Sorosite

sorosite

stistaite

cassiterite

herzenbergite

Images

Formula: Cu1+x(Sn,Sb)
Alloy of copper, tin and/or antimony, forms a solid solution with breithauptite (CM 44(6).1469-1480)
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 7.6 calculated
Hardness: 5 to 5½
Colour: Pinkish tin-white
Environments

Placer deposits
Hydrothermal environments

Sorosite occurs in gold and platinum group placer deposits derived from sulphide-poor clinopyroxinite-gabbro intrusions (Webmin).

Localities

At the Mir mound, Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse hydrothermal field (TAG), Mid-Atlantic Ridge complex, Atlantic Ocean, sorosite occurs in a sorosite-bearing native tin and lead assemblage (Mindat).

At the Tamaña River, Novita Municipality, Chocó Department, Colombia, sorosite occurs in concentrates from precious metal placers associated with tin and stistaite (HOM).

The type locality is the Baimka placer deposit, Aluchinskii Massif, Baimka River, Bol'shoi Anyui River Basin, Kolyma area, Bilibinsky District, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia. Here sorosite occurs as crystals to 0.4 mm in length and grains. It forms inclusions in antimony-bearing native tin, often intergrown with stistaite, and associated with herzenbergite, native lead, and trace cassiterite. (AM 83.901-906). The sorosite likely crystallised from a late-stage or residual tinantimonycopperironnickel-bearing liquid. Crystallisation occurred over a temperature range greater than 415° to 227°C. A mineralised mafic rock (gabbro, gabbrodiorite or clinopyroxenite) associated with a gabbrodioritesyenite-monzonite complex in the placer area could be a potential primary source for the sorosite-bearing mineralisation. (CM 44(6).1469-1480)

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