Playfairite [SEP] named after
Playfairite
Playfairite is a rare sulfosalt mineral with chemical formula PbSbS in the monoclinic crystal system, named after the Scottish scientist and mathematician John Playfair. It was discovered in 1966 by the Canadian mineralogist John Leslie Jambor. Lead gray to black in color, its luster is metallic. Playfairite shows strong reflection pleochroism from white to brownish gray. Playfairite has a hardness of 3.5 to 4 on Mohs scale and a specific gravity of approximately 5.72.
The type locality is Taylor Pit (Concession XIV; Lot 13), Huntingdon Township
campaign. The monument to his memory by William Henry Playfair, on Calton Hill, is visible from the spot.
Honours.
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
- Fellow of the Royal Society of London, 1807
- Craters on Mars and the Moon were named in his honour.
- The mineral playfairite was named in his honour.
Critical bibliography.
A four-volume collected edition of Playfair's works, with a memoir by James G. Playfair, appeared at Edinburgh in 1822.