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Argyrodite

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Himmelsfürst Mine, Brand-Erbisdorf, Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
© Peter Haas

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Formula:
Ag
 
8
GeS
 
6
System:OrthorhombicColour:grey, black
Hardness:2½
Name:From the Greek άργνρώδης, silver-containing, in allusion to its silver content.
This page provides mineralogical data about Argyrodite.

Classification of Argyrodite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/B.08-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.BA.70

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
Dana 8th edition ID:2.5.6.1

2 : SULFIDES
5 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:2
Hey's CIM Ref.:6.2.4

6 : Sulphosalts - Sulphostannates, Sulphogermanates,Sulpharsenates, Sulphantimonates, Sulphovanadates and Sulphohalides
2 : Sulphogermanates
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Type Occurrence of Argyrodite

Type Locality:Himmelsfürst Mine, Brand-Erbisdorf, Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1886

Physical Properties of Argyrodite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:grey, black
Streak:greyblack
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Hardness Data:Measured
Fracture:Conchoidal

Crystallography of Argyrodite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Crystal Atlas:
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Argyrodite no.4 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Chemical Properties of Argyrodite

Formula:
Ag
 
8
GeS
 
6
Essential elements:Ag, Ge, S
All elements listed in formula:Ag, Ge, S
Common Impurities:Fe,Sb,Sn

Relationship of Argyrodite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Canfieldite (see here)
Related to:
  • Argyrodite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    2.BA.05Chalcocite
    Cu
     
    2
    		S
    2.BA.05Djurleite
    Cu
     
    31
    		S
     
    16
    2.BA.05Geerite
    Cu
     
    8
    		S
     
    5
    2.BA.05Roxbyite
    Cu
     
    9
    		S
     
    5
    2.BA.10Anilite
    Cu
     
    7
    		S
     
    4
    2.BA.10Digenite
    Cu
     
    9
    		S
     
    5
    2.BA.15Bornite
    Cu
     
    5
    		FeS
     
    4
    2.BA.20Bellidoite
    Cu
     
    2
    		Se
    2.BA.20Berzelianite
    Cu
     
    2
    		Se
    2.BA.25Athabascaite
    Cu
     
    5
    		Se
     
    4
    2.BA.25Umangite
    Cu
     
    3
    		Se
     
    2
    2.BA.30Rickardite
    Cu
     
    7
    		Te
     
    5
    2.BA.30Weissite
    Cu
     
    2-x
    		Te
    2.BA.35Acanthite
    Ag
     
    2
    		S
    2.BA.35Argentite
    2.BA.40Mckinstryite
    (Ag,Cu)
     
    2
    		S
    2.BA.40Stromeyerite
    AgCuS
    2.BA.45Jalpaite
    Ag
     
    3
    		CuS
     
    2
    2.BA.45Selenojalpaite
    Ag
     
    3
    		CuSe
     
    2
    2.BA.50Eucairite
    AgCuSe
    2.BA.55Aguilarite
    Ag
     
    4
    		SeS
    2.BA.55Naumannite
    Ag
     
    2
    		Se
    2.BA.60Cervelleite
    Ag
     
    4
    		TeS
    2.BA.60Hessite
    Ag
     
    2
    		Te
    2.BA.65Henryite
    Ag
     
    3
    		Cu
     
    4
    		Te
     
    4
    2.BA.65Stützite
    Ag
     
    7
    		Te
     
    4
    2.BA.70Canfieldite
    Ag
     
    8
    		(Sn,Ge)(S,Te)
     
    6
    2.BA.70Putzite
    (Cu
     
    4.7
    		Ag
     
    3.3
    		)GeS
     
    6
    2.BA.75Fischesserite
    Ag
     
    3
    		AuSe
     
    2
    2.BA.75Penzhinite
    (Ag,Cu)
     
    4
    		Au(S,Se)
     
    4
    2.BA.75Petrovskaite
    AuAg(S,Se)
    2.BA.75Petzite
    Ag
     
    3
    		AuTe
     
    2
    2.BA.75Uytenbogaardtite
    Ag
     
    3
    		AuS
     
    2
    2.BA.80Bezsmertnovite
    (Au,Ag)
     
    4
    		Cu(Te,Pb)
    2.BA.80Bilibinskite
    PbCuAu
     
    3
    		Te
     
    2
    2.BA.80Bogdanovite
    (Au,Te,Pb)
     
    3
    		(Cu,Fe)
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    6.2.1Germanite
    Cu
     
    13
    		Fe
     
    2
    		Ge
     
    2
    		S
     
    16
    6.2.2Briartite
    Cu
     
    2
    		(Fe,Zn)GeS
     
    4
    6.2.3Renierite
    (Cu,Zn)
     
    11
    		(Ge,As)
     
    2
    		Fe
     
    4
    		S
     
    16
    6.2.5Canfieldite
    Ag
     
    8
    		(Sn,Ge)(S,Te)
     
    6
    6.2.6Morozeviczite
    (Pb,Fe)
     
    3
    		Ge
     
    1-x
    		S
     
    4
    6.2.7Polkovicite
    (Fe,Pb)
     
    3
    		(Ge,Fe)
     
    1-x
    		S
     
    4

    Other Names for Argyrodite

    Synonyms:
    Plusinglanz
    German names:
    Argyrodit
    Italian names:
    Argirodite
    Russian names:
    Аргиродит
    Spanish names:
    Argyrodita

    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 Argyrodite

    Reference List:Weisbach, A. (1886) Berg- und hütten. Jahrbuch Sachs.: 89.

    Weisbach, A. (1886): Argyrodit, ein neues Silbererz.- Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paläontologie, vol. II, 67-71.

    Ahlfeld and Moritz (1933), Jb. Min., Beil.-Bd.: 66: 185.

    Ahlfeld and Reyes (1938).

    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: 356-358.

    Wang, Naiding and Viaene, W. (1974) The polymorphs of Cu8GeS6 - a preliminary study. Neues Jahrb. Mineral., Monatsh.: 442-446.

    Eulenberger, G. (1977) Die Kristallstruktur der Tieftemperaturmodifikation von Ag8GeS6, synthetischer Argyrodit. Monatsh. Chem.: 108: 901-913.

    Kuhs, W.F., Nitsche, R., and Scheunemann, K. (1979) The argyrodites - a new family of tetrahedrally close-packed structures. Materials Research Bulletin: 14: 241-248.

    Evain, M., Gaudin, E., Boucher, F., Petříček, V., and Taulelle, F. (1998) Structures and phase transitions of the A7PSe6(A= Ag, Cu) argyrodite-type ionic conductors. I. Ag7PSe6. Acta Crystallographica: B54: 376-383.

    Onoda,M., Chen, Xue An., Kato,K., Sato, A., and Wada, H. (1999) Structure refinement of Cu8GeS6 using X-ray diffraction data from a multiple-twinned crystal. Acta Crystallographica: B55: 721-725.

    Internet Links for Argyrodite

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  • Look for Argyrodite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Argyrodite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Argyrodite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Argyrodite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Argyrodite

    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
     
    • Jujuy
      • Rinconada Department
        • Pirquitas Ag-Sn Deposit
    		Strübel, Zimmer: "Lexikon der Minerale", 2nd Ed., 1991
    • La Rioja
      • Sierra de Famatina
        • Chilecito Department
          • Cerro Negro District
    		Brodtkorb (2002): Las Especies Minerales de la Republica Argentina
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Phillip Co.
        • Lue
    		Pringle and Elliot 1998, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Monograph 22.
    Bolivia
     
    • Oruro Department
      • Poopó Province
    		Salomon Rivas y Federico Ahlfeld (1998) Los Minerales de Bolivia y sus Parajes. (Santa Cruz)
    • Potosí Department
      • Chayanta Province
    		No reference listed
      • Quijarro Province
        • Agua de Castilla
      • Sud Chichas Province
        • Atocha-Quechisla District
    		[MinRec 32:461]
    [MinRec 32:461]
    China
     
    • Fujian Province
      • Nanping Prefecture
        • Jianyang Co.
          • Shuiji Pb-Zn-(Ag) deposit
    		Anthony, J.W. et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy.
    • Hubei Province
      • Yichang Prefecture
        • Xingshan Co.
    		Anthony, J.W. et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Cantal
        • Brioude - Massiac area
          • Massiac
            • Molèdes
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
        • Laroquebrou
          • Saint-Santin-Cantalès
      • Haute-Loire
        • Allègre
          • Bellevue-la-Montagne
    		P.G. Pélisson : "Etude Minéralogique et Métallogénique du District Filonien Polytype de Paulhaguet (Haute-Loire, Massif Central Français)", Doctorate Thesis, Orléans, France, 1989
        • La Chaise-Dieu
          • Saint-Pal-de-Senouire
    		P.G. Pélisson : "Etude Minéralogique et Métallogénique du District Filonien Polytype de Paulhaguet (Haute-Loire, Massif Central Français)", Doctorate Thesis, Orléans, France, 1989
    • Limousin
      • Haute-Vienne
        • Rilhac-Lastours
    		P. Picot, Z. Johan : "Atlas of Ore Minerals", BRGM, Elsevier, 1982
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Alpes-Maritimes
        • Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée
          • Roure
    		R. Pierrot, P. Picot, J. Féraud, J. Vernet : "Inventaire Minéralogique de la France N° 4 : Alpes-Maritimes", BRGM, 1974
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Elz valley
          • Waldkirch
    		K. Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Freiberg District
          • Brand-Erbisdorf
    		F. Angel and R. Scharizer in "Grundriss der Mineralparagenese", Springer (Wien), 1932, pp. 221-222
            • Vereinigt Feld Mine
    		A. Frenzel (1900): Argyrodit ist Breithaupt's Plusinglanz.- Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen 19, 244-245
          • Zug
    		Dana 6:A2:9.
    Ireland
     
    • Co. Tipperary
      • Silvermines District
    		Cornwall
    Japan
     
    • Hokkaido Island
      • Oshima peninsula
        • Kaminokuni
    		Ishiyama, D. et al (1982) Journal of the Mining College, Akita University, Ser. A, Mining Geology, 6, #2, 149-171.
    Mexico
     
    • Guanajuato
      • Mun. de Guanajuato
        • Guanajuato
    		No reference listed
    Morocco
     
    • Souss-Massa-Draâ Region
      • Ouarzazate Province
        • Tazenakht
    		S. Weiß: Lapis 31(7/8), 72-73 (2006)
    New Zealand
     
    • North Island
      • Auckland
        • Auckland City
    		Railton, G.L. & Watters, W.A., Minerals of New Zealand, New Zealand Geological Survey Bull. #104 (1990).
    Slovakia
     
    • Prešov Region
      • Northern Slanské Mts
    		Duda et. all.,1981:Minerály severnej časti Slanských vrchov. Min.Slovca,Monografia 2,Bratislava, 98 p
    Spain
     
    • Castile-La Mancha
      • Guadalajara
        • Hiendelaencina District
    		Mineralogical Record, 23 (3), 241-249
    Jordi Fabre
    Sweden
     
    • Värmland
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Alaska
      • Denali Borough
        • Denali NP and Preserve
          • Kantishna Hills District
    		USGS OFR 2004-1200(Hawley,2004)
    • Colorado
      • Dolores Co.
        • Rico District (Pioneer District)
          • Expectation Mountain
    		Min. Rec.:16(3):203-216
    • Nevada
      • Nye Co.
    		NBMG Bull 99B Geology and Mineral Resources of Northern Nye County, Nevada
    • Utah
      • Box Elder Co.
        • Grouse Creek Mts
          • Ashbrook District
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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