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News

Two new type minerals and a new neighbor

Backscattered-electron images showing dark exsolution lamellae of giuşcăite in geuerite (medium grey) and minor rathite (bright). The scale bar represent 0.1 mm. (Photo and courtesy D. Topa)

Argentotetrahedrite-(Zn), yet Another New Species

December 10, 2020 - The IMA CNMNC has not announced it yet, but since the new species already appears in online databases, we can report here on yet another new 'fahlore' for which the Lengenbach is - besides the Kremnica deposit in Slovakia - the type-locality: argentotetrahedrite-(Zn). The potential novelty of the mineral was recognized after first EDXS analyses on a sample from H. Geuer had shown a yet undocumented combination of elements. It turned out that the new species was already being investigated at the Pisa University on material from Slovakia. C. Biagioni kindly agreed to include additional analyses and results obtained on the Lengenbach sample and submit a proposal including both localities.

The heterogeous argentotetrahedrite co-type, combination of tristetrahedron and tetrahedron. Photo P. Roth, coll. H. Geuer. FOV 1.5 mm.

New Nomenclature of 'Fahlores'

March 2020  -  Until the recent revision by Biagioni et al. (2020) of the nomeclature and classification of the tetrahedrite group minerals – the 'fahlores' – there were three members of this group present in the Lengenbach quarry: tennantite, tetrahedrite and 'freibergite', the later being poorly defined. According to the recent revision, most of the Lengenbach tennantites, and in particular the 'binnites', are tennantite-(Zn), for which Lengenbach is the type-locality. Numerous EDXS studies have shown that Fe rarely dominates, which leads to tennantite-(Fe). Two cases are also reported of the probable presence of (Sb-rich) argentotennantite-(Zn). Possible additional As-dominant terms are being investigated. On the Sb-dominant side, only tetrahedrite-(Zn) is known. The previously reported sample of 'freibergite' has now to be regarded as Ag-rich tetrahedrite-(Zn).

'Binnite', now tennantite-(Zn), crystal on dolomite. Photo M. Rein-hardt, coll. T. Raber. FOV 8 mm.

Ilsemannite, a Rare Blue Mineral

26 October, 2019 – Molybdenite is known in the Lengenbach to come, not exclusively but primarily, from a somewhat isolated mineralization located closer to the eponymous brook than the zones hosting the famous sulfosalt minerals. There, ilsemannite has recently been identified by N. Meisser, the head of the FGL scientific commission, on a specimen found in 1996. The patches of leaflets, closely associated with mica crystals, had attracted attention because of their blue color, a very unusual color among the minerals of the quarry. The presence of only Mo and O (in EDXS), the amorphous character of the mineral, together with its distinctive color all indicate the presence of this mineral.

Blue ilsemannite with colorless mica in a small cavity in dolomite. FOV 2.5 mm. Coll. R. Cannon. © Mischa Crumbach / designby earth.com.

Yet Another Arsenate: Picropharmacolite

June 14, 2019 – Within a month two new calcium-dominant arsenates could be identified. They come from two different, independent sources. The second arsenate, after pharmacolite (s. neighboring column) is picropharmacolite. The mineral was identified by J. Desor (D) though PXRD and EDS analyses on a specimen found in 2000. Picropharmacolite forms small spherical aggregates of colorless to white acicular crystals on jordanite / dufrénoysite, pyrite and dolomite, reminiscent of hörnesite sprays. Picropharmacolite is associated with minute pale-yellowish grains of sulphur.

Whitish, acicular cluster of picopharmacolite on dolomite and pyrite. Coll. T. Raber. FOV ~2.5 mm. © Photo J. Desor Mineralanalytik (D).

Geocronite from Lengenbach?

Dekatriasartorite, the 5th 'M-sartorite'

December 21, 2017 – Dan Topa, one of the FGL Preferred Associated Scientists (PAS), has just seen his fifth member of the sartorite series been officially and publicly approved by the CNMNC. Knowing the naming scheme of the previous new ‘sartorites’ (see the Feb. 2016 contribution below), it is easy to infer that the new species, dekatriasartorite, received its name from its 13-fold superstructure. Its (simplified) formula is TlPb₅₈As₉₇S₂₀₄. This is the Tl-poorest of the new ‘satorites’, also called M-sartorites (see the now published article on three such new M-sartorites; Topa et al., 2017).  As it is the case for most of the prismatic, grey Lengenbach Pb sulfosalts, a reliable identification is only possible with thorough analytical investigations. Interestingly, and in contrast to other members of the sartorite homologous series such as baumhauerite or rathite, most of the investigated samples of M-sartorites are homogeneous. As a product of a late sulfide deposition phase, the M-sartorites tend to cover or replace all other earlier formed Pb-sulfosalts (Topa et al., 2017).  

Report on the 2nd International Sulfosalt Symposium in Tavagnasco (08/2017)

January, 2018

Report on the 2nd International Sulfosalt Symposium.pdf

New Lengenbach Brochure

June, 2017 - There is a brand new Lengenbach brochure (in German language only, edited by the Natural Park Binntal) with many facts and information for collectors and tourists, including gorgeous mineral photos. Have a look!

Lengenbach Brochure 2017-05.pdf

Raguinite, yet Another Premiere

March, 2017 - Nicolas Meisser, using a combination of XRD and EDXS methods, just reported raguinite as a new Lengenbach mineral. The specimen (L-15-6772, LB_UK-097) hosting it was extracted in 2015 from the Tl-rich dolomite ribbon on which the FGL has been working for three years now. Raguinite builds a black crust on a wallisite crystal (wallisite₆₂hatchite₃₈). Under strong magnification raguinite shows tiny aggregates of platy, rectangular crystals.

Coffinite Crystal Structure Solved

January 6, 2017 -  PAS (Preferred Associated Scientist) Jakub Plášil just announced that he was able to solve for the first time the crystal structure of natural coffinite from single-crystal data. The data was acquired on a coffinite sample mined in 2015 in the Lengenbach quarry, the counterpart of the specimen pictured below, It was speculated - when very recently (s. below) coffinite was identified for the first time in the quarry - that Lengenbach coffinite might diffract, as brannerite had shown in the past not to be metamict. This turned out to be true. More to come in a future paper.

Richardsollyite, a new Mineral and a new Structure

October 5, 2016 - Early in the season 2015, the FGL extracted a specimen with an unknown mineral from the Tl-rich dolomite ribbon, called "B1", in the center of the quarry. One year later, we can announce the approval of richardsollyite as a new mineral. Richardsollyite occurs as metallic, grey-black crystals with striated and curved faces, grown on cherry-red hutchinsonite (see picture). The structure of richardsollyite, TlPbAsS₃, is new, without natural equivalent. The name honours Richard Harrison Solly (1851-1925), eminent British mineralogist, very present and successful in the Binn valley at the dawn of the at the dawn of the twentieth century.

© Photo Stefan Ansermet. Holotype specimen, n° 080126, Geological Museum, Lausanne,

First Occurrence of Schultenite

September 21, 2016 - Based on powder XRD analyses, Nicolas Meisser, scientific head of the FGL, just confirmed what had first been supposed based on a routine EDXS measurement: schultenite has to be added to the list of Lengenbach mineral. This is the first reported occurrence in Switzerland. On a specimen mined by the FGL in summer 2016 from „ribbon 2“, in the central, As-rich part of the mineralization, two secondary minerals occur on native arsenic: arsenolite octahedra and schultenite as apparently porous, platy, beige crystals that, under the SEM, appear to consist of numerous tiny triangles and platelets.  

Copyright & Photo P. Roth

Three New "Sartorites"

February 9, 2016 - The approval by the CNMNC of three new sulfosalts from Lengenbach has just been announced. Congratulations to the main author, Dan Topa, with whom the FGL has recently signed a Preferred Associated Scientist (PAS) collaboration. The three new minerals  heptasartorite, enneasartorite and hendekasartorite are all - as their name says - members of a "subgroup' of the sartorite homologous series. In the course of systematic investigations Dan has observed a systematic correlation between the amount of Tl in "sartorite" and the crystal structure. At a few critical values of Tl content the crystal structure tilts into a new one, leading to a new species. "Sartorite" is now the designation for a group of minerals (no holotype is known for this species on which investigations could have been performed). As it is the case for most of the prismatic, grey Lengenbach Pb sulfosalts a distinction between the new minerals is only possible with thorough analytical investigations.

Ferrostalderite, the 35th Type Mineral

May 4, 2015 - The CNMNC just announced the approval of ferrostalderite, a new mineral from Lengenbach. This is yet another member of the routhierite-stalderite isotopic series, to which ralphcannonite has just recently been added. Ferrostalderite has the ideal formula: CuFe₂TlAs₂S₆. It cannot be distinguisehd visually from stalderite and ralphcannonite, all three mineral species forming small, equant to prismatic, tetragonal crystals. March 17, 2016. The characterizazion paper is now published (see here).

Photo P. Roth, courtesy  PIAG.

Two Additional Secondary Minerals

September 12, 2015. Nicolas Meisser, scientific head of the FGL, announces the identification on samples from the Musée cantonal de Géologie in Lausanne (CH) of two new secondary minerals: leadhillite and bianchite. Leadhillite was found as up to 0.04 mm greasy white, hexagonal crystals on altered lengenbachite associated with mimetite on a specimen mined in 1979. Bianchite occurs as to 0.2 mm large, snowy white efflorescences on pyrite and is  intimately associated with sphalerite on a specimen from 1980.

3rd Locality for Picotpaulite

June 19, 2015 - An XRD analysis performed today at the Padova Univ. by PAS Prof. Fabrizio Nestola just confirmed the existence of picotpaulite at Lengenbach, after first EDX analyses conducted on a FGL specimen found in 2014 had already indicated the possible presence of this rare iron-thallium sulfide (TlFe₂S₃) for which the quarry is now the third locality worldwide. Picotpaulite forms a crust of dull grey, tiny crystals on a larger pyrite crystal in the Tl-rich band 1 of zone 1 of the quarry, a zone carefully exploited in 2014.

© Mischa Crumbach / designbyearth.com, FOV 0.35 mm.

Diffractogram of picopaulite (above), courtesy F. Nestola

Spaltiite, the 32nd Type Mineral

June 30, 2014 - The Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) just announced the approval of spaltiite, a new mineral from Lengenbach. It has the formula: Tl₂Cu₂As₂S₅. The mineral, submitted by Graeser et al., owes its name to its extreme propensity to cleave (German: spalten). It is reported to form up to 2 mm long, prismatic crystals. A second specimen was recently identified in Milan (see SEM image). More will be written here, when the full caracterization of the new species is published.

Coll. L. De Battisti,  photo Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milan

Large Article in Mineralogical Record

March 2014. Since 1977 nothing had been published in the Mineralogical Record on the Lengenbach quarry. The extensive article published in Spring 2014 (Vol. 45, no. 2) filled that gap. This is the most recent and complete compilation, with descriptions of all rare minerals known to occur in the quarry as of Dec. 2013. The paper is illustrated with many new and excellent photographs by Matthias Reinhardt, Mischa Crumbach and Stefan Wolfsried. It is dedicated to Stefan Graeser.

Metanovácekite, an U Arsenate at Lb

March 5, 2014. FGL member Dr. Nicolas Meisser announces the identification of metnovácekite at Lengenbach (coll. T. Raber). XRD and EDS analyses have shown a mineral earlier reported as possible chadwickite (Graeser et al. 2008: Faszination Lengenbach) to be the Mg-U arsenate metanovácekite. The mineral contains small amounts of Cu, it is P-free. SEM images show that the smooth light-green spherules oberved macroscopically actually consist of foliated rosettes.

Photo P. Roth, courtesy  PIAG

Untwinned Sinnerite and Coloradoite

Oct. 26, 2013  -  A specimen submitted by Luca De Battisti and investigated by Prof. Fabrizio Nestola turned out to be sinnerite, nothing exciting at Lengenbach apart from the fact that this was the first untwinned sinnerite ever x-rayed. This led to the refinement of the crystal structure of the species by Prof. Luca Bindi (Bindi et al. 2013). Since Hg had been observed surprisingly by L. De Battisti in the EDS measurements a WDS analysis was performed that revealed tiny inclusions of coloradoite (HgTe), the first mention of this mineral in the quarry.

Tiny granular sinnerite crystal on realgar (Photo Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milan)

Weissbergite, the First Sb Sulfosalt

July 26, 2013  -  Prof. F. Nestola, the FGL 'Preferred Associated Scientist' has for the second time within six months positively identified weissbergite. The XRD data are nonambiguous. This represent the first Lb sulfosalt with dominant Sb. The EDX measurement at PIAG had shown the Sb:As ratio to be approx. 2.0, qualifying the mineral as As-rich weissbergite. The columnar grey crystals were found in the As-rich zone in 1989 & 1990.

(Photo P. Roth, courtesy  PIAG)

Buynite, a New Member of the Sartorite Homologous Series

October, 2023 – The CNMNC recently approved buynite as a new member of the sartorite homologous series, a mineral chemically and crystal-chemically closely related to dufrénoysite. Dan Topa characterized this new sulfosalt with formula TlPb₁₄As₁₇S₄₀. Its name refers to a medieval designation for the village of Binn. On the holotype, buynite occurs as acicular crystals up to 0.8 mm in length, together with baryte and pyrite. 'Tl-rich dufrénoysite' had been hypothetized to correspond to very thin dark red needles. The study of many samples now shows that buynite can build thick(er) prismatic grey crystals while the very thin red needles may not contain any Tl and be dufrénoysite.

Homogeneous buynite as acicular crystals with realgar. FOV 3.0 mm. Collection T. Raber. Photo M. Reinhardt.

Interliveingite, a New Member of the Liveingite Group

May, 2023 – The CNMNC recently approved interliveingite as a new species, a new member of the liveingite group. Dan Topa characterized this new sulfosalt that, with the formula AgPb₁₈As₂₅S₅₆, can be seen as the result of a (Ag+As) for 2 Pb substitution from liveingite Pb₂₀As₂₄S₅₆. Interliveingite is chemically intermediate between liveingite and argentoliveingite; the three species are characterized by different crystal structures, they do NOT form a solid-solution series. Interliveingite was found on a specimen submitted by H. Geuer (D). The mineral is associated with baumhauerite, Ag-bearing liveingite, and argentoliveingite. It goes without saying that the three members of the liveingite group cannot be distinguished without at least detailed chemical analyses.

The interliveingite type specimen. The aggregate contains intergrown interliveingite, liveingite and minor
argentoliveingite. Photo and courtesy D. Topa.

The First Coloradoite Crystals

January 2023 – Until now, coloradoite, the mercury telluride (HgTe), had been encountered once only in the Lengenbach quarry, as tiny inclusions in sinnerite, see the October 2013 note below. We can now report on the occurrence of the first coloradoite crystals. They were identified by EDXS on a specimen in the collection of J. Daubner (D). The tiny crystals are sharp and clearly display the cubic symmetry of the species. They are associated with realgar and a granular mineral that chemically corresponds to philrothite. Worldwide, coloradoite crystals are extremely rare.

Sharp coloradoite crystals on realgar with possible philrothite. Photo R. Zaneli, coll. J. Daubner. FOV 0.4 mm.

Arsendescloizite, a New Arsenate Discovery

November 1, 2021 – For the first time, arsendescloizite, a lead and zinc arsenate, could be identified as minute crystalline, pale yellowish to pinkish crust, covering a slightly altered realgar crystal. The specimen was originally found by Swiss mineral collector R, Morgenthaler (Zuerich) on the dump, probably in the 1980ies. It was now analyzed by EDXS (P. Roth) and by PXRD (N. Meisser, head of the FGL scientific commission).

The visually unspectacular crust of arsendescloizite on realgar is composed of countless spherical aggregates. Photo P. Roth, coll. T. Raber. FOV 0.2 mm.

Tennantite-(Hg), a New 'Fahlore' Species

December 8, 2020  -  Besides the members of the tetrahedrite group minerals mentioned below, the Lengenbach quarry is now - after tennantite-(Zn) - the type-locality for a second group member: tennantite-(Hg). The one and only specimen, in T. Raber's collection, had shown through preliminary EDXS measurements to be rather close to the end-member pole, what was later confirmed during the full characterization of the species by C. Biagioni at the Pisa University. The IMA CNMNC just announced the approval of the new species.

The holotype: tennantite-(Hg) in realgar. Photo M. Crumbach, coll. T. Raber. FOV 0.45 mm.

A New, All-encompassing Publication

August, 2020 - A new, collector-oriented publication entirely devoted to the Lengenbach locality appeared in the form of the 2020 special issue of the Cahier des Micromonteurs, the official organ of the Association Française de Microminéralogie (AFM). Obviously in French, this 139-page work represents the most up-to-date overview on the latest discoveries made in the Lengenbach quarry. The core element of the Cahier consists of a compilation of all contributions that have regularly been appearing in the Lengenbach-dedicated section of the Schweizer Strahler since 2013 (thanks to them!). This central element is augmented with countless photographs and other contributions on history, geology, extraction and a collector's perspective.

The Cahier can be purchased on the AFM website: https://www.micromineral.org/commandes-douvrages or by email to: pecorini.robert@gmail.com.

Drechslerite, not Weissbergite

December 10, 2019 - The first news contribution on this page was about 'weissbergite'. There had been some doubts about this As-rich phase as the ordering of As in the structure was unknown and the possibility of a new mineral could not be ruled out (Raber & Roth, 2014). As D. Topa has now shown, the structure is indeed different and this phase is a distinct mineral. We gave it the name drechslerite to honor Eva Drechsler, co-founder and secretary of the FGL. Congratulations to her! Drechslerite has the formula Tl₄(Sb_4-xAs_x)S₈ with 1<x<2. On the type specimen, it is directly associated with hatchite, spaltiite and pyrite.

Coll. R. Cannon, Photo and © Photo P.Roth, FOV 0.3 mm.

First Occurrence of Cernýite

27 October, 2019 – A small sample collected on the dump many years ago contains primarily jordanite and tiny isometric crystals of what appeared to be kësterite. First EDXS measurements confirmed the presence of kësterite, Cu₂ZnSnS₄. The crystals however contain Cd in varying degrees, some seeming to be even Cd dominant. Dan Topa, FGL’s tireless ‘Preferred Associated Scientist’, has now just confirmed the existence in the quarry of cernýite, Cu₂CdSnS₄, the Cd-analogon of kësterite. The investigated crystal shows a core of slightly Cd-bearing kësterite with a thick, almost pure rim of ‎cernýite. This is a first report for the species in the quarry and in Switzerland.

Analytics of a cernýite(rim) - kësterite(core) grain. Coll. M. Crumbach. Analyses and courtesy: Dan Topa, NHM Vienna.

Pharmacolite, a New Alteration Arsenate

May 10, 2019 – XRD analyses carried out at the MGL in Lausanne by N. Meisser, scientific head of the FGL, have for the first time revealed the presence of pharmacolite in the Lengenbach quarry. The undated, realgar-rich sample (coll. J. Daubner , D) shows an unusually high degree of alteration. Tiny arsenolite octahedra and small furry, spherical aggregates of hörnesite are the other secondary species in this association. Pharmacolite shows sprays of transluscent, greyish blades, directly lying on pyrite.

First Mention of Diaphorite

February 15, 2018 - On a specimen extracted from the quarry in 1996 (LB_UK-131), Prof. Fabrizio Nestola (Padua, I) identified diaphorite, the first mention of this sulfosalt at Lengenbach. The specimen shows twinned prismatic crystals (up to 0.4 mm) associated with sphalerite and galena. They show a superficial alteration that made the EDXS measurements of little use. A WDS analysis made on a polished section of one crystal now gave the formula Pb_1.93Ag_3.12Sb_3.11As_0.13S₈ (calculated for 8 S atoms). A second phase, still under investigation, is accessorily associated in the crystals, with the same elements but with different ratios. According to analogies described in literature, the twin plane in these crystals is most probably (120).

Three New Sulfates

January 22, 2018 – Nicolas Meisser (Lausanne), scientific head of the FGL, identified three new sulfates as neoformations on oxidized pyrite samples by combined XRD and EDXS analytical methods: ferrohexahydrite, FeSO₄ · 6H₂O, rozenite, FeSO₄ · 4H₂O, and starkeyite, MgSO₄ · 4H₂O. Ferrohexahydrite forms yellowish, earthy crusts associated with hexahydrite. Rozenite and starkeyite show colorless, capillary efflorescences, the latter only as admixture with the former.

Routhierite - the First Crystals

January 27, 2018 - Routhierite had been suspected from Lengenbach for a while, but its formal identification by F. Nestola, did not took place before 2016. The mineral forms xenomorph inclusions in realgar. In the frame of a series of EDXS analyses on samples from the ETH collection in Zurich, we now found the first crystals. This is significant inasmuch as to our knowledge these are also the first crystals worldwide. Not surprisingly, they show the same morphology as the other Lengenbach members of the group (stalderite, ralphcannonite and ferrostalderite): pseudo-cubic tetragonal prisms (≤0.1mm). Specimen L 26'896 that hosted them was extracted in 1996 and contains hutchinsonite and realgar. Chemically, the crystals show a pronounced Hg and Cu dominance (over Zn, Fe, as well as Ag, respectively).

Aktashite, New for Lengenbach

February, 2017 - In the Tl-rich dolomite ribbon on which the FGL has been working for three years now, very late stage, spongy grains frequently occupy semi-spherical cavities in realgar. These grains have shown to be sinnerite but recently aktashite has also been identified (EDXS in Zurich and XRD in Lausanne) for the first time in the quarry (and in Switzerland). Chemically aktashite can be seen as sinnerite + Hg₃S₃. Further work is needed to test the homogeneity of the grains (surficial mercurization or homogeneous grains?).

Fangite, the First Crystals

October 22, 2016 - Fangite was recently identified as a first occurrence from Lengenbach (EDXS P. Roth, 1st August 2016, XRD F. Nestola, 18th October 2016). The crystals, the first fangite crystals ever reported to our knowledge, are deep red, highly reflective, prismatic, small (up to 50 microns) and lie directly on dolomite or on orpiment. Their morphologies (there are two, both prismatic) could be convincingly modeled (see here). Both fangite specimens found so far were mined before 2000.

FOV 0.75mm. © Mischa Crumbach / designbyearth.com

Argentodufrénoysite, Another Member of the Sartorite Homologous Series

November 11, 2016 - Another highlight in the sys- tematic work of Dan Topa on the Lengenbach members of the sartorite homologous series is the description of this new mineral: argentodufrénoysite. As in the pairs baum- hauerite-argentobaumhauerite and liviengite-argentoliveingite a Ag and As for 2Pb substitution controls the changes in the architecture of the structure and leads to this new member. One of the two cotype specimens was extracted by the FGL in 2011 on the highest and eastern-most excavation level of the quarry, in clefts locally filled with several sulphosalt phases. In both cotype specimens argentodufrénoysite forms ex- solution lamellae with Ag-bearing dufrénoysite.  

Part of the 2011 cotype specimen. Copyright Mischa Crumbach / designbyearth.com. FOV 3.9 mm

Chabournéite, Sb-dominant Sulfosalt

October 22, 2016 - Recent investigations by P. Roth (EDXS, 1st November 2015) and F. Nestola (XRD, 18th October 2016) have proven the existence of chabournéite at Lengenbach. The mineral forms stellar aggregates of black, shiny acicular crystals associated to smithite. Their Pb content is similar to that of the original Jas-Roux material (x ~ 1). The Sb:As ratio is ~4 (see here for detailed data and SEM images). Even if Sb dominant minerals are rare at Lengenbach, chabournéite might be more common than suggested by the only specimen known, the strong macroscopic resemblance with lengenbachite having possibly contributed to misidentifications in the past..

Copyright Mischa Crumbach / designbyearth.com.

Incomsartorite, yet Another Sartorite

September 30, 2016 - Dan Topa has received notice of the approval of yet another sartorite mineral, the fourth one (see below): incomsartorite is the elevenfold incommensurate superstructure of sartorite homologues (with N=3). The simplified formula is Tl₆Pb₁₄₄As₂₅₆S₅₁₆. Incomsartorite was found during the systematic study of crystallized and massive members of the sartorite homologue series. Homogeneous, individual crystals (~0.3-0.5 mm) seem to be extremely rare.

Argentoliveingite, a New Species from an Old Sample

September, 2016 - Argentoliveingite was found by Topa et al. (2016) in a specimen acquired by the Natural History Museum Wien back in 1903. The new mineral, Ag_xPb_40-2xAs_48+xS₁₁₂ (3<x<4), is closely associated with liveingite, baumhauerite and argentobaumhauerite but also forms rare, individual, chemically homogeneous crystals. Argentoliveingite is a new member of the sartorite homologous series with a N value of 3.67, like liveingite. The presence of silver controls the doubling of the c-axis, compared to the b-axis of liveingite, and the associated changes in the architecture of the structure. The mineral is almost certainly the insufficiently cha- racterized mineral "rathite-IV" (or "rathite-140") repea- tedly reported in the literature (see e.g. Graeser et al., 2008).

Argentobaumhauerite

February, 2016 - The Mineralogical Magazine is about to release a paper by PAS Dan Topa and Emil Makovicky on the renamed mineral argento-baumhauerite (earlier called baumhauerite-2a) in which they clearly show that the mineral is an independent species and not a polytype as it had been speculated in the past (and is partly inferred from the old name). The authors describe the structure of argentobaumhauerite, with a remarkable unit-cell scale separation into alternating 'substituted' (Ag & As for Pb) and 'unsubstituted' N = 4 slabs (between the N = 3 slabs) and show the differences with the structure of baumhauerite. They also address the genesis of argentobaumhauerite that commonly forms two systems of exsolution lamellae at oblique angles in baumhauerite, see BSE image below.

Back-scattered electrons (BSE) picture of argentobaumhauerite exsolution lamellae (dark) in baumhauerite (bright), photo D. Topa, courtesy NHMW.

First Occurrence of Coffinite

November, 2015. In the thallium-rich ribbon 1, urani- ferous minerals were found sporadically. Besides uraninite, found in a few distinct cubic crystals, Th-rich coffinite could also be identified  based on EDXS measurements. As reported from other localities world- wide, Th and Ca partly replace here U, while P and As replace Si.

Copyright & Photo P. Roth

New Clay Species for Lengenbach

October 3, 2015. Nicolas Meisser, scientific head of the FGL, announces the identification on a sample from the Musée cantonal de Géologie in Lausanne (CH) mined in 2005 of a new clay mineral for the quarry: rectorite ("rectorite-K"). The composition is K_10.5 Na_0.5 Mg_3.7 Ca_1.4 Zn_2.5 Si_54.6 Al_26.9 -O-F.

Yet Another Two New Minerals

March 26, 2015 - The CNMNC just announced the approval of another two new sulfosalts from Lengenbach. Congratulations to both FGL members Markus Ecker and Ralph Cannon for eckerite and ralphcannonite, respectively. The former is a Cu-Ag suflosalt, structurally related to xanthoconite, while the latter is another member of the routhierite isotypic series, the Ag-rich analogon of stalderite. Eckerite was found in 1995 and recognized by Graeser in 1998 to be a new mineral which received the working designation of 'kanisterite'. It is the first mineral of the group built by the solid solution series proustite-pyrargyrite and xanthoconite-pyrostilpnite to contain Cu as a main element. As Bindi et al. (2015) put it: "The exceptional conditions needed to form such a unique phase emphasize the geochemical distinctiveness of the Lengenbach deposit, able to produce rare minerals never discovered in other deposits."

Ralphcannonite crystals (photo T. Raber, courtesy PIAG)

Another New Sb Mineral for Lb

April 3, 2014. FGL member Luca De Battisti and PAS Prof. Fabrizio Nestola announce the identification of parapierrotite at Lengenbach (coll. LDB). First EDS analyses (LDB) had shown the mineral to be something like an Sb-rich imhofite. However, single crystal XRD investigations in Padua (FN) now clearly show the spherical aggregates of tiny platy crystals found in 1976 to be parapierrotite. In the past such dark brown aggregates of parapierrotite may well have been mis-identified as imhofite or lengenbachite.

(Photo Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milan)

Philrothite, Latest New Mineral from Lb

Feb. 6, 2014 - The first description of philrothite just appeared in the Mineralogical Magazine. Bindi et al. (2014) describe philrothite (IMA 2013-066), another new thallium sulfosalt from the Lengenbach quarry: TlAs₃S₅. It represents the N = 4 homologue of the sartorite homologous series. The new species was found as black xenomorph grains lying directly on realgar and associated with smithite, sartorite and rutile on a specimen most probably found in the old quarry. FGL member Luca De Battisti first recognized the tiny grains and performed promizing preliminary EDX analyses. The successful characterization followed in Florence (Prof. Bindi), Padova (Prof. Nestola) and Copenhagen (Prof, Mackovicky).

Philrothite aggregate on realgar (Photo Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milan)

Dervillite, the Latest Lb Mineral

Sept. 19, 2013  -  Prof. Luca Bindi with the help of Prof. Fabrizio Nestola just announced the identification of dervillite on a specimen submitted by Luca De Battisti. The single crystal was found in the jordanite paragenesis. The quality of the data acquired allowed the species to be redefined. A paper describing the redefinition and the crystal structure of dervillite has been published in the Mineralogical Magazine.The Lengenbach quarry is now the third location worldwide for this rare species.

(Photo Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milan)

New Lb Series in Schweizer Strahler

Aug. 2013  -  The latest issue of Schweizer Strahler  contains the first of a series of short articles to come on new discoveries made in the Lengenbach quarry. The first contribution by Dr. Thomas Raber is devoted to the minerals of the pearceite - polybasite solid-solu- tion.The next issue will contain a note on debattistiite. The series is expected to go on on a more or less regular basis.