museum of Natural History — Photo: Gkuriger · CC BY-SA 4.0
Meneghinite
A copper-lead-antimony sulfosalt with a perfect cleavage and conchoidal fracture.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Meneghinite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula Pb₁₃CuSb₇S₂₄.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pbnm). It is a member of the Meneghinite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5; specific gravity 6.36; Shining black streak; Bright metallic luster.
IMA symbol Meg, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1852.
Uncommon, but widespread in hydrothermal veins, also contact metasomatic, volcanogenic sulfide, Cu–Mo porphyry, and rarely, Kuroko deposits.
It is found associated with Galena, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, bournonite, cubanite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, boulangerite, jamesonite, franckeite, tetrahedrite, gudmundite.
The mineral was named to honor Professor Giuseppi Meneghini (1811–1889) of Pisa, Italy, who first observed the species.