Kostovite

Kostovite is a rare orthorhombic-pyramidal gray white telluride mineral containing copper and gold with chemical formula AuCuTe4.[1][2][3]

Exhibition of Kostovite in the National Natural History Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria
Kostovite
General
CategoryTelluride mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
AuCuTe4
Strunz classification2.EA.15 (10 ed)
2/D.16-10 (8 ed)
Dana classification02.12.13.4
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classPyramidal (mm2)
H-M Symbol: (mm2)
Space groupPma2
Identification
ColorGrayish white
TwinningFine lamellar
CleavageDistinct/good
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness2 - 2.5
LusterMetallic
DiaphaneityOpaque
Specific gravity7.94
Optical propertiesAnisotropic
PleochroismVisible
References[1][2][3][4][5]

It was discovered by Bulgarian mineralogist Georgi Terziev (Георги Терзиев) (1935–1972), who named it in honor of his professor Ivan Kostov (Иван Костов) (1913–2004).[6][7] In 1965 kostovite was approved as a new species by the International Mineralogical Association.[8] The type locality is the Chelopech copper ore deposit, Bulgaria.[9] Small deposits have also been found in Kochbulak (Eastern Uzbekistan), Commoner mine (Zimbabwe), Kamchatka (Russian Far East), Ashanti (Ghana), Buckeye Gulch (Leadville, Colorado, US), Bisbee (Arizona, US),[10] Kutemajärvi (Finland), Coranda-Hondol (Romania), Glava (Sweden), Bereznjakovskoje (Southern Urals, Russia), Moctezuma (Sonora, Mexico), Panormos Bay (Tinos Island, Greece), Guilaizhuang Mine, Tongshi complex (Linyi Prefecture, Shandong Province, China), Kalgoorlie-Boulder City, (Goldfields-Esperance region, Western Australia, Australia).[11]

See also

List of minerals named after people

References

Further reading

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