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Eucairite

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Předbořice, Central Bohemia Region, Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Czech Republic
© Pavel M. Kartashov

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Formula:
AgCuSe
System:OrthorhombicColour:Brilliant creamy white
Hardness:2½
Name:For the Greek for opportunity, since it was first found shortly after the description of selenium.
This page provides mineralogical data about Eucairite.

Classification of Eucairite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/B.06-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.BA.50

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:2.4.6.2

2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.2.13

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
2 : Sulphides etc. of Ag
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Type Occurrence of Eucairite

Type Locality:Skrikerum Mine, Valdemarsvik, Östergötland, Sweden
Year of Discovery:1818

Occurrences of Eucairite

Geological Setting:Hydrothermal deposits

Physical Properties of Eucairite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Brilliant creamy white
Comment:Tarnishes to bright orange
Streak:Shining
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN25=27 - 31 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Comment:Somewhat sectile
Density (measured):7.6 - 7.8 g/cm3
Density (calculated):7.91 g/cm3

Crystallography of Eucairite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 4.1Å, b = 4.07Å, c = 6.31Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.007 : 1 : 1.55
Unit Cell Volume:V 105.29 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Granular masses and blebs

Optical Data of Eucairite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong olive-brown to steel-blue with a purplish tinge
Colour in reflected light:Tin-white with faint creamy tinge
Pleochroism:Weak

Chemical Properties of Eucairite

Formula:
AgCuSe
Essential elements:Ag, Cu, Se
All elements listed in formula:Ag, Cu, Se

Relationship of Eucairite to other Species

Common Associates:
WeissiteUmangiteTiemanniteMalachiteKlockmannite
CrookesiteClausthaliteChalcomeniteCalciteBerzelianite
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.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.70Argyrodite
Ag
 
8
GeS
 
6
2.BA.70Canfieldite
Ag
 
8
SnS
 
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
PbCu
 
2
Au
 
3
Te
 
2
2.BA.80Bogdanovite
(Au,Te,Pb)
 
3
(Cu,Fe)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.2.1Acanthite
Ag
 
2
S
3.2.3Naumannite
Ag
 
2
Se
3.2.4Aguilarite
Ag
 
4
SeS
3.2.5Hessite
Ag
 
2
Te
3.2.6Empressite
AgTe
3.2.7Stützite
Ag
 
5-x
Te
 
3
, x = 0.24-0.36
3.2.8Cervelleite
Ag
 
4
TeS
3.2.9Dervillite
Ag
 
2
AsS
 
2
3.2.10Stromeyerite
AgCuS
3.2.11Mckinstryite
Ag
 
5-x
Cu
 
3+x
S
 
4
3.2.12Jalpaite
Ag
 
3
CuS
 
2
3.2.14Cameronite
AgCu
 
7
Te
 
10
3.2.15Henryite
Ag
 
3
Cu
 
4
Te
 
4
3.2.16Sternbergite
AgFe
 
2
S
 
3
3.2.17Argentopyrite
AgFe
 
2
S
 
3
3.2.18Geffroyite
(Cu,Fe,Ag)
 
9
(Se,S)
 
8
3.2.19Argentopentlandite
Ag(Fe,Ni)
 
8
S
 
8

Other Names for Eucairite

Synonyms:
Berzelinite
Other Languages:
French:Cuivre Sélénié Argental
German:Berzelinit
Eucairit
Eukairit
Selenkupfersilber
Russian:Эвкайрит
Simplified Chinese:硒铜银矿
Spanish:Berzelinita
Eucairita

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 Eucairite

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, 834pp.: 183-184.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 108: 389-391.

Internet Links for Eucairite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Eucairite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Eucairite

    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
     
    • La Rioja
      • Famatina
        • Puerto Alegre
    		Paar, et al. (1996): Revista de la Asociacion Geologica Argentina 51 (4):304-312
      • Sañogasta District
    		M.K. de Brodtkorb (ed.) (2002) Las Especies Minerales de la Republica Argentina, (Asociacion Mineralogica Argentina)
    Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Economic Geology (1997) 92, 468-484.
    Guerrero, M.A. (1969) Estudio geológico-económico y prospección geoquímica orientativa del Distrito Minero Cerro Cacho – Sierra de Umango. Dirección Nacional de Geología y Minería, (inédito), 171 p., Buenos Aires.
    de Brodtkorb, M. K., & Crosta, S. (2010). Reseña de la ubicación geográfica de los seleniuros de la Sierra de Umango, provincia de La Rioja. Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina, 67(2), 272-279.
    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.
    Milka K. de BRODTKORB and Sabrina CROSTA (2010) RESEÑA DE LA UBICACIÓN GEOGRÁFICA DE LOS SELENIUROS DE LA SIERRA DE UMANGO, PROVINCIA DE LA RIOJA. Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina 67 (2), 272 - 277.
    de Brodtkorb, M. K., & Crosta, S. (2010). Reseña de la ubicación geográfica de los seleniuros de la Sierra de Umango, provincia de La Rioja. Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina, 67(2), 272-279.
    No reference listed
    Economic Geology (1997) 92, 468-484.
      • Vinchina Department
    		Recursos Minerales de la Republica Argentina, E. O. Zappettini Ed., Buenos Aires 1999 ISSN 0328-2325
    Can. Min. Vol. 42, 1745-1755 (2004).
    • Mendoza
    		Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
        • Cerro de Cacheuta
    		Dana 6:53.
    Australia
     
    • Queensland
      • Tablelands Region
        • Mareeba Shire
          • Dimbulah
    		Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    • South Australia
      • Eyre Peninsula
        • Middleback Range
          • Iron Knob
    		www.crocoite.com (Steve Sorrell) and refs therein
    • Western Australia
      • Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire
        • Kalgoorlie-Boulder
          • Golden Mile Mines
    		Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    Bulgaria
     
    • Sofiya Oblast (Sofia Oblast)
      • Chelopech
    		American Mineralogist (1966): 51: 29-36
      • Zlatitsa
    		Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.; Georgiev, Georgi (2008) A genetic model of the Elatsite porphyry copper deposit, Bulgaria. GEOCHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY • SOFIA 46, 143-160.
    Canada
     
    • Ontario
      • Cochrane District
        • Timmins Area
          • Kidd Township
    		ontariominerals.com; Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484; Canadian Mineralogist (1984) 22 (2), 227-232; Canadian Mineralogist, 18, 353-360
    • Saskatchewan
      • Beaverlodge Region
        • Goldfields District
          • Melville Lake
            • Eagle shaft area
    		Can Min 10:787-796
        • Lake Athabasca
          • Uranium City
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990; Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484; Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 10, pp.787-796 (1972)
    Chile
     
    • Atacama Region
      • Chañaral Province
        • Salitrosa-Porvenir district
    		Atlas of Ore Minerals, Picot and Johan (1982)
    China
     
    • Sichuan Province
      • Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture
        • Huili Co.
    		Zhi Li, Zhenjie Chen, and Fengge Wang (1973): Geology and Prospecting 10(2), 20-24; Zhang Suhua et al. (1997): Chinese Journal of Nonferrous Metals 7(2), 11-16; Dong Zhensheng et al. (1996). In: Tu Guangzhi, Ed.: Low Temperature Geochemistry, Science Press (Beijing), 32-42
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Central Bohemia Region
    		Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Jáchymov (St Joachimsthal) District
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
      • Plzeň Region
        • Planá u Mariánských Lázní (Plan)
    		Scharmová, M., Scharm, B.: Minerály selenu na uranovém ložisku Zadní Chodov. Bulletin mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 1995, roč. 3, s. 43-47.
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • South Moravia Region
        • Tišnov
    		Šouba, M.: Příspěvek k mineralizacu dislokací v okolí Tišnovské Nové Vsi. Časopis pro mineralogii a geologii, 1984, roč. 29, č. 2, s. 185-191.uraninite, coffinite
      • Vysočina Region
        • Nové Město na Moravě
    		Kvaček, M.: Selenides from the deposits of Western Moravia, Czechoslovakia – Part II. Acta Universitatis Carolinae – Geologica, 1979, vol. 23, nos. 1-2, s. 15-38. ; Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    Kvaček, M.: Selenides from the deposits of Western Moravia, Czechoslovakia – Part II. Acta Universitatis Carolinae – Geologica, 1979, vol. 23, nos. 1-2, s. 15-38.
        • Rožná deposit
    		Vavřín, I.: Nové poznatky o selenidech Českého masívu. Bulletin Mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 1994, roč. 2, s. 82-89. ; Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    Kvaček, M.: Selenides from the deposits of Western Moravia, Czechoslovakia – Part II. Acta Universitatis Carolinae – Geologica, 1979, vol. 23, nos. 1-2, s. 15-38. ; Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Puy-de-Dôme
        • Sauxillanges
          • Chaméane
    		Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz
        • Clausthal-Zellerfeld
          • Lerbach
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
        • Lautenthal
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
        • St Andreasberg District
          • St Andreasberg
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    • Saxony-Anhalt
      • Harz
        • Gernrode
          • Rieder
    		Schaarschmidt, H. (2007): Weltweit einmalig: Clausthalit als freie Kristalle aus dem Harz. Lapis 32 (3), 41-42. (in German); Heider, J. & Siemroth, J. (2012): Die Selenidmineralisation im Grauwacke-Tagebau Rieder bei Gernrode, Harz. Aufschluss, 63, 213-223.
    Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Schlema-Hartenstein District
    		FÖRSTER et al. (2003) Canadian Mineralogist 41, 1433-1444
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa Province (West Greenland)
      • Narsaq
        • Qaqortoq (Julianehåb)
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990; Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    Norway
     
    • Buskerud
      • Kongsberg
        • Kongsberg Silver Mining District
          • Underberget Mining Field
    		Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data (2005)
    Poland
     
    • Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie)
      • Gogołów-Jordanów Massif
    		Galuskin E. & Szełęg E. 2003: The first finding of Ag-amalgamates in rodingites (Nasławice, Lower Silesia, Poland). Mineralogical Society of Poland - Special Papers, 22, 48-50
      • Kłodzko District
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Romania
     
    • Hunedoara Co.
      • Deva
    		www.minerals-of-the-carpathians,2009
    Sweden
     
    • Östergötland
      • Valdemarsvik
    		[Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, volume 108, pp. 389(1957); Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index"]; Sandström, F. (2007): Skrikerum. Litiofilen 24 (1), 22-38
    UK
     
    • England
      • Devon
        • South Devon
          • Torquay
    		[Camm, 1995, 71 - "Gold in the Counties of Cornwall and Devon"]; C. J. Stanley, A. J. Criddle and D. Lloyd (1990) Precious and Base Metal Selenide Mineralization at Hope's Nose, Torquay, Devon. Mineralogical Magazine 54:485-493
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • Montrose Co.
        • Uravan District
          • Paradox Valley
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • San Miguel Co.
        • Slick Rock District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.; Shawe, D.R., (2011), Uranium-vanadium deposits of the Slick Rock district, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 576-F, 80 p., 20 plates.
    • Nevada
      • Clark Co.
        • Goodsprings District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Elko Co.
        • Gold Circle District (Midas District)
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Sulfur District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • Utah
      • San Juan Co.
        • Paradox Valley
          • Paradox Valley District
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Uzbekistan
     
    • Kyzylkum Desert
      • Central Kyzylkum Region
        • Bel'tau Mts
    		Koneev, R.I., Turesebekov, A.H., Ignatikov, E.N., Vasilevsky, B.B., and Rakhimov, R.R. (2005), In: Jingwen Mao and Bierlein, F.P. (Eds.): Mineral Deposit Research: Meeting the Global Challenge, Vol. 1, 1403-1406
    Mineral and/or Locality
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