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Germanite

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Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia
© 2002 Thames Valley Minerals

Show Germanite Photos (6)
Formula:
Cu
 
13
Fe
 
2
Ge
 
2
S
 
16
System:IsometricColour:Pale greyish-pink
Lustre:MetallicHardness:4
Name:In allusion to the germanium content.
This page provides mineralogical data about Germanite.

Classification of Germanite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.10-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.CB.30

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:2.9.4.2

2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:6.2.1

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

Type Locality:Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia
Year of Discovery:1922

Physical Properties of Germanite

Lustre:Metallic
Colour:Pale greyish-pink
Hardness (Mohs):4

Crystallography of Germanite

Crystal System:Isometric
Cell Parameters:a = 10.58Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,184.29 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Germanite

Type:Isotropic

Chemical Properties of Germanite

Formula:
Cu
 
13
Fe
 
2
Ge
 
2
S
 
16
Essential elements:Cu, Fe, Ge, S
All elements listed in formula:Cu, Fe, Ge, S
Common Impurities:Ga,Zn,Mo,As,V

Relationship of Germanite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
2.CB.05Coloradoite
HgTe
2.CB.05Hawleyite
CdS
2.CB.05Metacinnabar
HgS
2.CB.05Polhemusite
(Zn,Hg)S
2.CB.05Sakuraiite
(Cu,Zn,Fe)
 
3
(In,Sn)S
 
4
2.CB.05Sphalerite
(Zn,Fe
2+
 
)S
2.CB.05Stilleite
ZnSe
2.CB.05Tiemannite
HgSe
2.CB.05Rudashevskyite
(Fe,Zn)S
2.CB.10Chalcopyrite
CuFeS
 
2
2.CB.10Eskebornite
CuFeSe
 
2
2.CB.10Gallite
CuGaS
 
2
2.CB.10Haycockite
Cu
 
4
Fe
 
5
S
 
8
2.CB.10Lenaite
AgFeS
 
2
2.CB.10Mooihoekite
Cu
 
9
Fe
 
9
S
 
16
2.CB.10Putoranite
Cu
 
9
Fe
 
9
S
 
16
2.CB.10Roquesite
CuInS
 
2
2.CB.10Talnakhite
Cu
 
9
(Fe,Ni)
 
8
S
 
16
2.CB.10Laforêtite
AgInS
 
2
2.CB.15Černýite
Cu
 
2
(Cd,Zn,Fe)SnS
 
4
2.CB.15Ferrokësterite
Cu
 
2
(Fe,Zn)SnS
 
4
2.CB.15Hocartite
Ag
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)SnS
 
4
2.CB.15Idaite
Cu
 
5
FeS
 
6
2.CB.15Kësterite
Cu
 
2
(Zn,Fe)SnS
 
4
2.CB.15Kuramite
Cu
 
3
SnS
 
4
2.CB.15Mohite
Cu
 
2
SnS
 
3
2.CB.15Pirquitasite
Ag
 
2
ZnSnS
 
4
2.CB.15Stannite
Cu
 
2
(Fe,Zn)SnS
 
4
2.CB.15Stannoidite
Cu
+
6
Cu
2+
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)
 
3
Sn
 
2
S
 
12
2.CB.15Velikite
(Cu,Hg)
 
11
Sn
 
4
S
 
16
2.CB.20Chatkalite
Cu
 
6
FeSn
 
2
S
 
8
2.CB.20Mawsonite
Cu
 
6
Fe
 
2
SnS
 
8
2.CB.30Colusite
Cu
 
26
V
 
2
(As,Sn,Sb)
 
6
S
 
32
2.CB.30Germanocolusite
Cu
 
26
V
 
2
(Ge,As)
 
6
S
 
32
2.CB.30Nekrasovite
Cu
 
26
V
 
2
(Sn,As,Sb)
 
6
S
 
32
2.CB.30Stibiocolusite
Cu
 
13
V
 
4
(Sb,Sn,As)
 
3
S
 
16
2.CB.30Ovamboite
Cu
 
20
(Fe,Cu,Zn)
 
6
W
 
2
Ge
 
6
S
 
32
2.CB.30Maikainite
Cu
 
20
(Fe,Cu)
 
6
Mo
 
2
Ge
 
6
S
 
32
2.CB.35Hemusite
Cu
 
6
SnMoS
 
8
2.CB.35Kiddcreekite
Cu
 
6
SnWS
 
8
2.CB.35Polkovicite
(Fe,Pb)
 
3
(Ge,Fe)
 
1-x
S
 
4
2.CB.35Renierite
(Cu,Zn)
 
11
(Ge,As)
 
2
Fe
 
4
S
 
16
2.CB.35Vinciennite
Cu
+
7
Cu
2+
3
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
2
Sn(As,Sb)S
 
16
2.CB.35Morozeviczite
(Pb,Fe)
 
3
Ge
 
1-x
S
 
4
2.CB.35Catamarcaite
Cu
 
6
GeWS
 
8
2.CB.40Lautite
CuAsS
2.CB.45Cadmoselite
CdSe
2.CB.45Greenockite
CdS
2.CB.45Hypercinnabar
HgS
2.CB.45Wurtzite
(Zn,Fe)S
2.CB.45Rambergite
MnS
2.CB.55Cubanite
CuFe
 
2
S
 
3
2.CB.55Isocubanite
CuFe
 
2
S
 
3
2.CB.60Picotpaulite
TlFe
 
2
S
 
3
2.CB.60Raguinite
TlFeS
 
2
2.CB.65Argentopyrite
AgFe
 
2
S
 
3
2.CB.65Sternbergite
AgFe
 
2
S
 
3
2.CB.70Sulvanite
Cu
 
3
VS
 
4
2.CB.75Vulcanite
CuTe
2.CB.80Empressite
AgTe
2.CB.85Muthmannite
(Ag,Au)Te
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
6.2.2Briartite
Cu
 
2
(Fe,Zn)GeS
 
4
6.2.3Renierite
(Cu,Zn)
 
11
(Ge,As)
 
2
Fe
 
4
S
 
16
6.2.4Argyrodite
Ag
 
8
GeS
 
6
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 Germanite

German names:
Germanit
Russian names:
Германит
Spanish names:
Germanita

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 Germanite

Reference List:Pufahl (1922) Met. Erz: 19: 324.

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: 385-386.

American Mineralogist (1984): 69: 943-947.

American Mineralogist (1989): 74: 951.

Internet Links for Germanite

Search Engines:
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  • Look for Germanite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Germanite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Germanite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Germanite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Germanite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
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    (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
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Southern area
          • Lubumbashi (Elizabethville)
            • Kipushi
    		No reference listed
    Finland
     
    • Etelä-Suomen Lääni
      • Orivesi
        • Eräjärvi area
    France
     
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Alpes-Maritimes
        • Guillaumes
    		R. Pierrot, P. Picot, J. Feraud, J. Vernet : "Inventaire Minéralogique de la France, N° 4, Alpes Maritimes", BRGM, 1974
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium)
            • Lavrion Mines
    		No reference listed
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Tohoku Region
        • Akita Prefecture
    		Dr. Hidemichi Hori (vol. 2)
    Namibia
     
    • Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region
      • Tsumeb
    		Metall und Erz, Halle,(1922) 19, 324-325; Rocks & Min.: 62:440.
    [MinRecord 28:124]
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)
        • Chitinskaya Oblast'
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • Boulder Co.
        • Jamestown District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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