Argutite

• IMA 1980-067

Argutit, chemically germanium (IV ) oxide is a very rarely occurring mineral from the mineral class of oxides and hydroxides. It crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system with the chemical composition of GeO2 and constitutes up to 20 microns wide, embedded in sphalerite hypidiomorphe crystals.

Etymology and history

The mineral was first discovered in 1983 by Z. Johan, E. Oudin and P. Picot in a deposit at Argut lingerie in the French department of Haute- Garonne and named after this.

Classification

In the classification by Strunz Argutit is counted among the oxides with a ratio of metal to oxygen of 1:2. After the 8th edition and 9th edition it forms with pyrolusite, cassiterite, paratellurite, Plattnerit, rutile and Tripuhyite, in the ninth edition additionally Tugarinovit and Varlamoffite the Rutilgruppe.

In the classification by Dana it forms with Ilmenorutil, rutile, Struverit, cassiterite, Plattnerit, pyrolusite, Squawcreekit and stishovite the Rutilgruppe, a subgroup of the simple oxides with a cation charge of 4 .

Education and Locations

Argutit formed in a zinc deposit in methamorphem sedimentary rocks. It is associated with sphalerite, cassiterite, siderite and Briartit.

In addition to the type locality are some additional findings in Couflens and Saint- Girons in the department of Ariège, Luchon and Saint- Béat in the department of Haute -Garonne and Lourdes in the Hautes -Pyrénées (all France) known.

Crystal structure

Argutit crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system in space group P42/mnm with the lattice parameters a = 4.398 Å and c = 2.863 Å, and two formula units per unit cell.