Mindat Logo

Freibergite

Formula:
(Ag,Cu,Fe)
 
12
(Sb,As)
 
4
S
 
13
System:IsometricColour:Grey
Hardness:3½ - 4
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.

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
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1605.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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,Cu,Fe)
 
12
(Sb,As)
 
4
S
 
13
Essential elements:Ag, S, Sb
All elements listed in formula:Ag, As, Cu, Fe, S, Sb
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)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
2.GB.05Argentotennantite
(Ag,Cu)
 
10
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.05Galkhaite
(Cs,Tl)(Hg,Cu,Zn)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
12
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)
 
16
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
11
2.GB.15Polybasite
(Ag,Cu)
 
16
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
11
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.15IMA2008-004
[Cu
 
6
Sb
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
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)
 
16
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
11
5.2.6Pearceite-T2ac
(Ag,Cu)
 
16
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
11
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)
 
16
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
11
5.2.13Billingsleyite
Ag
 
7
AsS
 
6
5.2.14Polybasite-Tac
(Ag,Cu)
 
16
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
11
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
German names:
FreibergitGraugültigerzLeukargyritSilberfahlerzWeißgülden
WeissgüldenWeißgültigerzWeissgültigerz
Russian names:
Фрейбергит
Spanish names:
AphtonitaFreibergitaLeukargyrita

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.

Mineralogicheskii Zhurnal: 15: 9-17.

Internet Links for Freibergite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Freibergite on Google
  • Look for Freibergite images on Google
  • External Links:
  • Look for Freibergite on Webmineral
  • Look for Freibergite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Freibergite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Freibergite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Freibergite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Freibergite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
  • Mineral Dealers:
  • Search for Freibergite on minvision.com
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • e-Rocks - Mineral Auctions and Sales
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs
  • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Freibergite

    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.