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Kësterite

Big Photo

Beryl-Scheelite deposit, Huya village, Mt Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China
© 2006 M. Kampf

Show Kësterite Photos (31)
Formula:
Cu
 
2
(Zn,Fe)SnS
 
4
Colour:Greenish blackHardness:4½


Stannite Group. The zinc analogue of Ferrokësterite.

Classification of Kësterite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.06-80
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.CB.15a

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:2.9.2.9

2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:6.1.11

6 : Sulphosalts - Sulphostannates, Sulphogermanates,Sulpharsenates, Sulphantimonates, Sulphovanadates and Sulphohalides
1 : Sulphostannates and other sulfides containing Sn
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Type Occurrence of Kësterite

Type Locality:Kester Deposit, Arga-Ynnakh-Khai granite Massif, Yana-Adycha Region, Yana River Basin, Verkhoyansk, Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia

Physical Properties of Kësterite

Lustre:Metallic
Colour:Greenish black
Streak:Black
Hardness (Mohs):4½

Chemical Properties of Kësterite

Formula:
Cu
 
2
(Zn,Fe)SnS
 
4
Essential elements:Cu, S, Sn, Zn
All elements listed in formula:Cu, Fe, S, Sn, Zn

Relationship of Kësterite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Stannite (see here)
Member of:Kësterite Subgroup
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
(Zn,Fe
2+
 
)S
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
 
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.15aFerrokësterite
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.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.45Greenockite
CdS
2.CB.45Wurtzite
(Zn,Fe)S
2.CB.45Rambergite
MnS
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:

- +
6.1.1Kuramite
Cu
 
3
SnS
 
4
6.1.2Mohite
Cu
 
2
SnS
 
3
6.1.3Velikite
(Cu,Hg)
 
11
Sn
 
4
S
 
16
6.1.4Hemusite
Cu
 
6
SnMoS
 
8
6.1.5Kiddcreekite
Cu
 
6
SnWS
 
8
6.1.6Stannite
Cu
 
2
(Fe,Zn)SnS
 
4
6.1.7Rhodostannite
Cu
 
2
FeSn
 
3
S
 
8
6.1.8Mawsonite
Cu
 
6
Fe
 
2
SnS
 
8
6.1.9Chatkalite
Cu
 
6
FeSn
 
2
S
 
8
6.1.10Ferrokësterite
Cu
 
2
(Fe,Zn)SnS
 
4
6.1.12Stannoidite
Cu
+
6
Cu
2+
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)
 
3
Sn
 
2
S
 
12
6.1.13Černýite
Cu
 
2
(Cd,Zn,Fe)SnS
 
4
6.1.14Vinciennite
Cu
+
7
Cu
2+
3
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
2
Sn(As,Sb)S
 
16
6.1.15Pirquitasite
Ag
 
2
ZnSnS
 
4
6.1.16Hocartite
Ag
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)SnS
 
4
6.1.17Teallite
(Pb,Sn)SnS
 
2
6.1.18Franckeite
Fe
2+
 
(Pb,Sn
2+
 
)
 
6
Sn
4+
2
Sb
 
2
S
 
14
6.1.19Lévyclaudite
Pb
 
8
Sn
 
7
Cu
 
3
(Bi,Sb)
 
3
S
 
28
6.1.20Cylindrite
Pb
 
3
Sn
 
4
FeSb
 
2
S
 
14
6.1.21Potosíite
Pb
 
6
Sn
 
3
FeSb
 
3
S
 
16
6.1.22Sakuraiite
(Cu,Zn,Fe)
 
3
(In,Sn)S
 
4
6.1.23Petrukite
(Cu,Fe,Zn,Ag)
 
3
(Sn,In)S
 
4
6.1.24Incaite
(Pb,Ag)
 
4
Sn
 
4
FeSb
 
2
S
 
13

Other Names for Kësterite

Synonyms:
IsostanniteKhinganite
Other Languages:
German:Isostannit
Kësterit
Khinganit
Russian:Кестерит
Spanish:Isostannita
Kësterita
Khinganita

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 Kësterite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1958): 43: 1222.

American Mineralogist (1959): 44: 1329.

Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 88: 165-168.

Canadian Mineralogist: 16: 131-137.

Canadian Mineralogist: 27: 673-688, 689-697.

Internet Links for Kësterite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Kësterite on Google
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    • External Links:
  • Look for Kësterite on Webmineral
  • Look for Kësterite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Kësterite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Kësterite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Kësterite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Kësterite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Search for Kësterite on minvision.com
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Kësterite specimens
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Find Kësterite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Search for - Kësterite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
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    Localities for Kësterite

    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
     
    • Córdoba
      • Minas Department
    		Sureda (1978): Revista de la Asociacion Geologica Argentina 33(4):299-324
    • Jujuy
      • Aguilar district
    		Milka K. de Brodtkorb (2002) Las Especies Minerales de la Republica Argentina. Vol. 1 (elements, sulphides and sulphosalts). (Asociacion Mineralogica Argentina)
      • Rinconada Department
        • Pirquitas Ag-Sn Deposit
    		Amer.Min.(2000) 85, 1066-1075
    • Río Negro
      • Valcheta
    		Las Especies Minerales de la Republica Argentina, Milka K. de Brodtkorb, Asociacion Mineralogica Argentina 2002
    • Salta
      • Organullo Mining District
    		Milka K. de Brodtkorb (2002) Las Especies Minerales de la Republica Argentina. Vol. 1 (elements, sulphides and sulphosalts). (Asociacion Mineralogica Argentina)
    Austria
     
    • Salzburg
      • Abtenau
        • Webing
    		A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)
    Bolivia
     
    • Oruro Department
      • Cercado Province
    		[MinRec 32:476]
    [MinRec 32:479]
    • Potosí Department
      • Saavedra Province
        • Machacamarca District (Colavi District)
    		Salomon Rivas y Federico Ahlfeld (1998) Los Minerales de Bolivia y sus Parajes. (Santa Cruz)
    Bulgaria
     
    • Pazardzhik (Pazardjik) Oblast
      • Srednogorie (Sredna Gora; Srdnia Gora) Region
        • Panagyurishte (Panagurishte) Obshchina
          • Chelopech
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990; American Mineralogist (1966): 51: 29-36
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Liard Mining Division
        • Iskut River
    		Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.
      • Revelstoke Mining Division
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    • Manitoba
      • Lac-du-Bonnet area
        • Bernic Lake
    • New Brunswick
      • Charlotte Co.
        • southwest of Fredericton
    • Ontario
      • Cochrane District
        • Kidd Township
          • Timmins
    		ontariominerals.com; Econ Geol (1997) 92:468-484
    China
     
    • Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
      • Hechi Prefecture
        • Nandan Co.
    		Anthony, J.W. et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy
    • Sichuan Province
      • Mianyang Prefecture
        • Pingwu Co.
          • Mt Xuebaoding
            • Huya village
    		Hedland, A. (2004): Das Scheelit-Beryll-Kassiterit-Fluorit-Vorkommen von Huya-Zibeisha bei Pingwu, Provinz Sichuan, China. Mineralien Welt 15 (6), 46-57.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Central Bohemia Region
        • Benešov (Beneschau)
          • Český Šternberk
    		Šrein, V. et al.: Mineralogická charakteristika metasomatického rudního ložiska Malovidy u Českého Šternberka. Bulletin mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 2007, roč. 14-15, s. 149-158.
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Aš (Asch)
    		Čech, F., Hak, J.: Ferroan kesterite from Vernéřov, near Aš, Western Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. Acta Universitatis Carolinae – Geologica, 1982, vol. 26, nos. 1-2, s. 45-51.
    Finland
     
    • Lapin (Lapland) Lääni
      • Ylivieska
    		No reference listed
    France
     
    • Brittany
      • Finistère
        • Huelgoat
    		R.PIERROT, L. CHAURIS, C. LAFORET (1973) : "Inventaire minéralogique de la France : 29- Finistère.", B.R.G.M. Paris.
    • Burgundy
      • Saône-et-Loire
        • Bourbon-Lancy
          • Chalmoux
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    • Languedoc-Roussillon
      • Hérault
    		M. Munoz, Y.Moëlo : "Etude paragénétique de la minéralisation sulfurée complexe (Sb-Pb-Zn-...) de Bournac (Hérault, France)", Bull. Minéral. , 1982, 105, 625-632.
    • Limousin
      • Haute-Vienne
        • Nantiat
          • Vaulry
    		P. Cantinolle et al. , Bull. Minéral. , 1985, 108, pp. 245-248
    Germany
     
    • Bavaria
      • Upper Palatinate
        • Oberpfälzer Wald
          • Waldsassen
            • Pfaffenreuth
    		Lapis, 10 (9), 13-20+50.
    Germany & Czech Republic
     
    • Saxony & Ústí Region (Bohemia; Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Erzgebirge; Krusné Hory Mts
    		Lapis 17(2), 31-35 (1992)
    Greece
     
    • Thraki (Thrace; Thracia) Department
      • Xánthi Prefecture
        • Kirki (Kirka)
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990; European Journal of Mineralogy (1990): 2: 711-723.
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Arsuk
        • Arsuk Firth
          • Ivittuut (Ivigtut)
    		[www.hedegaard.com]
    Italy
     
    • Tuscany
      • Massa-Carrara Province
        • Apuan Alps
    		Orlandi P., Franzini M., 1994. I minerali del marmo di Carrara. Amilcare Pizzi S.p.A., Milano.
    Orlandi P., Franzini M., 1994. I minerali del marmo di Carrara. Amilcare Pizzi S.p.A., Milano.
    Japan
     
    • Hokkaido Island
      • Sapporo
    		Min. Jour. (Japan): 15:222-232.
    • Honshu Island
      • Kinki Region
        • Hyogo Prefecture
          • Asago-gun
            • Ikuno-machi
    		No reference listed
    Norway
     
    • Nordland
      • Hemnes
        • Bleikvassli
    		Cook, N.J., Spry, P.G., and Vokes, F.M. (1998): Mineralium Deposita 34, 35-56.
    Peru
     
    • Huancavelica Department
      • Castrovirreyna Province
        • Castrovirreyna District
    		American Mineralogist 87:753-764
    • Huánuco Department
      • Dos de Mayo Province
        • Huallanca District
    		Econ Geol (1985) 80:416-478
    Poland
     
    • Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie)
      • Rudawy Janowickie Mts
        • Czarnów
          • Rędziny
    		Pieczka A., Gołębiowska B., Parafiniuk J. 2006: The stannite-group minerals from Rędziny (Lower Silesia, Poland). Mineralogia Polonica - Special Papers, vol. 28, 175 - 177
    Portugal
     
    • Beja District
      • Castro Verde
    		Relvas, J. M. R. S. et al. (2006): Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralization in the Neves-Corvo Volcanic-Hosted Massive Sulfide Deposit, Portugal. I. Geology, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry. Econ. Geology 101, 753-790.
    • Viseu District
    		Ing Soen Oen : "Paragenetic relations of some Cu-Fe-Sn-Sulfides in the Mangualde Pegmatite, North Portugal", Mineral. Deposita (Berl.) 5, 59-84, 1970.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
        • Verkhoyansk
          • Yana River Basin
            • Yana-Adycha Region
              • Arga-Ynnakh-Khai granite Massif
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Switzerland
     
    • Wallis (Valais)
      • Binn Valley
        • Im Feld (Imfeld; Feld; Fäld)
    		http://binn.strahlen.org/php/frame.php?section=loc&sub=1&infoid=2&name=M%E4sserbach
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Callington District
          • Gunnislake Area
    		Dr. Kurt Greenwall collection (Dr. Werner H. Paar analyses)
        • Mount's Bay District
          • Marazion
    		No reference listed
        • St Agnes District
          • Perranzabuloe
            • Cligga Head
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Mule Mts
          • Warren District
    		[MinRec 24:421]
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 267; Graeme, R. (1993), Bisbee revisited, Min.Rec.: 24: 421-436.
    • Nevada
      • Lander Co.
        • McCoy District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • South Dakota
      • Pennington Co.
        • Keystone District
          • Keystone
    		Rocks & Minerals: 57: 160; Rocks & Minerals: 60: 110 & 112.
    Rocks & Min.:60:110,112 & 116.
    Am Min 70:9-10 pp 1044-1049
    Mineral and/or Locality
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