Metallic crystal aggregates of the very rare sulphosalt mineral neyite from Nevada (Battle Mountain District, Lander County, Nevada, United States of America). Ex. Erich Laskowski collection (USA). — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY 4.0
Neyite
Neyite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula Ag₂Cu₆Pb₂₅Bi₂₆S₆₈.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group C2/m). It is a member of the Neyite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5; specific gravity 7.02; Bright metallic. Anisotropism: Moderate, pale gray, yellow-green, and pale reddish brown to gray-black luster.
IMA symbol Ney, IMA status: approved, named in 1968.
Found in late-forming crosscutting hydrothermal quartz veins in a quartz-molybdenite stockwork (Lime Creek deposit, Canada); in mesozonal synmetamorphic quartz veins (Johnny Lyon Hills, Arizona, USA).
It is found associated with Pyrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, aikinite, cosalite, tetrahedrite, nuffieldite, molybdenite (Lime Creek deposit, Canada); gold, chalcopyrite.
The mineral was named to honor Charles Stuart Ney (1918–1975), geologist in charge of early exploration at the Lime Creek deposit.