Hutchinsonite

Hutchinsonite is a sulfosalt mineral of thallium, arsenic and lead with formula (Tl,Pb)₂As₅S₉. Hutchinsonite is a rare hydrothermal mineral.

Hutchinsonite
Hutchinsonite, from Quiruvilca Mine, Santiago de Chuco Province, Peru. Size: 4.5×4.4×2.2 cm
General
Category	Sulfosalt mineral
Formula	(Tl,Pb)2As5S9
IMA symbol	Hut[1]
Strunz classification	2.HD.45
Crystal system	Orthorhombic
Crystal class	Dipyramidal (mmm) H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space group	Pbca
Identification
Color	Red, pink, black
Crystal habit	Acicular – cccurs as needle-like crystals
Cleavage	{100} good
Fracture	Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments
Mohs scale hardness	1.5–2
Luster	Sub-metallic
Streak	Red
Diaphaneity	Subtranslucent to opaque
Specific gravity	4.6
Optical properties	Biaxial (−)
Refractive index	nα = 3.078 nβ = 3.176 nγ = 3.188; 2V = 37°
Birefringence	δ = 0.110
References	[2][3][4]

It was first discovered in a sample from Binnental, Switzerland, in 1903 and named after Cambridge mineralogist Arthur Hutchinson, F.R.S. (1866–1937) in 1904.

See also

• List of minerals
• List of minerals named after people