AIKINITE

Aikinite

COLOR

White with a creamy tint. Pleochroism is visible and the tint light brownish. Takes a good polish.

REFLECTANCE

Rather high. By comparison with galena, it is definitely higher and the color is then slightly yellower.

ANISOTROPISM

Rather strong. Tints are characteristic and turn green to green-brown.

TEXTURE

Not very characteristic. Often as euhedral or subhedral aggregates. Sometimes the mineral is inclosed in galena. It is often transformed into covellite along fractures.

ASSOCIATED MINERALS

Galena, other bismuth minerals, arsenopyrite and native gold.

CRITERIA OF DETERMINATION

Reflectance definitely higher than galena, strong anisotropy in green tints, association with other bismuth minerals and transformation into covellite and characteristic. When enclosed in galena, may be confused with meneghinite. The latter also polarizes in green tints and its reflectance is also slightly higher than galena. However, the reflectance of aikinite is definitely higher than meneghinite; the latter is only slightly higher than the of galena.

Source

ATLAS OF ORE MINERALS (P. Picot and Z. Johan)