routhierite

Routhierite is a rare mineral that belongs to the sulfite mineral family. It was first discovered in 1950 at the Bay Garder, Quebec, Canada site. The mineral was named after Paul Routhier, a Quebec geologist who was involved in its discovery.

Routhierite has a chemical composition of Pb _{3} FeSbO _{6} and typically forms as a result of the oxidation of sulfide minerals. It has a tetragonal crystal structure and a distinctive yellowish-brown to brown color. The mineral has a moderate hardness of around 5-6 on the Mohs scale.

Routhierite is known to occur in a limited number of localities worldwide, primarily in Quebec, Canada. It is often found in association with other lead-containing minerals such as galena and pyromorphite. The mineral's occurrence is typically within hydrothermal veins and hydroxide-rich zones.

Routhierite has a relatively low density of around 6.7-6.8 g/cm3. Its appearance is characterized by a needle-like or slender crystal habit, often with an irregular or bent shape. The mineral's optical properties include a relatively high refractive index of around 2.2 and a moderate birefringence.

Due to its extremely rare occurrence, there is limited information available about the thermal and electrical properties of routhierite. Further research and identification of this mineral may provide more insight into its properties and behavior. The mineral is considered rare and is often of interest to mineral collectors and researchers in the field of mineralogy.