Markwelchite, TlPbSbS3, a new Tl–Pb sulfosalt from the hydrothermal deposit of Jas Roux, Hautes-Alpes, France

Markwelchite, ideally TlPbSbS3, is a new mineral from the hydrothermal deposit of Jas Roux, Hautes-Alpes, France. It occurs as a black anhedral crystal associated closely with protochabournéite. Microhardness measurements (VHN15) gave a mean value of 197 kg/mm2 corresponding to a Mohs hardness of ∼3–4. In plane-polarised incident light, markwelchite is grey in colour. Under crossed polars, it is distinctly anisotropic with greyish white to bluish rotation tints, with bright red internal reflections. Reflectance percentages (Rmin and Rmax) are: 28.5, 31.5 (471.1 nm); 28.3, 30.7 (548.3 nm); 27.9, 30.3 (586.6 nm); and 27.6, 29.8 (652.3 nm). The mean of 5 electron microprobe spot analyses gave Tl 34.67(45), Pb 31.86(25), Sb 15.06(15), As 2.37(5), S 15.35(20), total 99.31 wt.%, corresponding, on the basis of a total of 6 atoms per formula unit and structural results, to Tl1.063Pb0.964(Sb0.775As0.198)Σ0.973S3.000. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that markwelchite is isotypic with richardsollyite, TlPbAsS3. It is monoclinic, space group P21/c, with the following unit-cell parameters: a = 8.9144(3), b = 8.4513(3), c = 8.6511(3) Å, β = 108.723(4)°, V = 617.27(4) Å3 and Z = 4. The five strongest observed powder-diffraction lines [d in Å (Irel)(hkl)] are: 3.88 (100)( 211); 3.78 (90)(210); 3.29 (90)(102); 2.73 (85)( 113); and 2.93 (75)(022). The crystal structure can be described as formed by (100) [Me2(SbS3)]– layers sandwiching the Me1+ cations. The Me1 site has a seven-fold coordination, whereas the Me2 site has an 6+2 coordination corresponding to a distorted, bicapped trigonal prismatic coordination, and the Sb site displays a trigonal pyramidal coordination with three S atoms and Sb at the apex. The name markwelchite honours Dr Mark D. Welch of the Natural History Museum, London, UK. The new mineral has been approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2024–001). A discussion on the relationships between markwelchite and synthetic TlPbSbS3 is also provided.