Named in honor of Yurii Aleksandrovich Bilibin (Юрий Александрович Билибин) (6(19) May 1901, Rostov, Yaroslavl Province, Russian Empire - 4 May 1952, Leningrad, USSR), geologist at VSEGEI, Leningrad. He was a specialist in the geology of gold deposits.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Aginskoe Au deposit (Aginskoye deposit), Central Kamchatka mining district, Bystrinsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia

This page provides mineralogical data about Bilibinskite.

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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

672

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:672:7

IMA Classification of BilibinskiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

PbAu₃Cu₂Te₂

First published:

1978

Type description reference:

Spiridonov, E.M., Bezsmertnaya, M.S., Chvileva, T.N., Bezsmertnyi, V.V. (1978) Bilibinskite, Au3Cu2PbTe2, a new mineral of gold-telluride deposits. Zapiski Vsesoyuznogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 107(3): 310-315.

Classification of BilibinskiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2025):

2.BA.80

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au

Dana 8th ed.:

2.1.6.1

2 : SULFIDES
1 : A_mX_p, with m:p > 3:1

Hey's CIM Ref.:

3.3.12

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
3 : Sulphides etc. of Au

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

Symbol	Source	Reference
Bb	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of BilibinskiteHide

Lustre:

Sub-Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Light brown, rose brown

Streak:

Golden brown to brown

Hardness:

4½ on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₂₀=329 - 419 kg/mm² - Vickers

Cleavage:

None Observed

Density:

12.7 g/cm³ (Measured) 14.44 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of BilibinskiteHide

Anisotropism:

Strong from grey and dove-color to canary yellow and fiery-red

Bireflectance:

color changed from grey-violet to beige-cream and blood red that results in strong color bireflectance

Chemistry of BilibinskiteHide

Mindat Formula:

PbCu₂Au₃Te₂

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Te	21.620 %
Pb	17.554 %
Cu	10.767 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Au, Cu, Pb, Te - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Ag,Fe,Se

Crystallography of BilibinskiteHide

Crystal System:

Isometric

Cell Parameters:

a = 4.095 Å

Unit Cell V:

68.67 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Massive

Comment:

Pseudocell Optical data indicate symmetry equal or less than orthorhombic

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.06 Å	(40)
3.00 Å	(10)
2.37 Å	(100)
2.05 Å	(70)
1.448 Å	(60)
1.232 Å	(80)
1.184 Å	(20)

Comments:

Aginsk gold telluride deposit, Kamchatka, Far Eastern Region, Russia.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of BilibinskiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Aginskoe Au deposit (Aginskoye deposit), Central Kamchatka mining district, Bystrinsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Mining Institute, St. Petersburg, 101/1–2; Institute of Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Rare Elements, Moscow; A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 78385, vis207.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Weathering zone of tellurium deposits.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Synonyms of BilibinskiteHide

IMA1977-024

Other Language Names for BilibinskiteHide

Dutch:Bilibinskiet

German:Bilibinskit

Simplified Chinese:碲铅铜金矿

Spanish:Bilibinskita

Traditional Chinese:碲鉛銅金礦

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.BA.	Makotoite	Ag₁₂(Cu₃Au)S₈	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
2.BA.	Alburnite	Ag₈GeTe₂S₄	Iso.
2.BA.	Dzierżanowskite	CaCu₂S₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1
2.BA.	Xuwenyuanite	Ag₉Fe³⁺Te₂S₄	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.BA.	Orileyite	(Fe,Cu)₂As
2.BA.	Juxingite	Bi₆Cu₁₄₀Fe₃₀S₁₂₅	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.BA.05	Djurleite	Cu₃₁S₁₆	Mon. 2/m
2.BA.05	Geerite	Cu₈S₅	Trig. 3
2.BA.05	Roxbyite	Cu₅₈S₃₂	Tric. 1 : P1
2.BA.05	Chalcocite	Cu₂S	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.BA.10	Digenite	Cu₉S₅	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
2.BA.10	Anilite	Cu₇S₄	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.BA.15	Bornite	Cu₅FeS₄	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca
2.BA.20	Bellidoite	Cu₂Se	Tet. 4/m : P4₂/n
2.BA.20	Berzelianite	Cu_2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12)	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m
2.BA.25	Athabascaite	Cu₅Se₄	Orth.
2.BA.25	Umangite	Cu₃Se₂	Tet. 4 2m : P4 2₁m
2.BA.30	Rickardite	Cu₇Te₅	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
2.BA.30	Weissite	Cu_2-xTe	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mmm
2.BA.35	Acanthite	Ag₂S	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
2.BA.35	Spryite	Ag₈(As³⁺_0.5As⁵⁺_0.5)S₆	Orth. mm2 : Pna2₁
2.BA.40d	UM2003-13-S:AgAuCu	Ag₆AuCu₂S₅
2.BA.40	Mckinstryite	Ag_5-xCu_3+xS₄	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.BA.40	Stromeyerite	AgCuS	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.BA.42	Honeaite	Au₃TlTe₂	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcm
2.BA.45	Jalpaite	Ag₃CuS₂	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/amd
2.BA.45	Selenojalpaite	Ag₃CuSe₂	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/amd
2.BA.45	Kurilite	Ag₈Te₃Se	Trig. 3 : R3
2.BA.47	Spiridonovite	(Cu_1-xAg_x)₂Te	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3c1
2.BA.50	Wuyanzhiite	Cu₂S	Tet. 4 2 2 : P4₃ 2₁ 2
2.BA.50	Eucairite	AgCuSe	Orth.
2.BA.52	Argentite	Ag₂S	Iso.
2.BA.55	Naumannite	Ag₂Se	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
2.BA.55	Aguilarite	Ag₄SeS	Mon. 2/m
2.BA.60	Chenguodaite	Ag₉Fe³⁺Te₂S₄	Orth.
2.BA.60	Hessite	Ag₂Te	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.BA.60	Cervelleite	Ag₄TeS	Mon. 2/m
2.BA.65	Henryite	(Cu,Ag)_3+xTe₂ , with x ~ 0.40	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3c
2.BA.65	Stützite	Ag_5-xTe₃, x = 0.24-0.36	Hex. 6 : P6
2.BA.70	Argyrodite	Ag₈GeS₆	Orth. mm2 : Pna2₁
2.BA.70	Putzite	(Cu_4.7Ag_3.3)GeS₆	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.BA.70	Canfieldite	Ag₈SnS₆	Orth. mm2 : Pna2₁
2.BA.75	Fischesserite	Ag₃AuSe₂	Iso. 4 3 2 : I4₁ 3 2
2.BA.75	Uytenbogaardtite	Ag₃AuS₂	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
2.BA.75	Penzhinite	(Ag,Cu)₄Au(S,Se)₄	Hex. 6 2 2 : P6₃ 2 2
2.BA.75	Petrovskaite	AuAgS	Mon.
2.BA.75	Petzite	Ag₃AuTe₂	Iso. 4 3 2 : I4₁ 3 2
2.BA.80	Bezsmertnovite	(Au,Ag)₄Cu(Te,Pb)	Orth.
2.BA.80	Bogdanovite	(Au,Te,Pb)₃(Cu,Fe)	Iso.

Other InformationHide

Electrical:

metallic conduction.

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 BilibinskiteHide

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https://www.mindat.org/min-672.html
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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for BilibinskiteHide

Reference List:

Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR, Earth Science Sections: 266: 145-148.

Fleischer, Michael, Chao, George Y., Mandarino, J. A. (1979) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 64 (5-6) 652-659

Bochek, L.I., Malinovskiy, Y.A., Sandomirskaya, S.M., Chuvikina, N.G. (1982) Bilibinskite and bezsmertnovite, new hybrid minerals of the intermetallic compound-oxide type rather than intermetallic compounds of gold. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 266(5): 1255-1259 (in Russian).

Spiridonov, E.M. (1991) Composition and structure of the bilibinskite-bogdanovite mineral group. Novye dannye o mineralakh: 37: 138-145. (in Russian)

Jambor, John L., Pertsev, Nikolai N., Roberts, Andrew C. (1995) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 80 (7-8). 845-850

(2005) Bilibinskite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Spiridonov, E. M. (2011) Bilibinskite,(Au5-6Cu3-2)8 (Te,Pb,Sb)5, from the Cementation Zone of the Aginskoe, Kamchatka and Pionerskoe, Sayan Mountains Gold-telluride Deposits. New Data on Minerals. 46:162-164

Localities for BilibinskiteHide

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.

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.


Armenia
Gegharkunik Province Sotk ⓘ Sotk gold mine	Spiridonov (2011)

China
Xinjiang Yili Hasake Autonomous Prefecture Aletai Prefecture (Altay Prefecture) Habahe Co. (Kaba Co.; Qaba Co.) ⓘ Duolanasayi Mine (Duolanashayi Mine; Duonalasayi Mine)	Huiliang Xiao et al. (2002) +1 other reference

Kazakhstan
Akmola Region Shortandy District ⓘ Southern Dzhelambet deposit	Pekov (1998)
ⓘ Zholymbet mine	Spiridonov (2011)
Stepnogorsk Stepnyak group ⓘ Zhana-Tyube deposit	Spiridonov (2011)
East Kazakhstan Region Kurshim District ⓘ Manka Au deposit	Глоба В.А. Месторождение Манка - новый геолого-промышленный тип месторождений золота. // Изв. НАН РК et al. (403) +1 other reference
Karaganda Region Shet District ⓘ Almaly Mine	Spiridonov (2011)
ⓘ Solnyshko deposit	Spiridonov (2011)

North Macedonia
Probistip Municipality Kratovo-Zletovo ore district ⓘ Plavica deposit (Plavica-Zlatica deposit; Plavitsa deposit)	Serafimovski et al. (2015) +1 other reference

Russia
Buryatia Muysky District Muya ⓘ Pionerskoye gold deposit	Extra Lapis English No. 5 Gold +2 other references
Kamchatka Krai Bystrinsky District Central Kamchatka mining district ⓘ Aginskoe Au deposit (Aginskoye deposit) (TL)	Extra Lapis English No. 5 Gold +4 other references
Koryak Okrug Karaginsky District ⓘ Ozernovskoe deposit	Spiridonov (2011)

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