Briartite Explained

Briartite
Formula:	Cu2(Fe,Zn)GeS4
Imasymbol:	Btt^[1]
Strunz:	02.KA.10(02)
Dana:	2.9.2.3.(02)
System:	Tetragonal
Symmetry:	07;10
Unit Cell:	297.46 ų
Colour:	Gray to gray blue; Iron-grey
Twinning:	Polysynthetic
Mohs:	3.5–4.5
Luster:	Metallic; Unpolished
Diaphaneity:	Opaque
Gravity:	4.337 (Calculated)
Density:	4.337 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Impurities:	Ga, Sn

Briartite is an opaque iron-grey metallic sulfide mineral, with traces of Ga and Sn, found as inclusions in other germanium-gallium-bearing sulfides.^[2]

It was discovered at the Prince Léopold Mine, Kipushi, Shaba, Congo (Léopoldville) in 1965 by Francotte and others, and named for Gaston Briart who had studied formations at Kipushi.^[3]

Briartite is also found in Namibia, Greece, and Spain.^[4]

See also

• List of minerals
• List of minerals named after people

References

1. Warr. L.N.. 2021. IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine. 85. 3. 291–320. 10.1180/mgm.2021.43. 2021MinM...85..291W. 235729616. free.
2. Web site: Briartite. 2021-02-09. www.mindat.org.
3. Web site: New Mineral Names. live. 9 February 2021. Mineral Society of America. https://web.archive.org/web/20120723123622/http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM51/AM51_1815.pdf . 2012-07-23 .
4. Web site: Briartite. live. 9 February 2021. Handbook of Mineralogy. https://web.archive.org/web/20110709195137/http://www.handbookofmineralogy.com/pdfs/briartite.pdf . 2011-07-09 .