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Greenockite

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Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine; Catavi), Llallagua, Rafael Bustillo Province (Bustillos Province), Potosí Department, Bolivia
© Vincent Bourgoin

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Formula:
CdS
System:HexagonalColour:Yellow to red.
Hardness:3 - 3½
Member of:Wurtzite Group
Name:
Named in 1840 for Lord Greenock - later Earl Charles Murray Cathcart, 2nd Earl Cathcart (1783-1859).
Dimorph of:Hawleyite


Typically found as yellow to red hemimorphic pyramidal crystals and earthy coatings. Caution should be used in sight identifying yellow cadmium sulfide coatings as hawleyite (dimorph of greenockite) is not a very rare species and occurs in identical appearing coatings and identical environments; furthermore some of these coatings can be X-ray amorphous ("xanthochroite").

Classification of Greenockite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.13-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.CB.45

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 7th edition ID:2.6.4.2
Dana 8th edition ID:2.8.7.2

2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.4.7

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
4 : Sulphides etc. of Group II metals other than Hg (Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd)
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Type Occurrence of Greenockite

Type Locality:Bishopton tunnel, Bishopton, Strathclyde (Renfrewshire), Scotland, UK
Year of Discovery:1840

Occurrences of Greenockite

Geological Setting:An uncommon mineral of sulfide deposits.

Physical Properties of Greenockite

Lustre:Adamantine, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Yellow to red.
Streak:Orange-yellow to brick red.
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 3½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN25=98 kg/mm2
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Distinct on {1122}, imperfect on {0001}.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):4.8 - 4.9 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.824 g/cm3

Crystallography of Greenockite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6mm - Dihexagonal Pyramidal
Space Group:P63mc
Cell Parameters:a = 4.136Å, c = 6.713Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.623
Unit Cell Volume:V 99.45 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals hemimorphic pyramidal. Earthy coatings (sphalerite)
Twinning:Twin plane {1122} rare forming trillings.
Crystal Atlas:
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Greenockite - {100}, {00-1}, {00-1}, modified

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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.58(80)
3.37(60)
3.16(100)
2.45(30)
2.07(60)
1.90(40)
1.79(20)
1.76(50)

Optical Data of Greenockite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 2.529 nε = 2.506
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.023

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:Uniaxial + for wavelengths red to blue-green

Chemical Properties of Greenockite

Formula:
CdS
Essential elements:Cd, S
All elements listed in formula:Cd, S
Common Impurities:Zn

Relationship of Greenockite to other Species

Member of:Wurtzite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Buseckite
(Fe,Zn,Mn)S
Cadmoselite
CdSe
Rambergite
MnS
Wurtzite
(Zn,Fe)S
Common Associates:
Zeolite GroupSphaleriteSmithsonitePrehnite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.CB.05aColoradoite
HgTe
2.CB.05aHawleyite
CdS
2.CB.05aMetacinnabar
HgS
2.CB.05cPolhemusite
(Zn,Hg)S
2.CB.05bSakuraiite
(Cu,Zn,Fe)
 
3
(In,Sn)S
 
4
2.CB.05aSphalerite
ZnS
2.CB.05aStilleite
ZnSe
2.CB.05aTiemannite
HgSe
2.CB.05UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn
Cu
 
2
Fe
 
3
Zn
 
5
S
 
10
2.CB.05aRudashevskyite
(Fe,Zn)S
2.CB.10aChalcopyrite
CuFeS
 
2
2.CB.10aEskebornite
CuFeSe
 
2
2.CB.10aGallite
CuGaS
 
2
2.CB.10bHaycockite
Cu
 
4
Fe
 
5
S
 
8
2.CB.10aLenaite
AgFeS
 
2
2.CB.10bMooihoekite
Cu
 
9
Fe
 
9
S
 
16
2.CB.10bPutoranite
Cu
 
9
(Fe,Ni)
 
9
S
 
16
2.CB.10aRoquesite
CuInS
 
2
2.CB.10bTalnakhite
Cu
 
9
(Fe,Ni)
 
8
S
 
16
2.CB.10aLaforêtite
AgInS
 
2
2.CB.15aČernýite
Cu
 
2
(Cd,Zn,Fe)SnS
 
4
2.CB.15aFerrokesterite
Cu
 
2
(Fe,Zn)SnS
 
4
2.CB.15aHocartite
Ag
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)SnS
 
4
2.CB.15aIdaite
Cu
 
5
FeS
 
6
2.CB.15aKesterite
Cu
 
2
(Zn,Fe)SnS
 
4
2.CB.15aKuramite
Cu
 
3
SnS
 
4
2.CB.15bMohite
Cu
 
2
SnS
 
3
2.CB.15aPirquitasite
Ag
 
2
ZnSnS
 
4
2.CB.15aStannite
Cu
 
2
(Fe,Zn)SnS
 
4
2.CB.15cStannoidite
Cu
+
6
Cu
2+
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)
 
3
Sn
 
2
S
 
12
2.CB.15aVelikite
(Cu,Hg)
 
11
Sn
 
4
S
 
16
2.CB.15cUM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn
Cu
 
8
(Fe,Zn)
 
3
Ge
 
2
S
 
12
 (?)
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.30Germanite
Cu
 
13
Fe
 
2
Ge
 
2
S
 
16
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.35aHemusite
Cu
 
6
SnMoS
 
8
2.CB.35aKiddcreekite
Cu
 
6
SnWS
 
8
2.CB.35aPolkovicite
(Fe,Pb)
 
3
(Ge,Fe)
 
1-x
S
 
4
2.CB.35aRenierite
(Cu,Zn)
 
11
(Ge,As)
 
2
Fe
 
4
S
 
16
2.CB.35aVinciennite
Cu
+
7
Cu
2+
3
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
2
Sn(As,Sb)S
 
16
2.CB.35aMorozeviczite
(Pb,Fe)
 
3
Ge
 
1-x
S
 
4
2.CB.35bCatamarcaite
Cu
 
6
GeWS
 
8
2.CB.40Lautite
CuAsS
2.CB.45Cadmoselite
CdSe
2.CB.45Wurtzite
(Zn,Fe)S
2.CB.45Rambergite
MnS
2.CB.45Buseckite
(Fe,Zn,Mn)S
2.CB.55aCubanite
CuFe
 
2
S
 
3
2.CB.55bIsocubanite
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
AuAgTe
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.4.1Niningerite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)S
3.4.2Oldhamite
(Ca,Mg)S
3.4.3Mátraite
ZnS
3.4.4Sphalerite
ZnS
3.4.5Wurtzite
(Zn,Fe)S
3.4.6Stilleite
ZnSe
3.4.8Hawleyite
CdS
3.4.9Cadmoselite
CdSe

Other Names for Greenockite

Synonyms:
Cadmium blendeCadmium ochre
Other Languages:
Catalan:Greenockita
Dutch:Greenockiet
German:Greenockit
Italian:Greenockite
Japanese:硫カドミウム鉱
Polish:Grenokit
Russian:Гринокит
Simplified Chinese:硫镉矿
Slovak:Greenockit
Spanish:Greenockita
Traditional Chinese:硫鎘礦
Ukrainian:Гринокіт
Varieties:
Zincian Greenockite

Other Information

Health Warning:Contains cadmium - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest.

References for Greenockite

Reference List:

- +
Brooke, J. & Connell, A. (1840): Der Greenockit, ein neues Mineral, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 127, 274-275.

Breithaupt, A. (1840): Greenockit, ein neues Mineral, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 127, 507-510.

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.: 228-230.

American Mineralogist (1961): 46: 1382.

Gaines, Richard V., H. Catherine, W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, Abraham Rosenzweig (1997), Dana's New Mineralogy : The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana: 73.

Deore, S. and Navrotsky, A. (2006) Oxide melt solution calorimetry of sulfides: Enthalpy of formation of sphalerite, galena, greenockite, and hawleyite. American Mineralogist: 91: 400-403.

Internet Links for Greenockite

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    Locality Updated: Morning Sun Mine, Dogtown, Coulterville District, Mother Lode Belt, Mariposa Co., California, USAFrom Chester S. Lemanski, Jr., 26th May 2013 00:34:58