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Argentotennantite

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Chisel Lake Mine, Snow Lake District, Manitoba, Canada




Formula:
Ag
 
6
[Cu
 
4
(Fe,Zn)
 
2
]As
 
4
S
 
13
System:IsometricColour:Grey black
Hardness:3½
Member of:Tetrahedrite Group
Name:For its silver content and relation to tennantite.


Tetrahedrite Group. Argentotennantite-Freibergite Series.

Classification of Argentotennantite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.11-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.GB.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
B : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. with additional S
Dana 8th edition ID:3.3.6.7

3 : SULFOSALTS
3 : 3 <ø < 4
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.2.7

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
2 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Ag
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Type Occurrence of Argentotennantite

Type Locality:Kvartsitovje Gorki (Quartzite Hills) Au deposit, Aksu (Aqsu), Stepnogorsk, Akmola Province (Aqmola Oblysy; Akmolinskaya Oblast'), Kazakhstan
Place of Conservation of Type Material:A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia: 84396.
Year of Discovery:1986
Geological Setting of type material:In a polymetallic deposit.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
TetrahedriteTennantiteStibniteSideriteQuartz
PyriteGoldGalenaFreibergiteAnkerite

Occurrences of Argentotennantite

Geological Setting:Polymetallic deposits

Physical Properties of Argentotennantite

Lustre:Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Grey black
Streak:Red-Brown to black
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=285 - 320
Density (calculated):5.05 g/cm3

Crystallography of Argentotennantite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:I4 3m
Cell Parameters:a = 10.584(3) Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,185.63 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Small grains, coating on tennantite.
Comment:Space group I-43m by analogy to tetrahedrite-tennantite.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.06 (100)
2.65 (30)
2.073 (20)
1.869 (80)
1.595 (40)
1.230 (20)
1.214 (20)
Comments:Kvartsitoviye Gorki deposit, Kazakhstan.

Optical Data of Argentotennantite

Type:Isotropic
Reflectivity:
400nmR=30.9%
420nmR=30.9%
440nmR=30.8%
460nmR=30.7%
480nmR=30.5%
500nmR=30.4%
520nmR=30.4%
540nmR=30.4%
560nmR=30.4%
580nmR=30.3%
600nmR=29.9%
620nmR=29.4%
640nmR=28.8%
660nmR=28.4%
680nmR=28.2%
700nmR=27.8%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 30.9%.
Colour in reflected light:Light grey to greenish grey with a faint bluish tint

Chemical Properties of Argentotennantite

Formula:
Ag
 
6
[Cu
 
4
(Fe,Zn)
 
2
]As
 
4
S
 
13
Essential elements:Ag, As, Cu, Fe, S
All elements listed in formula:Ag, As, Cu, Fe, S, Zn
Analytical Data:Kvartsitoviye Gorki deposit, Kazakhstan; by electron microprobe.
Ag (33.54)
Cu (15.60)
Fe (1.13)
Zn (5.44)
Pb (0.18)
Cd (0.10)
Sb (12.59)
As (8.80)
S (22.66)
Total (100.04)
Empirical Formula:
(Ag
 
5.67
Cu
 
4.48
)(Zn
 
1.52
Fe
 
0.37
Pb
 
0.01
Cd
 
0.01
)(As
 
2.14
Sb
 
1.89
)S
 
12.90
Common Impurities:Pb,Cd

Relationship of Argentotennantite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Freibergite (see here)
Member of:Tetrahedrite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Freibergite
(Ag
 
4+2x
Cu
 
2-2x
)[(Cu, Ag)
 
4
(Fe, Zn)
 
2
]Sb
 
4
S
 
12
S
 
1-x
 (0 < x < 1)
Giraudite
(Cu,Zn,Ag)
 
12
(As,Sb)
 
4
(Se,S)
 
13
Goldfieldite
Cu
 
12
(Te,Sb,As)
 
4
S
 
13
Hakite
(Cu,Hg,Ag)
 
12
Sb
 
4
(Se,S)
 
13
Tennantite
Cu
 
6
[Cu
 
4
(Fe,Zn)
 
2
]As
 
4
S
 
13
Tetrahedrite
Cu
 
6
[Cu
 
4
(Fe,Zn)
 
2
]Sb
 
4
S
 
13
Common Associates:
TetrahedriteTennantiteStibniteSideriteQuartz
PyriteGoldGalenaFreibergiteAnkerite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.GB.05Freibergite
(Ag
 
4+2x
Cu
 
2-2x
)[(Cu, Ag)
 
4
(Fe, Zn)
 
2
]Sb
 
4
S
 
12
S
 
1-x
 (0 < x < 1)
2.GB.05Giraudite
(Cu,Zn,Ag)
 
12
(As,Sb)
 
4
(Se,S)
 
13
2.GB.05Goldfieldite
Cu
 
12
(Te,Sb,As)
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.05Hakite
(Cu,Hg,Ag)
 
12
Sb
 
4
(Se,S)
 
13
2.GB.05Tennantite
Cu
 
6
[Cu
 
4
(Fe,Zn)
 
2
]As
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite
Cu
 
6
[Cu
 
4
(Fe,Zn)
 
2
]Sb
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.10Selenostephanite
Ag
 
5
Sb(Se,S)
 
4
2.GB.10Stephanite
Ag
 
5
SbS
 
4
2.GB.15Pearceite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
2.GB.15Polybasite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
2.GB.15UM2003-14-S:AgBiFeTe
Ag
 
16
FeBiTe
 
3
S
 
8
2.GB.15Selenopolybasite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(Sb,As)
 
2
(S,Se)
 
7
][Ag
 
9
Cu(S,Se)
 
2
Se
 
2
]
2.GB.15Cupropearceite
[Cu
 
6
As
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
2.GB.15Cupropolybasite
[Cu
 
6
Sb
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
2.GB.15UM1979-17-S:BiCuFe
Cu
 
18
Fe
 
4
BiS
 
16
2.GB.20Galkhaite
(Cs,Tl)(Hg,Cu,Zn)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
12
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
5.2.1Smithite
AgAsS
 
2
5.2.2Trechmannite
AgAsS
 
2
5.2.3Proustite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
5.2.4Xanthoconite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
5.2.5Pearceite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
5.2.6Pearceite-T2ac
5.2.8Miargyrite
AgSbS
 
2
5.2.9Pyrargyrite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
5.2.10Pyrostilpnite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
5.2.11Stephanite
Ag
 
5
SbS
 
4
5.2.12Polybasite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
5.2.13Billingsleyite
Ag
 
7
AsS
 
6
5.2.14Polybasite-Tac
5.2.15Freibergite
(Ag
 
4+2x
Cu
 
2-2x
)[(Cu, Ag)
 
4
(Fe, Zn)
 
2
]Sb
 
4
S
 
12
S
 
1-x
 (0 < x < 1)
5.2.16Aramayoite
Ag(Sb,Bi)S
 
2
5.2.17Matildite
AgBiS
 
2
5.2.18Schapbachite
Ag
 
0.4
Pb
 
0.2
Bi
 
0.4
S
5.2.19Pavonite
(Ag,Cu)(Bi,Pb)
 
3
S
 
5
5.2.20Arcubisite
Ag
 
6
CuBiS
 
4
5.2.21Bohdanowiczite
AgBiSe
 
2
5.2.22Selenostephanite
Ag
 
5
Sb(Se,S)
 
4
5.2.23Benleonardite
Ag
 
8
(Sb,As)Te
 
2
S
 
3
5.2.24Volynskite
AgBiTe
 
2

Other Names for Argentotennantite

Synonyms:
IMA1985-026
Other Languages:
German:Argentotennantit
Spanish:Argentotennantita

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 Argentotennantite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 73: 439.

Spiridonov, E.M., Sokolova, N.F., Gapeev, A.K., Dashevskaya, D.M., Evstigneeva, T.L., Chvileva, T.N., Demidov, V.G., Balashov, E.P., and Shul’ga, V.I. (1986): A new mineral — argentotennantite. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR, 290, 206–210 (in Russian).

Zakrzewski, M.A. (1989): Members of the freibergite-argentotennantite series and associated minerals from Silvermines, County Tipperary, Ireland. Mineralogical Magazine, 53, 293–298.

Moëlo, Y., Makovicky, E., Mozgova, N.N., Jambor, J.L., Cook, N., Pring, A., Paar, W., Nickel, E.H., Graeser, S., Karup-Møller, S.; Balić-Žunić, T.; Mumme, W.G., Vurro, F., Topa, D., Bindi, L., Bente, K., Shimizu, M. (2008): Sulfosalt systematics: a review. Report of the sulfosalt sub-committee of the IMA Commission on Ore Mineralogy. European Journal of Mineralogy, 20, 7-46. [on relation to freibergite]

Internet Links for Argentotennantite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Argentotennantite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Argentotennantite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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
     
    • Santa Cruz
      • Macizo del Deseado
    		Jovic, S.M., Guido, D.M., Schalamuk, I.B., Ríos, F.J., Tassinari, C.C.G., Recio. C. (2011): Pingüino In-bearing polymetallic vein deposit, Deseado Massif, Patagonia, Argentina: characteristics of mineralization and ore-forming fluids. Mineralium Deposita, 46, 257-271.
    Canada
     
    • Manitoba
      • Snow Lake District
    		2007 Manitoba Geological Survey Report of Field Activities
    Chile
     
    • Atacama Region
      • Huasco Province
        • Carrizo district
    		Tartakowsky A.(1928): "Descubridora o Carrizo, Departamento de Huasco"; informe preliminar": Caja de Crédito Minero, Vallenar, Chile.
    Germany
     
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
    Ireland
     
    • Co. Tipperary
      • Silvermines District
    		Moreton, S. (1999) Mineralogical Record, 30, 99-106. Colin Andrew (Personal Communication)
    Italy
     
    • Lombardy
      • Sondrio Province
        • Valfurva
    		Bedognè,F,,Montrasio; A. & Sciesa;E. (2006): I minerali della media-alta Valtellina delle Orobie valtellinesi e della Val Poschiavo. Bettini, Sondrio, Italia, 255.
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Akmola Province (Aqmola Oblysy; Akmolinskaya Oblast')
      • Stepnogorsk
        • Aksu (Aqsu)
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Mexico
     
    • Mexico
      • Mun. de Temascaltepec
        • Temascaltepec de González (Temascaltepec)
    		Camprubi, A., Canals, A., Cardellach, E., Prol-Ledesma, R.M., Rivera, R., 2001, The La Guitarra Ag-Au low-sulfidation epithermal deposit, Temascaltepec district, Mexico: vein structure, mineralogy, and sulfide-sulfosalt chemistry. Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication, v. 8, p. 133-158.
    Peru
     
    • Lima Department
      • Oyon Province
    		EDS Analysis Frank Keutsch: Argentotennantite: Cu7.9Ag4.1As4.5S15 no Zn,Fe,Sb
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • La Plata Co.
        • La Plata District (California District)
    		Josef Vajdak (2008) Mineral News, 24, #3, 15.
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