THE
MINERAL BINDHEIMITE
- Chemical Formula: Pb2Sb2O6(O, OH), Lead Antimony Oxide Hydroxide.
- Class: Oxides and Hydroxides
- Uses: A very minor ore of lead and antimony and as mineral specimens.
Specimens
Bindheimite is an alteration product, or more specifically an oxidation product of lead antimony sulfides such as jamesonite, Pb4FeSb6S14 and boulangerite, Pb5Sb4S11. Sometimes it pseudomorphs these minerals meaning that it replaces them without to much distortion of the outward appearance of the crystals. More commonly, bindeimite replaces these minerals with cryptocrystalline indistinct masses or crusts.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Color is yellow to red-brown or greenish to white.
- Luster is resinous to earthy.
- Transparency: Crystals are opaque.
- Crystal System is isometric.
- Crystal Habits include pseudomorphs of lead antimony sulfides, but more commonly cryptocrystalline masses or crusts.
- Cleavage is not discernible.
- Fracture is earthy.
- Hardness is 4 - 4.5.
- Specific Gravity is approximately 7.3 - 7.5 (heavier than average) when pure but lowers with hydration to around 4.6.
- Streak is pale yellow to brown.
- Associated Minerals include stibiconite,
tetrahedrite,
partzite ,lewisite , cerussite and other lead and/or antimony minerals. - Notable Occurrences include Nerchinsk, Siberia, Russia; Bolivia; Australia; England; Cochise and Pima Counties, Arizona; Black Hills, South Dakota and San Bernardino County, California USA.
- Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, associations and luster.
 Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery MINERALS |
BINDHEIMITE specimen bin-1
$ 30.00
$ 30.00
Dims: 1.2 x 0.8 x 0.7" (3.0 x 2.0 x 1.8 cm)
Wt: 25.6 g
Persian County, Nevada, U.S.A.
This small but heavy thumbnail specimen consists of a more or less amorphous chunk of semicrystalline Bindheimite. It is impossible to discern damage on its rough and uneven surface, but a portion of it is coated with glue and tiny bits of foam, as if it were affixed inside of a specimen box at one point. Though the specimen as a whole is amorphous, it does appear to contain crystals or at least partial crystals that are heavily intergrown with each other. Most of the material is massive, however. The piece has a generally yellow coloration, though this is a bit patchy, and there are a few dark, almost rusty patches on it that likely represent the oxide of one or more different metals. Its luster is dull and almost matte, and being a lead-bearing oxide, the material is completely opaque. There is no host rock present.
bin-1 ($ 30.00)
Persian County, Nevada, U.S.A.
BINDHEIMITE specimen bin-2
$ 25.00
$ 25.00
Dims: 1.32x0.91x0.54" (3.36x2.30x1.36cm)
Wt: 0.29oz (8.2g)
Hamman Jedidi, Tunisia
Bindheimite usually is found in cryptocrystalline masses or crusts, and this is no exception. The color is a slightly brownish green, and a loupe reveals barely perceptible green crystals that are so small I cannot discern their shape. They form a thin to very thin crust over the host rock, and the only distinct crystals are quartz crystals, some of which are coated with bindheimite and appear green. The loupe also reveals that the color of the bindheimite varies from yello-green to a nearly pure green, plus some areas of brownish green, but most of the brown color is due to the underlying host rock showing through.
bin-2 ($ 25.00)
Hamman Jedidi, Tunisia