Weissbergite (TlSbS₂) and avicennite (Tl₂O₃) as rare thallium minerals. First finds in Yakutia

Anisimova G. S., Kondratieva L. A., Kardashevskaia V. N.

Zapiski RMO (Proceedings of the Russian Mineralogical Society). 2021. V. 150. N 2. P. 18-27

https://doi.org/10.31857/S0869605521020027

Full text is available on eLIBRARY.RU

Language: Russian 

Abstract

Rare thallium minerals – avicennite and weissbergite were discovered in the Khokhoy gold ore field of the Verkhneamginskiy gold-bearing area (South Yakutia, Russia) in karst zones for the first time. Weissbergite, TlSbS₂, the second find in Russia, found as grains in jasperoid debris in the karst. The chemical composition is: Tl 50.3–55.8%, Sb 27.4–30.9%, S 14.1–16.9%. It is associated with native gold. Avicennite, Tl₂O₃, the first found in Russia, found in karst cavities in oxidized ores. The mineral is associated with rhythmically zonal particles of unnamed phases, presumably antimonate Tl and carbonate Tl, sometimes with adularia and goethite. The presence of different thallium minerals, as well as porous and mustard gold should be taken into account when choosing the technology for extracting gold during operation of the Khokhoy ore occurrence.

Keywords: weissbergite, avicennite, thallium, tellur, minerals of thallium, Khokhoy gold ore field