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Catamarcaite

Formula:
Cu
 
6
GeWS
 
8
System:HexagonalColour:Grey
Hardness:3½
Name:After the Province of Catamarca, where the new mineral species was found.
This page provides mineralogical data about Catamarcaite.

Classification of Catamarcaite

IMA status:Approved 2003
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.CB.35b

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.
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Type Occurrence of Catamarcaite

Type Locality:Capillitas Mine, Andalgalá, Catamarca, Argentina
General Appearance of Type Material:Thin rims lining cavities and fractures in chalcocite–bornite ore, and aggregates, up to 1 mm in size, composed of anhedral to subhedral, intensely twinned grains within digenite – chalcocite – sphalerite ore.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
WitticheniteSphaleritePutziteLuzoniteHübnerite
DigeniteCovelliteChalcociteBornite

Physical Properties of Catamarcaite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Grey
Streak:Black
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN25=193 - 264 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (calculated):4.892 g/cm3
Comment:Calculated for ideal composition

Crystallography of Catamarcaite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6mm - Dihexagonal Pyramidal
Space Group:P63mc
Cell Parameters:a = 7.5238Å, c = 12.39Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.647
Unit Cell Volume:V 607.4 ų
Z:2
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
5.767 (100)
3.215 (25)
3.151 (35)
2.884 (28)
2.416 (26)
1.972 (24)
1.881 (48)

Optical Data of Catamarcaite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:weak
Bireflectance:absent in air, very weak in oil
Reflectivity:
470 nmR1=24.5%R2=25.2%
546 nmR1=24.1%R2=24.5%
589 nmR1=24.5%R2=25.1%
650 nmR1=23.4%R2=23.7%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 25.2%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:greyish white with a distinct brownish tint
Internal Reflections:red (occasionally observed along fractures)
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Catamarcaite

Formula:
Cu
 
6
GeWS
 
8
All elements listed in formula:Cu, Ge, S, W
Analytical Data:Average results of 34 electron-microprobe analyses
Formula calculated on the basis of a total of 16 atoms
Cu  (42.72)
Ag   (0.14)
Fe   (0.17)
Ge   (7.84)
W   (20.89)
S   (27.79)

sum  99.55 wt.-%
Empirical Formula:
Cu
 
6.09
Ag
 
0.01
Fe
 
0.03
Ge
 
0.98
W
 
1.03
S
 
7.86
Common Impurities:Ag,Fe

Relationship of Catamarcaite to other Species

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,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.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.15aKësterite
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.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

Other Names for Catamarcaite

Synonyms:
IMA2003-020
Other Languages:

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 Catamarcaite

Reference List:Putz, H., Paar, W. H., Topa, D., Makovický, E., Roberts, A. C. (2006): Catamarcaite, Cu6GeWS8, a new species of germanium–tungsten sulfide from Capillitas, Catamarca, Argentina: description, paragenesis and crystal structure. Canadian Mineralogist, 44, 1481-1497.

Internet Links for Catamarcaite

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    Localities for Catamarcaite

    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.
    (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
    		Paar, W., Roberts, A.C., Topa, D., Zagler, G., Berlepsch, P., Armbruster, Th. (2004): Putzite, (Cu4.7 Ag3.3)GeS6, a new mineral species from Capillitas, Catamarca, Argentina: description and crystal structure. Canadian Mineralogist: 42: 1757-1769.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. Current server date and time: 28th Oct 2009 04:16:20