Metallic crystals of the extremely rare mineral uchucchacuaite in matrix. Uchucchacuaite in visible crystals is a very sought after mineral. Probably from the type locality at Uchucchacua Mine, although the label accompanying the specimen indicates the locality to be "Orcopampa, Peru" (Orcopampa District, Arequipa Department, Peru). Specimen formerly in the collection of Dr. Wilke (1984). — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Uchucchacuaite
A rare silver-manganese-lead-antimony sulfosalt from Peru's Uchucchacua mine.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Uchucchacuaite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula AgMnPb₃Sb₅S₁₂.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/n). It is a member of the Lillianite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 5.487; Metallic. R1-R2: (400) 36.2-44.3, (420) 36.3-44.2, (440) 35.8-44.2, (460) 35.2-43.8, (480) 35.0-43.9, (500) 34.7-43.7 luster.
IMA symbol Uch, IMA status: approved, named in 1981.
Found in a telescoped polymetallic hydrothermal deposit (Peru).
It is found associated with Alabandite, galena, benavidesite, sphalerite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite.
The name refers to the Uchuc-Chacua deposit in Peru.