Metallic crystal of the very rare Pb-Bi-Te mineral rucklidgeite on a contrasting white matrix. From: Harrison Gold Mine, Bear Mountain, British Columbia, Canada. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rucklidgeite
Rucklidgeite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula PbBi₂Te₄.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group R-3m). It is a member of the Tetradymite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 7.739; Lead-gray streak; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Ruk, IMA status: approved, named in 1975.
Hydrothermal in origin.
It is found associated with Gold, arsenopyrite, boulangerite, dolomite (Kochkar deposit, Russia); tellurobismuthite, volynskite, calaverite, hessite (Ashley deposit, Canada); altaite.
The mineral was named to honor Dr. John Christopher Rucklidge (1938–), Canadian mineralogist, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.