Athabascaite
| Athabascaite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Selenide mineral |
| Formula | Cu5Se4 |
| IMA symbol | Atb |
| Strunz classification | 2.BA.15d |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic Unknown space group |
| Unit cell | a = 8.227 Å, b = 11.982 Å c = 6.441 Å; Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Light grey, bluish-gray to white |
| Crystal habit | As anhedral inclusions and lath shaped crystals, also massive |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2.5 |
| Luster | Metallic |
| Diaphaneity | Opaque |
| Specific gravity | 6.59 (calculated) |
| Optical properties | Anisotropism strong, creamy white to dark blue |
| Pleochroism | Distinct, pale gray to blue-gray |
| References | |
Athabascaite is a member of the copper selenide minerals, and forms with other copper selenides. It was first discovered by S. Kaiman in 1949 while he was researching radioactive materials around Lake Athabasca. Kaiman was conducting research near Uranium City, Saskatchewan where mass amounts of uranium mines were present.