Patrónite

Patrónite
Patronite from the Minas Ragra, Peru
General
Category	Sulfide mineral
Formula (repeating unit)	VS4
IMA symbol	Pat[1]
Strunz classification	2.EC.10
Crystal system	Monoclinic
Crystal class	Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol)
Space group	I2/c
Unit cell	a = 12.11 Å, b = 10.42 Å, c = 6.78 Å; β = 100.8°; Z = 8
Identification
Formula mass	179.21 g/mol
Color	Lead-gray on fresh surfaces to gray-black after exposure to air
Crystal habit	Occurs as columnar crystal aggregates and in massive form
Cleavage	Distinct columnar
Mohs scale hardness	2
Luster	Metallic
Streak	Black
Diaphaneity	Opaque
Specific gravity	2.82
Pleochroism	Strong
References	[2][3][4][5]

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]

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

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. Mindat.org
4. 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.