In hydrothermal calcite veins associated with Co-Ni-Ag ores.
IMA Status:
Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1845
Locality:
From the Cobalt district, near Red Lake; in the Silver Islet mine and the Hemlo gold deposit, Thunder Bay district, Ontario, Canada. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Name Origin:
After the Saxon mineralogist Johann Friedrich August Breithaupt (1791-1873).
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Physical Properties of Breithauptite
Cleavage:
None
Color:
Copper red, Light brown red.
Density:
8.23
Diaphaneity:
Opaque
Fracture:
Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.
Habit:
Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.
Habit:
Reniform - "Kidney like" in shape (e.g.. hematite).
Habit:
Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.
Hardness:
3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite
Luminescence:
Non-fluorescent.
Luster:
Metallic
Magnetism:
Nonmagnetic
Streak:
reddish brown
Optical Properties of Breithauptite
RL Anisotrophism:
Very noticeable in air and oil.
RL Color:
Light copper red with violet tint.
RL Pleochroism:
Very distinct.
Reflectivity
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Breithauptite in Air
λ
R1
R2
∑ R1(λ)
∑ R2(λ)
400 nm
47.80
51.40
420 nm
45.50
49.30
440 nm
43.20
47.20
460 nm
41.10
45.80
480 nm
39.50
45.20
500 nm
38.50
45.60
520 nm
38.70
46.80
540 nm
41.00
48.60
560 nm
43.60
51.10
580 nm
46.60
53.40
600 nm
49.30
55.60
620 nm
51.60
57.60
640 nm
53.60
59.30
660 nm
55.30
60.90
680 nm
56.80
62.20
700 nm
58.00
63.30
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Breithauptite in Air
Relative Intensity
0%
30%
60%
90%
100%
120%
150%
180%
210%
R1
R2
Calculated Properties of Breithauptite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=7.64 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Breithauptite =8.73 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.0036754434 Boson Index = 0.9963245566
Photoelectric:
PEBreithauptite = 240.90 barns/electron U=PEBreithauptite x rElectron Density=1,841.50 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Breithauptite is Not Radioactive
Breithauptite Classification
Dana Class:
02.08.11.02(02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides
Chemical Formula: 
