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Argyrodite

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Colquechaca (Aullagas), Chayanta Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia
© Van King

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Formula:
Ag
 
8
GeS
 
6
System:OrthorhombicColour:grey, black
Hardness:2½ - 3
Member of:Argyrodite Group
Name:From the Greek αργυρώδης ("argyrodes"), "silver-bearing", in allusion to its silver content
This page provides mineralogical data about Argyrodite.

Classification of Argyrodite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/B.08-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.BA.70

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
Dana 8th edition ID:2.5.6.1

2 : SULFIDES
5 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:2
Hey's CIM Ref.:6.2.4

6 : Sulphosalts - Sulphostannates, Sulphogermanates,Sulpharsenates, Sulphantimonates, Sulphovanadates and Sulphohalides
2 : Sulphogermanates
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Type Occurrence of Argyrodite

Type Locality:Himmelsfürst Mine, Brand-Erbisdorf, Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1886

Occurrences of Argyrodite

Geological Setting:Low temperature polymetallic deposits, high temperature Ag-Sn deposits.

Physical Properties of Argyrodite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:grey, black
Comment:Tarnishes black
Streak:grey-black
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):6.29 g/cm3
Density (calculated):6.32 g/cm3

Crystallography of Argyrodite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 15.149Å, b = 7.476Å, c = 10.589Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.026 : 1 : 1.416
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,199.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Pseudo-octahedral, dodecahedral, cubes to 18cm
Twinning:Pseudospinel {111}
Crystal Atlas:
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Argyrodite no.4 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Optical Data of Argyrodite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:weak
Colour in reflected light:Grey-white with violet tint
Pleochroism:Weak

Chemical Properties of Argyrodite

Formula:
Ag
 
8
GeS
 
6
Essential elements:Ag, Ge, S
All elements listed in formula:Ag, Ge, S
Common Impurities:Fe,Sb,Sn

Relationship of Argyrodite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Canfieldite (see here)
Member of:Argyrodite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Putzite
(Cu
 
4.7
Ag
 
3.3
)GeS
 
6
Common Associates:
StephanitePyrargyritePolybasiteCanfielditeAcanthite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.BA.05Chalcocite
Cu
 
2
S
2.BA.05Djurleite
Cu
 
31
S
 
16
2.BA.05Geerite
Cu
 
8
S
 
5
2.BA.05Roxbyite
Cu
 
9
S
 
5
2.BA.10Anilite
Cu
 
7
S
 
4
2.BA.10Digenite
Cu
 
9
S
 
5
2.BA.15Bornite
Cu
 
5
FeS
 
4
2.BA.20Bellidoite
Cu
 
2
Se
2.BA.20Berzelianite
Cu
 
2
Se
2.BA.25Athabascaite
Cu
 
5
Se
 
4
2.BA.25Umangite
Cu
 
3
Se
 
2
2.BA.30Rickardite
Cu
 
7
Te
 
5
2.BA.30Weissite
Cu
 
2-x
Te
2.BA.35Acanthite
Ag
 
2
S
2.BA.40Mckinstryite
Ag
 
5-x
Cu
 
3+x
S
 
4
2.BA.40Stromeyerite
AgCuS
2.BA.40dUM2003-13-S:AgAuCu
Ag
 
6
AuCu
 
2
S
 
5
2.BA.45Jalpaite
Ag
 
3
CuS
 
2
2.BA.45Selenojalpaite
Ag
 
3
CuSe
 
2
2.BA.50Eucairite
AgCuSe
2.BA.55Aguilarite
Ag
 
4
SeS
2.BA.55Naumannite
Ag
 
2
Se
2.BA.60Cervelleite
Ag
 
4
TeS
2.BA.60Hessite
Ag
 
2
Te
2.BA.60Chenguodaite
Ag
 
9
Fe
3+
 
Te
 
2
S
 
4
2.BA.65Henryite
Ag
 
3
Cu
 
4
Te
 
4
2.BA.65Stützite
Ag
 
5-x
Te
 
3
, x = 0.24-0.36
2.BA.70Canfieldite
Ag
 
8
(Sn,Ge)(S,Te)
 
6
2.BA.70Putzite
(Cu
 
4.7
Ag
 
3.3
)GeS
 
6
2.BA.75Fischesserite
Ag
 
3
AuSe
 
2
2.BA.75Penzhinite
(Ag,Cu)
 
4
Au(S,Se)
 
4
2.BA.75Petrovskaite
AuAg(S,Se)
2.BA.75Petzite
Ag
 
3
AuTe
 
2
2.BA.75Uytenbogaardtite
Ag
 
3
AuS
 
2
2.BA.80Bezsmertnovite
(Au,Ag)
 
4
Cu(Te,Pb)
2.BA.80Bilibinskite
PbCuAu
 
3
Te
 
2
2.BA.80Bogdanovite
(Au,Te,Pb)
 
3
(Cu,Fe)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
6.2.1Germanite
Cu
 
13
Fe
 
2
Ge
 
2
S
 
16
6.2.2Briartite
Cu
 
2
(Fe,Zn)GeS
 
4
6.2.3Renierite
(Cu,Zn)
 
11
(Ge,As)
 
2
Fe
 
4
S
 
16
6.2.5Canfieldite
Ag
 
8
(Sn,Ge)(S,Te)
 
6
6.2.6Morozeviczite
(Pb,Fe)
 
3
Ge
 
1-x
S
 
4
6.2.7Polkovicite
(Fe,Pb)
 
3
(Ge,Fe)
 
1-x
S
 
4

Other Names for Argyrodite

Synonyms:
Plusinglanz
Other Languages:
German:Argyrodit
Italian:Argirodite
Russian:Аргиродит
Simplified Chinese:硫银锗矿
Spanish:Argyrodita

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 Argyrodite

Reference List:

- +
Weisbach, A. (1886) Berg- und hütten. Jahrbuch Sachs.: 89.

Weisbach, A. (1886): Argyrodit, ein neues Silbererz.- Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paläontologie, vol. II, 67-71.

Ahlfeld and Moritz (1933), Jb. Min., Beil.-Bd.: 66: 185.

Ahlfeld and Reyes (1938).

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: 356-358.

Wang, Naiding and Viaene, W. (1974) The polymorphs of Cu8GeS6 - a preliminary study. Neues Jahrb. Mineral., Monatsh.: 442-446.

Eulenberger, G. (1977) Die Kristallstruktur der Tieftemperaturmodifikation von Ag8GeS6, synthetischer Argyrodit. Monatsh. Chem.: 108: 901-913.

Kuhs, W.F., Nitsche, R., and Scheunemann, K. (1979) The argyrodites - a new family of tetrahedrally close-packed structures. Materials Research Bulletin: 14: 241-248.

Evain, M., Gaudin, E., Boucher, F., Petříček, V., and Taulelle, F. (1998) Structures and phase transitions of the A7PSe6(A= Ag, Cu) argyrodite-type ionic conductors. I. Ag7PSe6. Acta Crystallographica: B54: 376-383.

Onoda,M., Chen, Xue An., Kato,K., Sato, A., and Wada, H. (1999) Structure refinement of Cu8GeS6 using X-ray diffraction data from a multiple-twinned crystal. Acta Crystallographica: B55: 721-725.

Internet Links for Argyrodite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Argyrodite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Argyrodite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Argentina
     
    • Catamarca
      • Andalgalá Department
        • Capillitas Mine
    		PUTZ, Hubert; PAAR, Werner H and TOPA, Dan. A contributionto the knowledge of the mineralization at mina Capillitas, Catamarca. Rev. Asoc. Geol. Argent. [online]. 2009, vol.64, n.3, pp. 514-524.
    PUTZ, Hubert; PAAR, Werner H and TOPA, Dan. A contributionto the knowledge of the mineralization at mina Capillitas, Catamarca. Rev. Asoc. Geol. Argent. [online]. 2009, vol.64, n.3, pp. 514-524.
    • Jujuy
      • Rinconada Department
    		Milka K. de Brodtkorb (2002) Las Especies Minerales de la Republica Argentina. Vol. 1 (elements, sulphides and sulphosalts). (Asociacion Mineralogica Argentina)
    Milka K. de Brodtkorb (2002) Las Especies Minerales de la Republica Argentina. Vol. 1 (elements, sulphides and sulphosalts). (Asociacion Mineralogica Argentina)
    Strübel, Zimmer: "Lexikon der Minerale", 2nd Ed., 1991
    • La Rioja
      • Sierra de Famatina
        • Chilecito Department
    		DE BRODTKORB, Milka K. Precious metaltellurides and other Te-bearing minerals in different paragenesis of Argentina: A review. Rev. Asoc. Geol. Argent. [online]. 2009, vol.64, n.3, pp. 365-372.
    Brodtkorb (2002): Las Especies Minerales de la Republica Argentina
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Phillip Co.
        • Lue
    		Pringle and Elliot 1998, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Monograph 22.
    Bolivia
     
    • Oruro Department
      • Poopó Province
    		Salomon Rivas y Federico Ahlfeld (1998) Los Minerales de Bolivia y sus Parajes. (Santa Cruz)
    • Potosí Department
      • Antonio Quijarro Province
        • Agua de Castilla
    Kempff, O., Paar, W.H., Tawackoli, S.: "Minerales de Bolivia", 115pp (La Paz, 2009)
    Kempff, O., Paar, W.H., Tawackoli, S.: "Minerales de Bolivia", 115pp (La Paz, 2009)
    Kempff, O., Paar, W.H., Tawackoli, S.: "Minerales de Bolivia", 115pp (La Paz, 2009)
    Federico Ahlfeld and Alejandro Schneider-Scherbina (1964) Los Yacimientos Minerales y de Hidrocarburos de Bolivia. (Ministerio de Minas y Petroleo, La Paz)
      • Chayanta Province
    		No reference listed
      • Potosí City
    		Federico Ahlfeld and Alejandro Schneider-Scherbina (1964) Los Yacimientos Minerales y de Hidrocarburos de Bolivia. (Ministerio de Minas y Petroleo, La Paz)
      • Sud Chichas Province
        • Atocha-Quechisla District
    		[MinRec 32:461]
    [MinRec 32:461]
    China
     
    • Fujian Province
      • Nanping Prefecture
        • Jianyang Co.
          • Shuiji Pb-Zn-(Ag) deposit
    		Anthony, J.W. et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy.
    • Hubei Province
      • Yichang Prefecture
        • Xingshan Co.
    		Chao Chen and Fapeng Xie (1986): Mineral Deposits 5(1)
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Cantal
        • Laroquebrou
          • Saint-Santin-Cantalès
        • Massiac
          • Molèdes
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
      • Haute-Loire
        • Allègre
          • Bellevue-la-Montagne
    		P.G. Pélisson : "Etude Minéralogique et Métallogénique du District Filonien Polytype de Paulhaguet (Haute-Loire, Massif Central Français)", Doctorate Thesis, Orléans, France, 1989
        • La Chaise-Dieu
          • Saint-Pal-de-Senouire
    		P.G. Pélisson : "Etude Minéralogique et Métallogénique du District Filonien Polytype de Paulhaguet (Haute-Loire, Massif Central Français)", Doctorate Thesis, Orléans, France, 1989
    • Limousin
      • Haute-Vienne
        • Rilhac-Lastours
    		P. Picot, Z. Johan : "Atlas of Ore Minerals", BRGM, Elsevier, 1982
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Alpes-Maritimes
        • Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée
          • Roure
    		R. Pierrot, P. Picot, J. Féraud, J. Vernet : "Inventaire Minéralogique de la France N° 4 : Alpes-Maritimes", BRGM, 1974
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Elz valley
          • Waldkirch
    		K. Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Freiberg District
          • Brand-Erbisdorf
    		F. Angel and R. Scharizer in "Grundriss der Mineralparagenese", Springer (Wien), 1932, pp. 221-222
            • Vereinigt Feld Mine
    		A. Frenzel (1900): Argyrodit ist Breithaupt's Plusinglanz.- Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen 19, 244-245
          • Zug
    		Baumann, L., Hofmann, F. & Weber, W. (1997): Glückauf Freiberg. Bergbau, Erze, Mineralien. Bode Verlag Haltern, 168 p.
    Ireland
     
    • Co. Tipperary
      • Silvermines District
    		Econ Geol (1984) 79:529-548 Moreton, S. (1999) Mineralogical Record, 30, 99-106.
    Japan
     
    • Hokkaido
      • Hidaka Province
        • Monbetsu (Mombetsu)
    		(Geology and Mineral Resources of Japan, p 204 (Geological Survey of Japan, 1960).
      • Oshima peninsula
        • Kaminokuni
    		Ishiyama, D. et al (1982) Journal of the Mining College, Akita University, Ser. A, Mining Geology, 6, #2, 149-171.
    • Honshu Island
      • Tohoku Region
        • Akita Prefecture
          • Odate
    		Suji Ohno & Juichi Sato Ganko Vol. 90, 268-279 (1995) .
    Mexico
     
    • Guanajuato
      • Mun. de Guanajuato
        • Guanajuato
    		No reference listed
    Morocco
     
    • Souss-Massa-Draâ Region
      • Ouarzazate Province
        • Tazenakht
    		S. Weiß: Lapis 31(7/8), 72-73 (2006)
    New Zealand
     
    • North Island
      • Auckland
        • Auckland City
    		Railton, G.L. & Watters, W.A., Minerals of New Zealand, New Zealand Geological Survey Bull. #104 (1990).
    Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    Romania
     
    • Alba Co.
    		Bailly, Laurent; Tamas, Calin-Gabriel; Minut, Adrian (2005): Te-rich argyrodite occurrence in Rosia Montana ore deposit, Apuseni Mountains, Romania. Comptes Rendus Geoscience 337, 755-762; Tamas, C. G.; Bailly, L.; Ghergari, L.; O'Connor, G.; Minut, A. (2006): New occurrences of tellurides and argyrodite in Rosia Montana, Apuseni mountains, Romania, and their metallogenic significance. Canadian Mineralogist 44, 367-383.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Chukotskii Autonomous Okrug
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Slovakia
     
    • Prešov Region
      • Prešov Co.
    		Duda et. all.,1981:Minerály severnej časti Slanských vrchov. Min.Slovca,Monografia 2,Bratislava, 98 p
    Spain
     
    • Castile-La Mancha
      • Guadalajara
    		Mineralogical Record, 23 (3), 241-249
    Jordi Fabre
    Sweden
     
    • Värmland
      • Säffle
        • Långserud
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Alaska
      • Denali Borough
        • Denali NP and Preserve
          • Kantishna Hills District
    		USGS OFR 2004-1200(Hawley,2004)
      • Juneau Borough
        • Admiralty District
    		Taylor, C.D., and Johnson, C.A., editors, 2010, Geology, geochemistry, and genesis of the Greens Creek massive sulfide deposit, Admiralty Island, southeastern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1763, 429 p., 7 plates on CD.
    • Colorado
      • Dolores Co.
        • Rico District (Pioneer District)
          • Expectation Mountain
    		Min. Rec.:16(3):203-216
    • Nevada
      • Nye Co.
    		NBMG Bull 99B Geology and Mineral Resources of Northern Nye County, Nevada
    • Utah
      • Box Elder Co.
        • Grouse Creek Mts
          • Ashbrook District
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Mineral and/or Locality
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