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Wenqingite

A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Pb5(AsS3)2(Ge2S6)
Colour:
greenish gray
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
5.543 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
in honor of Prof. Wenqing Qin (1969 -), a distinguished scientist at the School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, China. Prof. Qin earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Science and Technology Beijing in 1991 and completed his Doctorate of Technology at Central South University in 1997. Since then, he has been a faculty member at Central South University, attaining the rank of professor in 2003. Prof. Qin is renowned for his contributions to mineral processing and the recycling of secondary resources.
New structure type

Wenqingite is the first mineral that contains both thiogermanate and thioarsenite with considerable economic significance.


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
472200
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:472200:3

IMA Classification of WenqingiteHide

Classification of WenqingiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.LB.

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
L : Unclassified Sulfosalts
B : With essential Pb

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

Physical Properties of WenqingiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Colour:
Greenish gray
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
5.543 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of WenqingiteHide

Anisotropism:
moderate
Bireflectance:
weak
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)
650nm26.1 24.2%
589nm27.9 26.0%
546nm29.1 27.2%
470nm30.5 27.5%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 30.5 27.5%.
Colour in reflected light:
greenish gray
Internal Reflections:
none
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of WenqingiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Pb5(AsS3)2(Ge2S6)
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Pb60.376 %
S22.424 %
As8.733 %
Ge8.467 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Pb
S
As
Ge
Elements listed:
As, Ge, Pb, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of WenqingiteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/c
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 17.8564(12) Å, b = 10.8990(5) Å, c = 10.9637(6) Å
β = 108.277(6)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.638 : 1 : 1.006
Unit Cell V:
2,026.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Type Occurrence of WenqingiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Wuishe Pb-Zn deposit, Wusihe deposits, Hanyuan County, Ya'an, Sichuan, China
General Appearance of Type Material:
euhedral to subhedral columnar or platy crystals with a grain size of 1–10 μm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Geological Museum of China, No. 16, Yangrou Hutong, Xisi, Beijing 100031, People's Republic of China, catalogue number M1613x
Geological Setting of Type Material:
a hydrothermal exhalative sedimentary origin
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
GalenaJordanitePyriteRuizhongiteSphalerite
Reference:
Meng, Yu-Miao; Hu, Ruizhong; Huang, Xiao-Wen; Yang, Yiping; Liu, Guanghua; Gu, Xiangping (2026) Wenqingite, Pb5(AsS3)2(Ge2S6), the first thiogermanate and thioarsenite mineral with edge-sharing GeS4 tetrahedra, from the Wusihe Pb–Zn deposit, Sichuan Province, SW China. American Mineralogist, 111 (5). p.796-804. doi:10.2138/am-2025-9872

Synonyms of WenqingiteHide

Other Language Names for WenqingiteHide

German:Wenqingit

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.LB.CiriottiiteCu(Cu,Ag)3Pb19(Sb,As)22(As2)S56Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.LB.HayyaniteCu5Ag11Pb76Sb71As17(As2+)8S224Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.LB.05MiharaiteCu4FePbBiS6Orth.
2.LB.30LaunayiteCu2Pb20(Sb,As)26S60Mon. 2/m : P2/b
2.LB.30ArdaitePb19Sb13S35Cl7Mon.
2.LB.30SorbyiteCuPb9(Sb,As)11S26Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.LB.30PlayfairitePb16(Sb,As)19S44ClMon.
2.LB.30SterryiteCu(Ag,Cu)3Pb19(Sb,As)22(As2)S56Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.LB.30MadocitePb19(Sb,As)16S43Orth.
2.LB.35Larosite(Cu,Ag)21PbBiS13Orth.
2.LB.40MazzettiiteAg3HgPbSbTe5Orth.
2.LB.40PetroviciteCu3HgPbBiSe5Orth.
2.LB.45CreraritePt2-x(Bi,Pb)11(S,Se)11Tric. 1 : P1
2.LB.50QuijarroiteCu6HgPb2Bi4Se12Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
2.LB.55ZnamenskyitePb4In2Bi4S13Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbam

Other InformationHide

Magnetism:
Non-Magnetic
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 WenqingiteHide

References for WenqingiteHide

Localities for WenqingiteHide

Showing 1 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.
China (TL)
 
  • Sichuan
    • Ya'an
      • Hanyuan County
        • Wusihe deposits
Bosi et al. (2025)
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