Wakabayashilite , Calcite Locality: White Caps Mine, Manhattan , Nye County , Nevada , USA ( Locality at mindat.org ) Size: 10.0 x 7.9 x 7.8 cm. A very rare cluster of bright orange Wakabayashilite on a cabinet specimen of contrasting massive calcite. Ex. Andrew Carnegie Collection. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Wakabayashilite
A rare golden arsenic-antimony sulfide of unusual cage-like structure.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Wakabayashilite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula (As,Sb)₆As₄S₁₄.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pna2_1).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 1.5; specific gravity 3.96; Orange-yellow streak; Silky (for fibrous aggregates) to resinous. Anisotropism: Weak luster.
IMA symbol Wak, IMA status: approved, named in 1969.
Occurs as fibers in druses of quartz or embedded in calcite.
It is found associated with Realgar, orpiment, stibnite, pyrite (Nishinomaki mine, Japan); realgar, orpiment, calcite (White Caps mine, Nevada, USA); chabournéite, pierrotite.
The name refers to Yaichiro Wakabayashi (1874–1943), mineralogist for the Mitsubishi Mining Company, Japan.