Briartite

Briartite is an opaque iron-grey metallic sulfide mineral, Cu₂(Zn,Fe)GeS₄ with traces of Ga and Sn, found as inclusions in other germanium-gallium-bearing sulfides.^[2]

Briartite
General
Category	Mineral
Formula (repeating unit)	Cu2(Fe,Zn)GeS4
IMA symbol	Btt[1]
Strunz classification	02.KA.10(02)
Dana classification	2.9.2.3.(02)
Crystal system	Tetragonal
Space group	07;10
Unit cell	297.46 ų
Identification
Colour	Gray to gray blue; Iron-grey
Twinning	Polysynthetic
Mohs scale hardness	3.5–4.5
Luster	Metallic; Unpolished
Diaphaneity	Opaque
Specific gravity	4.337 (Calculated)
Density	4.337 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Common impurities	Ga, Sn

It was discovered at the Prince Léopold Mine, Kipushi, Shaba, Congo (Léopoldville) in 1965 by Francotte and others, and named for Gaston Briart who had studied formations at Kipushi.^[3]

Briartite is also found in Namibia, Greece, and Spain.^[4]

See also

• List of minerals
• List of minerals named after people

References

1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
2. "Briartite". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
3. "New Mineral Names" (PDF). Mineral Society of America. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
4. "Briartite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-07-09. Retrieved 9 February 2021.