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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
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.09-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.CB.35

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
Essential elements:
All elements listed in formula:Cu, Ge, S, W
Analyical 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.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.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.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.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

Other Names for Catamarcaite

Synonyms:
IMA2003-020

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.
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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
    		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.
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