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Tennantite

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Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia
© Barry Flannery

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Formula:
(Cu,Ag,Fe,Zn)
 
12
As
 
4
S
 
13
System:IsometricColour:Grey-black, steel-gray, ...
Lustre:MetallicHardness:3 - 4½
Name:Named after Smithson Tennant (1761-1815), English chemist of independent means.


Tetrahedrite Group. Tennantite-Tetrahedrite Series.

Classification of Tennantite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.11-10
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:3.3.6.2

3 : SULFOSALTS
3 : 3 <ø < 4
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.1.2

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

Type Locality:Cornwall, England, UK
Year of Discovery:1819

Occurrences of Tennantite

Geological Setting:Hydrothermal veins and contact metamorphic deposits.

Physical Properties of Tennantite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Grey-black, steel-gray, iron-gray, black
Streak:Reddish grey, black, red-brown
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 4½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=294 - 380 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):4.62 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.61 g/cm3

Crystallography of Tennantite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:I4 3m
Cell Parameters:a = 10.19Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,058.09 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Tetragonal crystals.
Twinning:Twin axis [111], twin plane {111}
Crystal Atlas:
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Tennantite - {100}, modified

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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Tennantite

Type:Isotropic
Colour in reflected light:gray, inclining to black to brown to cherry-red
Comments:n greater than 2.72

Chemical Properties of Tennantite

Formula:
(Cu,Ag,Fe,Zn)
 
12
As
 
4
S
 
13
Idealised Formula:
Cu
 
12
As
 
4
S
 
13
Essential elements:As, Cu, S
All elements listed in formula:Ag, As, Cu, Fe, S, Zn
Common Impurities:Sb,Bi,Pb

Relationship of Tennantite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Tetrahedrite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
2.GB.05Argentotennantite
(Ag,Cu)
 
10
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.05Freibergite
(Ag,Cu,Fe)
 
12
(Sb,As)
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.05Galkhaite
(Cs,Tl)(Hg,Cu,Zn)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
12
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.05Tetrahedrite
(Cu,Fe,Ag,Zn)
 
12
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)
 
16
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
11
2.GB.15Polybasite
(Ag,Cu)
 
16
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
11
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.15IMA2008-004
[Cu
 
6
Sb
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
5.1.1Sinnerite
Cu
 
6
As
 
4
S
 
9
5.1.4Chalcostibite
CuSbS
 
2
5.1.5Tetrahedrite
(Cu,Fe,Ag,Zn)
 
12
Sb
 
4
S
 
13
5.1.6Goldfieldite
Cu
 
12
(Te,Sb,As)
 
4
S
 
13
5.1.7Emplectite
CuBiS
 
2
5.1.8Cuprobismutite
Cu
 
10
Bi
 
12
S
 
23
5.1.9Wittichenite
Cu
 
3
BiS
 
3
5.1.10Hodrušhite
Cu
 
8
Bi
 
12
S
 
22
5.1.11Giraudite
(Cu,Zn,Ag)
 
12
(As,Sb)
 
4
(Se,S)
 
13
5.1.11Permingeatite
Cu
 
3
SbSe
 
4

Other Names for Tennantite

Synonyms:
JulianiteMiedziankiteRegnolite
German names:
AntimonarsenfahlerzArsenfahlerzArsenicalfahlerzArsenic FahlerzArsenikglanz
ArsenkupferfahlerzJulianitLichtes ArsenfahlerzTennantit
Russian names:
Теннантит
Spanish names:
JulianitaTennantita
Varieties:
AnniviteArgentiferous TennantiteBinnite (of Des Cloizeaux)Cobaltoan Bismuthian TennantiteCuprobinnite
FredriciteMercurian TennantiteTellurian TennantiteWismuthfahlerzZincian Tennantite

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 Tennantite

Reference List:Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1966): 123: 1-20.

Kharbish, S., Libowitzky, E. and Beran, A. (2007): The effect of As-Sb substitution in the Raman spectra of tetrahedrite-tennantite and pyrargyrite-proustite solid solutions. European Journal of Mineralogy, 19, 567-574.

Internet Links for Tennantite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Tennantite

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