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Hanswilkeite

A valid IMA mineral species
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04398220017522616938762.jpg
Hanswilkeite, etc.

Hanswilkeite type locality, Naẖal Gorer, Tamar Regional Council, Beersheba Subdistrict, Southern District, Israel
04398220017522616938762.jpg
Hanswilkeite, etc.

Hanswilkeite type locality, Naẖal Gorer, Tamar Regional Council, Beersheba Subdistrict, Southern District, Israel
04398220017522616938762.jpg
Hanswilkeite, etc.

Hanswilkeite type locality, Naẖal Gorer, Tamar Regional Council, Beersheba Subdistrict, Southern District, Israel
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About HanswilkeiteHide

Formula:
KFeS2
Colour:
deep-purple
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.654 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
The new mineral is named in honour of Dr. Hans-Jürgen Wilke (1925-2014), the German mineral collector, for his contributions to popularisation of mineralogy.
The discovery of KFeS2, the first natural potassium-bearing dithioferrate: the sulfosalt of the [FeS2]- anion where, in contrast to other natural K-Fe sulfides, all iron is comprised by Fe3+. The synthetic analogue of the reported new mineral, hanswilkeite, is potassium dithioferrate (III).

Hanswilkeite is structurally related to minerals with the rasvumite structure type (pautovite, picotpaulite, and rasvumite). Both structure types comprise infinite chains of FeS4 tetrahedra, however, there is a single chain in the hanswilkeite structure with FeS2 stoichiometry whereas the rasvumite structure consists of double-chain "ribbons" with Fe2S3 stoichiometry.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
470392
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:470392:7

IMA Classification of HanswilkeiteHide

Classification of HanswilkeiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.CB.

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
HswIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of HanswilkeiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Comment:
dull metallic
Colour:
Deep-purple
Streak:
Brown-black
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Moderate cleavage was observed along the c-axis
Density:
2.654 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of HanswilkeiteHide

Anisotropism:
Anisotropy is very strong, ∆R589 = 69 %.
Bireflectance:
strong
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
470nm16.0%9.2%
546nm19.6%9.3%
589nm18.5%9.0%
650nm32.0%9.3%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 32.0%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Internal Reflections:
noner
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
yellow-pink to dull-grey.

Chemistry of HanswilkeiteHide

Mindat Formula:
KFeS2
Element Weights:
Element% weight
S40.315 %
Fe35.107 %
K24.579 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Fe, K, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of HanswilkeiteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.0914(5) Å, b = 11.3154(5) Å, c = 5.3992(3) Å
β = 113.244(7)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.627 : 1 : 0.477
Unit Cell V:
398.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Type Occurrence of HanswilkeiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Hanswilkeite type locality, Naẖal Gorer, Tamar Regional Council, Beersheba Subdistrict, Southern District, Israel
General Appearance of Type Material:
It forms single-crystal grains up to 1 mm in size, isometric to lath-like, often intergrown with a less-common rasvumite, KFe2S3.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Fers- man Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskiy Prospekt 18-2, Moscow 119071, Russia, registration number 5862/1
Geological Setting of Type Material:
The mineral occurs in sulfide-calcite assemblages confined to black-colored calcite-spurrite marbles from paralavas
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AndraditeCuspidineFluorapatiteFluormayeniteOldhamite
PyriteSrebrodolskiteTilleyite
Reference:
Britvin, Sergey N.; Murashko, Mikhail N.; Krzhizhanovskaya, Maria G.; Vereshchagin, Oleg S.; Vapnik, Yevgeny; Vlasenko, Natalia S.; Shelukhina, Yulia S.; Bocharov, Vladimir N. (2025) Hanswilkeite, KFeS2, a new peralkaline sulfide mineral. American Mineralogist, 110 (6). 956-965 doi:10.2138/am-2024-9494

Synonyms of HanswilkeiteHide

Other Language Names for HanswilkeiteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Hanswilkeite associated with CalciteCaCO3

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.CB.RichardsiteZn2CuGaS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.OkruginiteCu2SnSe3Mon. m : Bb
2.CB.AuroselenideAuSeMon. 2/m : B2/m
2.CB.Ruizhongite(Ag2◻)Pb3Ge2S8Iso. 43m : I43d
2.CB.AgmantiniteAg2MnSnS4Orth.
2.CB.TolstykhiteAu3S4Te6Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.GachingiteAu(Te1-xSex)Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.05aHawleyiteCdSIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05'UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn'Cu2Fe3Zn5S10
2.CB.05aColoradoiteHgTeIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aMetacinnabarHgSIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aTiemanniteHgSeIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aSphaleriteZnSIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05bSakuraiite(Cu,Zn,Fe)3(In,Sn)S4 Iso.
2.CB.05cPolhemusite(Zn,Hg)STet.
2.CB.05aRudashevskyite(Fe,Zn)SIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aStilleiteZnSeIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aIshiharaite(Cu,Ga,Fe,In,Zn)SIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.07a'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)'Cu2MnSnS4
2.CB.07aShenzhuangiteNiFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10bTalnakhiteCu9(Fe,Ni)8S16Iso. 43m : I43m
2.CB.10bHaycockiteCu4Fe5S8Orth. 222
2.CB.10aLenaiteAgFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10aGalliteCuGaS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10aRoquesiteCuInS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10aEskeborniteCuFeSe2Tet. 42m : P42c
2.CB.10a'UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn'Cu2Fe2Sn3S7
2.CB.10cOmariniiteCu8Fe2ZnGe2S12Orth. 222 : I222
2.CB.10aChalcopyriteCuFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10a'Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)'CuZn2InS4
2.CB.10bMooihoekiteCu9Fe9S16Tet. 42m : P42m
2.CB.10aLaforêtiteAgInS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10bPutoraniteCu1.1Fe1.2S2Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pn3m
2.CB.15aVelikiteCu2HgSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15c'UM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn'Cu8(Fe,Zn)3Ge2S12 (?)
2.CB.15aHocartiteAg2(Fe2+,Zn)SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15aKësteriteCu2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aPirquitasiteAg2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aStanniteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15cStannoiditeCu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12Orth. 222 : I222
2.CB.15bMohiteCu2SnS3Mon.
2.CB.15aČernýiteCu2CdSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15aIdaiteCu5FeS6Hex.
2.CB.15aFerrokësteriteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aKuramiteCu3SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.17a v'Arsenic-bearing Renierite'Cu11GeAsFe4S16
2.CB.20MawsoniteCu6Fe2SnS8Tet. 42m : P4m2
2.CB.20ChatkaliteCu6FeSn2S8Tet. 42m : P4m2
2.CB.30'Frieseite'Ag2Fe5S8 (?)
2.CB.30NekrasoviteCu26V2(Sn,As,Sb)6S32Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30'Argyropyrite'near Ag2Fe7S11
2.CB.30MaikainiteCu20(Fe,Cu)6Mo2Ge6S32Iso. m3m(4/m32/m)
2.CB.30ColusiteCu13VAs3S16Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30GermaniteCu13Fe2Ge2S16Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30GermanocolusiteCu26V2(Ge,As)6S32Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.30StibiocolusiteCu13V(Sb,Sn,As)3S16Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.30Ovamboite Cu20(Fe,Cu,Zn)6W2Ge6S32Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.35aMorozeviczite(Pb,Fe)3Ge1-xS4Iso.
2.CB.35aRenierite(Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16Tet. 42m : P42c
2.CB.35aHemusiteCu6SnMoS8Iso.
2.CB.35bCatamarcaiteCu6GeWS8Hex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.35aVincienniteCu+7Cu2+3Fe2+2Fe3+2Sn(As,Sb)S16Tet.
2.CB.35aKiddcreekiteCu6SnWS8Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.35aPolkovicite(Fe,Pb)3(Ge,Fe)1-xS4Iso.
2.CB.40LautiteCuAsSOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.CB.42LingbaoiteAgTe3Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.45CadmoseliteCdSeHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45RambergiteMnSHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45Buseckite(Fe,Zn,Mn)SHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45MaletoyvayamiteAu3Se4Te6Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.45GreenockiteCdSHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45Wurtzite(Zn,Fe)SHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.47MurchisiteCr5S6Trig. 3m(32/m) : P31c
2.CB.50'Zincselenide'ZnSe
2.CB.50WassoniteTiSTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
2.CB.52'Dzhezkazganite'ReMoCu2PbS6 ?Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.55bIsocubaniteCuFe2S3Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.CB.55aCubaniteCuFe2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.60RaguiniteTlFeS2Orth.
2.CB.60PicotpauliteTlFe2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
2.CB.65ArgentopyriteAgFe2S3Mon. 2/m
2.CB.65SternbergiteAgFe2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.70SulvaniteCu3VS4Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.75VulcaniteCuTeOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.80EmpressiteAgTeOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.85MuthmanniteAuAgTe2Mon. 2/m : P2/m

RadioactivityHide

Radioactivity:
Element % Content Activity (Bq/kg) Radiation Type
Uranium (U) 0.0000% 0 α, β, γ
Thorium (Th) 0.0000% 0 α, β, γ
Potassium (K) 24.5788% 7,619 β, γ

For comparison:

  • Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
  • Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
  • EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg

Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.

Interactive Simulator:

Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!

Activity: –

DistanceDose rateRisk
1 cm
10 cm
1 m

The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).

D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield

Other InformationHide

Notes:
The Raman spectrum contains the following bands (cm-1 ): 379, 357 (stretching vibrations Fe-S in FeS4 tetrahedra); 289 (bending modes in FeS4 tetrahedra); 236, 167, 131 and 124 (lattice modes).
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Hanswilkeite, while exposed onto the sample surface at room humidity, becomes rusty within 1-2 days.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for HanswilkeiteHide

References for HanswilkeiteHide

Localities for HanswilkeiteHide

Showing 2 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Israel (TL)
 
  • Southern District
    • Beersheba Subdistrict
      • Tamar Regional Council
        • Naẖal Gorer
Bosi et al. (2023) +1 other reference
Russia
 
  • Sakha
    • Mirninsky District
      • Daldyn
Logvinova et al. (2023)
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