Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Tennantite

Big Photo

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

Show Tennantite Photos (171)
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
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3911.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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:Tetrahedral to rounded crystals.
Twinning:Twin axis [111], twin plane {111}
Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Tennantite - {100}, modified

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

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

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3

Epitaxial Relationships of Tennantite

Epitaxial Minerals:
Chalcopyrite
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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)
Member of Group:
Tetrahedrite Group:
A
 
12
B
 
4
X
 
13
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.GB.05Argentotennantite
(Ag,Cu)
 
10
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
13
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.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)
 
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
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:

- +
5.1.1Sinnerite
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
5.1.10Hodrušite
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
Other Languages:
Dutch:Tennantiet
German:Tennantit
Antimonarsenfahlerz
Arsenfahlerz
Arsenicalfahlerz
Arsenic Fahlerz
Arsenikglanz
Arsenkupferfahlerz
Julianit
Lichtes Arsenfahlerz
Italian:Tennantite
Polish:Tennantyt
Russian:Теннантит
Spanish:Julianita
Tennantita
Ukrainian:Бініт
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

Search Engines:
  • Look for Tennantite on Google
  • Look for Tennantite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Tennantite on Webmineral
  • Look for Tennantite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Tennantite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Tennantite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Tennantite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Tennantite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Tennantite specimens
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Buy minerals from Mineralium.com
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Tennantite

    Show Locality List (1173 Items)
    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.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    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: 13th Oct 2009 14:02:31