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Tetrahedrite

Big Photo

Loiras Quarry, Le Bosc, Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
© David Soler

Show Tetrahedrite Photos (200)
Formula:
(Cu,Fe,Ag,Zn)
 
12
Sb
 
4
S
 
13
System:IsometricColour:Steel- to iron-gray
Hardness:3½ - 4
Name:The name is derived from the common tetrahedral form of its crystals.


Tetrahedrite Group. Tennantite-Tetrahedrite Series, and the Freibergite-Tetrahedrite Series.

Classification of Tetrahedrite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.11-40
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:3.3.6.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
3 : 3 <ø < 4
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.1.5

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

Geological Setting:Low to moderate temperature hydrothermal veins and contact metamorphic deposits.

Physical Properties of Tetrahedrite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Steel- to iron-gray
Streak:Black, brown to dark red
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=312 - 351 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):4.97 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.99 g/cm3

Crystallography of Tetrahedrite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:I4 3m
Cell Parameters:a = 10.39(16) Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,121.62 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Tetrahedral crystals, massive
Twinning:On {111} and around [111] twin axis.
Crystal Atlas:
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Tetrahedrite no.34 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Tetrahedrite - Penetration twin on [111]
Tetrahedrite - Penetration twin on [111]
Tetrahedrite - {111}, modified
Tetrahedrite - {211}
Tetrahedrite - {111}, modified
Tetrahedrite - {111}, {110}

About Crystal Atlas

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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

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:

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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 Tetrahedrite

Type:Isotropic
Colour in reflected light:Grey to olive brown
Comments:n greater than 2.72

Chemical Properties of Tetrahedrite

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

Relationship of Tetrahedrite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Tennantite (see here)
Forms a series with Freibergite (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.05Tennantite
(Cu,Ag,Fe,Zn)
 
12
As
 
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
5.1.2Tennantite
(Cu,Ag,Fe,Zn)
 
12
As
 
4
S
 
13
5.1.4Chalcostibite
CuSbS
 
2
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 Tetrahedrite

Synonyms:
AftoniteFalkenhayniteFielditeNepaulitePanabase
Spiessglanzerz
French names:
Mine de cuivre griseTétraédrite
German names:
AftonitAntimonfahlerzFahlkupfererzFalkenhaynitGraues Silbererz
GraugiltigerzSpiessglanzfahlerzTetraëdritTetrahedrit
Russian names:
Тетраэдрит
Spanish names:
AftonitaCobre grisFalkenhaynitaPavonadoTetrahedrita
Varieties:
ApthoniteArgentian TetrahedriteArgentiferous Auriferous TetrahedriteArsenical TetrahedriteBismuthian Tetrahedrite
CoppiteFrigiditeKobaltfahlerzMalinowskitMercurian Tetrahedrite
StuderiteStylotypiteZincian Tetrahedrite

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 Tetrahedrite

Reference List: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: 374-384.

Wuensch, B.J. et al. (1966), Z. Kristallogr., 123, 1.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 119: 437-453.

Mineralogical Magazine (1986): 50: 717.

American Mineralogist (1988): 73: 389.

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 Tetrahedrite

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    Localities for Tetrahedrite

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