Patrónite is the vanadium sulfide mineral with formula VS4. The material is usually described as V4+(S22−)2.[6] Structurally, it is a "linear-chain" compound with alternating bonding and nonbonding contacts between the vanadium centers. The vanadium is octa-coordinated, which is an uncommon geometry for this metal.[7]

Patrónite
Patronite from the Minas Ragra, Peru
General
CategorySulfide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
VS4
IMA symbolPat[1]
Strunz classification2.EC.10
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupI2/c
Unit cella = 12.11 Å, b = 10.42 Å,
c = 6.78 Å; β = 100.8°; Z = 8
Identification
Formula mass179.21 g/mol
ColorLead-gray on fresh surfaces to gray-black after exposure to air
Crystal habitOccurs as columnar crystal aggregates and in massive form
CleavageDistinct columnar
Mohs scale hardness2
LusterMetallic
StreakBlack
DiaphaneityOpaque
Specific gravity2.82
PleochroismStrong
References[2][3][4][5]

The mineral was first described in 1906 for an occurrence in the Minas Ragra vanadium mine near Junín, Cerro de Pasco, Peru. It was named for Peruvian metallurgist Antenor Rizo-Patron (1866–1948) the discoverer of the deposit.[3][4] At the type locality in Peru it occurs in fissures within a red shale likely derived from an asphaltum deposit. Associated minerals include, native sulfur, bravoite, pyrite, minasragrite, stanleyite, dwornikite, quartz and vanadium bearing lignite.[4] It has also been reported from the Yushkinite gorge on the Middle Silova-Yakha River on the Paikhoi Range of the polar Urals of Russia and from the Tsumeb mine in Namibia.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ Mineralienatlas
  3. ^ a b c Mindat.org
  4. ^ a b c Handbook of Mineralogy
  5. ^ Webmineral data
  6. ^ Vaughan, D. J.; Craig, J. R. “Mineral Chemistry of Metal Sulfides" Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 1978. ISBN 0-521-21489-0.
  7. ^ Allmann, R.; Baumann, I.; Kutoglu, A.; Rosch H.; Hellner E. (1964). "Die Kristallstruktur des Patronits V(S2)2 ". Naturwissenschaften. 51 (11): 263–264. Bibcode:1964NW.....51..263A. doi:10.1007/BF00638454. S2CID 28678687.