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Freibergite

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Herja Mine, Chiuzbaia (Kisbánya), Baia Mare (Nagybánya), Maramures Co., Romania
© Peter Haas

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Formula:
(Ag
 
4+2x
Cu
 
2-2x
)[(Cu, Ag)
 
4
(Fe, Zn)
 
2
]Sb
 
4
S
 
12
S
 
1-x
 (0 < x < 1)
System:IsometricColour:Grey
Hardness:3½ - 4
Member of:Tetrahedrite Group
Name:
After the type locality of Freiberg, Saxony, Germany.
Isostructural with:Argentotennantite, Tennantite, Tetrahedrite


Tetrahedrite Group. Argentotennantite-Freibergite Series, and the Freibergite-Tetrahedrite Series. The Ag-dominant analogue of Tetrahedrite. Varieties with Ag below 4 atoms per formula unit should be called Ag-rich tetrahedrite.

The accurate definition of freibergite is still under discussion, see Moëlo et al. (2008).

Classification of Freibergite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.11-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.GB.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
B : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. with additional S
Dana 8th edition ID:3.3.6.3

3 : SULFOSALTS
3 : 3 <ø < 4
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.2.15

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
2 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Ag
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Type Occurrence of Freibergite

Type Locality:Reiche Zeche Mine, Himmelfahrt Mine, Freiberg, Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1853

Occurrences of Freibergite

Geological Setting:Hydrothermal deposits

Physical Properties of Freibergite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Grey
Streak:Reddish black
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=263 - 340 kg/mm2
Density (calculated):5.41 g/cm3

Crystallography of Freibergite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:I4 3m
Cell Parameters:a = 10.56Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,177.58 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Tetrahedral crystals, massive

Chemical Properties of Freibergite

Formula:
(Ag
 
4+2x
Cu
 
2-2x
)[(Cu, Ag)
 
4
(Fe, Zn)
 
2
]Sb
 
4
S
 
12
S
 
1-x
 (0 < x < 1)
Essential elements:Ag, Cu, Fe, S, Sb
All elements listed in formula:Ag, Cu, Fe, S, Sb, Zn
Common Impurities:Zn,Hg,Bi

Relationship of Freibergite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Argentotennantite (see here)
Forms a series with Tetrahedrite (see here)
Member of:Tetrahedrite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Argentotennantite
(Ag,Cu)
 
10
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
13
Giraudite
(Cu,Zn,Ag)
 
12
(As,Sb)
 
4
(Se,S)
 
13
Goldfieldite
Cu
 
12
(Te,Sb,As)
 
4
S
 
13
Hakite
(Cu,Hg,Ag)
 
12
Sb
 
4
(Se,S)
 
13
Tennantite
(Cu,Ag,Fe,Zn)
 
12
As
 
4
S
 
13
Tetrahedrite
(Cu,Fe,Ag,Zn)
 
12
Sb
 
4
S
 
13
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.GB.05Argentotennantite
(Ag,Cu)
 
10
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.05Giraudite
(Cu,Zn,Ag)
 
12
(As,Sb)
 
4
(Se,S)
 
13
2.GB.05Goldfieldite
Cu
 
12
(Te,Sb,As)
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.05Hakite
(Cu,Hg,Ag)
 
12
Sb
 
4
(Se,S)
 
13
2.GB.05Tennantite
(Cu,Ag,Fe,Zn)
 
12
As
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite
(Cu,Fe,Ag,Zn)
 
12
Sb
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.10Selenostephanite
Ag
 
5
Sb(Se,S)
 
4
2.GB.10Stephanite
Ag
 
5
SbS
 
4
2.GB.15Pearceite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
2.GB.15Polybasite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
2.GB.15UM2003-14-S:AgBiFeTe
Ag
 
16
FeBiTe
 
3
S
 
8
2.GB.15Selenopolybasite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(Sb,As)
 
2
(S,Se)
 
7
][Ag
 
9
Cu(S,Se)
 
2
Se
 
2
]
2.GB.15Cupropearceite
[Cu
 
6
As
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
2.GB.15Cupropolybasite
[Cu
 
6
Sb
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
2.GB.15UM1979-17-S:BiCuFe
Cu
 
18
Fe
 
4
BiS
 
16
2.GB.20Galkhaite
(Cs,Tl)(Hg,Cu,Zn)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
12
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
5.2.1Smithite
AgAsS
 
2
5.2.2Trechmannite
AgAsS
 
2
5.2.3Proustite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
5.2.4Xanthoconite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
5.2.5Pearceite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
5.2.6Pearceite-T2ac
5.2.7Argentotennantite
(Ag,Cu)
 
10
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
13
5.2.8Miargyrite
AgSbS
 
2
5.2.9Pyrargyrite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
5.2.10Pyrostilpnite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
5.2.11Stephanite
Ag
 
5
SbS
 
4
5.2.12Polybasite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
5.2.13Billingsleyite
Ag
 
7
AsS
 
6
5.2.14Polybasite-Tac
5.2.16Aramayoite
Ag(Sb,Bi)S
 
2
5.2.17Matildite
AgBiS
 
2
5.2.18Schapbachite
AgBiS
 
2
5.2.19Pavonite
(Ag,Cu)(Bi,Pb)
 
3
S
 
5
5.2.20Arcubisite
Ag
 
6
CuBiS
 
4
5.2.21Bohdanowiczite
AgBiSe
 
2
5.2.22Selenostephanite
Ag
 
5
Sb(Se,S)
 
4
5.2.23Benleonardite
Ag
 
8
(Sb,As)Te
 
2
S
 
3
5.2.24Volynskite
AgBiTe
 
2

Other Names for Freibergite

Synonyms:
AphtoniteLeukargyriteWeisgylden
Other Languages:
Cherokee:Freibergite
German:Freibergit
Graugültigerz
Leukargyrit
Silberfahlerz
Weißgülden
Weissgülden
Weißgültigerz
Weissgültigerz
Russian:Фрейбергит
Simplified Chinese:黝锑银矿
Spanish:Aphtonita
Freibergita
Leukargyrita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Freibergite

Reference List:

- +
Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 379.

American Mineralogist (1975): 60: 489.

Paar, W. H., Chen, T. T. & Günther, W. (1978): Extrem silberreicher Freibergit in Pb-Zn-Cu-Erzen des Bergbaues "Knappenstube", Hochtor, Salzburg. Carinthia II, 168./88., 35-42 (in German).

Mineralogicheskii Zhurnal: 15: 9-17.

Moëlo, Y., Makovicky, E., Mozgova, N.N., Jambor, J.L., Cook, N., Pring, A., Paar, W., Nickel, E.H., Graeser, S., Karup-Møller, S.; Balić-Žunić, T.; Mumme, W.G., Vurro, F., Topa, D., Bindi, L., Bente, K., Shimizu, M. (2008): Sulfosalt systematics: a review. Report of the sulfosalt sub-committee of the IMA Commission on Ore Mineralogy. European Journal of Mineralogy, 20, 7-46.

Internet Links for Freibergite

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    • Localities for Freibergite

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