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Benjaminite

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Clara Mine, Rankach valley, Oberwolfach, Wolfach, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
© Stephan Wolfsried

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Formula:
(Ag,Cu)
 
3
(Bi,Pb)
 
7
S
 
12
System:MonoclinicColour:Grey; tarnishes dull or ...
Lustre:MetallicHardness:3½
Name:For Marcus Benjamin (1857-1932), American chemist, engineer, and editor of the U.S. National Museum (Smithsonian Institute).
This page provides mineralogical data about Benjaminite.

Classification of Benjaminite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/E.09-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.JA.05e

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
J : Sulfosalts of PbS archetype
A : Galena derivatives with little or no Pb
Dana 8th edition ID:3.8.10.3

3 : SULFOSALTS
8 : 1 < ø < 2
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.7.39

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
7 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb and other metals
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Type Occurrence of Benjaminite

Type Locality:Outlaw Mine, Round Mountain District, Nye Co., Nevada, USA
Year of Discovery:1924

Physical Properties of Benjaminite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Grey; tarnishes dull or yellow to copper-red
Streak:Dull lead-gray
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
Fair in one direction.
Density (measured):6.34 g/cm3

Crystallography of Benjaminite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 13.24Å, b = 4.04Å, c = 20.17Å
β = 103.21°
Ratio:a:b:c = 3.277 : 1 : 4.993
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,050.34 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Benjaminite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong
Colour in reflected light:Gray

Chemical Properties of Benjaminite

Formula:
(Ag,Cu)
 
3
(Bi,Pb)
 
7
S
 
12
Essential elements:Ag, Bi, S
All elements listed in formula:Ag, Bi, Cu, Pb, S

Relationship of Benjaminite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
2.JA.05gBorodaevite
Ag
 
5
(Bi,Pb,Fe)
 
8
(Sb,Bi)
 
2
S
 
17
2.JA.05aCupropavonite
AgCu
 
2
PbBi
 
5
S
 
10
2.JA.05aKitaibelite
Ag
 
10
PbBi
 
30
S
 
51
2.JA.05iLivingstonite
HgSb
 
4
S
 
8
2.JA.05dMakovickyite
Ag
 
1.5
Bi
 
5.5
S
 
9
2.JA.05fMummeite
Ag
 
2
CuPbBi
 
6
S
 
13
2.JA.05aPavonite
(Ag,Cu)(Bi,Pb)
 
3
S
 
5
2.JA.05bGrumiplucite
HgBi
 
2
S
 
4
2.JA.05hMozgovaite
PbBi
 
4
(S,Se)
 
7
2.JA.05dCupromakovickyite
Cu
 
8
Pb
 
4
Ag
 
2
Bi
 
18
S
 
36
2.JA.05cKudriavite
(Cd,Pb)Bi
 
2
S
 
4
2.JA.05IMA2005-036
Ag
 
3
Cu
 
8
Pb
 
4
Bi
 
19
S
 
38
2.JA.10aCuprobismutite
Cu
 
10
Bi
 
12
S
 
23
2.JA.10cHodrušhite
Cu
 
8
Bi
 
12
S
 
22
2.JA.10ePadĕraite
Cu
 
5.9
Ag
 
1.3
Pb
 
1.6
Bi
 
11.2
S
 
22
2.JA.10dPizgrischite
Cu
 
17
Bi
 
17
S
 
35
2.JA.10bKupčíkite
(Cu,Fe)
 
4
Bi
 
5
S
 
10
2.JA.15Schapbachite
AgBiS
 
2
2.JA.15Cuboargyrite
AgSbS
 
2
2.JA.20Bohdanowiczite
AgBiSe
 
2
2.JA.20Matildite
AgBiS
 
2
2.JA.20Volynskite
AgBiTe
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
5.7.1Seligmannite
PbCuAsS
 
3
5.7.2Bournonite
PbCuSbS
 
3
5.7.3Meneghinite
Pb
 
13
CuSb
 
7
S
 
24
5.7.4Gladite
PbCuBi
 
5
S
 
9
5.7.5Lindströmite
Pb
 
3
Cu
 
3
Bi
 
7
S
 
15
5.7.6Krupkaite
PbCuBi
 
3
S
 
6
5.7.7Hammarite
Pb
 
2
Cu
 
2
Bi
 
4
S
 
9
5.7.8Friedrichite
Pb
 
5
Cu
 
5
Bi
 
7
S
 
18
5.7.9Aikinite
PbCuBiS
 
3
5.7.10Nuffieldite
Pb
 
2
Cu(Pb,Bi)Bi
 
2
S
 
7
5.7.11Jaskólskiite
Pb
 
2+x
Cu
 
x
(Sb,Bi)
 
2-x
S
 
6
 x = 0.2
5.7.12Tintinaite
Pb
 
22
Cu
 
4
(Sb,Bi)
 
30
S
 
69
5.7.13Kobellite
Pb
 
22
Cu
 
4
(Bi,Sb)
 
30
S
 
69
5.7.14Proudite
CuPb
 
7.5
Bi
 
9.33
(S,Se)
 
22
5.7.15Nordströmite
CuPb
 
3
Bi
 
7
(Se
 
4
S
 
10
)
5.7.16Watkinsonite
Cu
 
2
PbBi
 
4
(Se,S,Te)
 
8
5.7.17Pekoite
PbCuBi
 
11
(S,Se)
 
18
5.7.18Petrovicite
Cu
 
3
HgPbBiSe
 
5
5.7.19Eclarite
(Cu,Fe)Pb
 
9
Bi
 
12
S
 
28
5.7.20Marrite
AgPbAsS
 
3
5.7.21Baumhauerite-2a
Pb
 
11
Ag(As,Sb)
 
18
S
 
36
5.7.22Andorite
PbAgSb
 
3
S
 
6
5.7.23Ramdohrite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
6
Sb
 
11
S
 
24
5.7.24Roshchinite
Ag
 
19
Pb
 
10
Sb
 
51
S
 
96
5.7.25Ourayite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
4
Bi
 
5
S
 
13
5.7.26Eskimoite
Ag
 
7
Pb
 
10
Bi
 
15
S
 
36
5.7.27Fizélyite
Pb
 
14
Ag
 
5
Sb
 
21
S
 
48
 ?
5.7.28Owyheeite
Ag
 
2
Pb
 
5
Sb
 
6
S
 
15
5.7.29Freieslebenite
AgPbSbS
 
3
5.7.30Diaphorite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
2
Sb
 
3
S
 
8
5.7.31Sterryite
Ag
 
2
Pb
 
10
(Sb,As)
 
12
S
 
29
5.7.32Vikingite
Ag
 
5
Pb
 
8
Bi
 
13
S
 
30
5.7.33Zoubekite
AgPb
 
4
Sb
 
4
S
 
10
5.7.34Schirmerite
AgPb
 
2
Bi
 
3
S
 
7
5.7.36Gustavite
Ag
 
3
Pb
 
5
Bi
 
11
S
 
24
5.7.37Kitaibelite
Ag
 
10
PbBi
 
30
S
 
51
5.7.38Treasurite
Ag
 
7
Pb
 
6
Bi
 
15
S
 
32
5.7.40Lengenbachite
(Ag,Cu)
 
2
Pb
 
6
As
 
4
S
 
13
5.7.41Berryite
Pb
 
3
(Ag,Cu)
 
5
Bi
 
7
S
 
16
5.7.42Neyite
Pb
 
7
(Cu,Ag)
 
2
Bi
 
6
S
 
17
5.7.43Larosite
(Cu,Ag)
 
21
(Pb,Bi)
 
2
S
 
13
5.7.44Cupropavonite
AgCu
 
2
PbBi
 
5
S
 
10
5.7.45Padĕraite
Cu
 
5.9
Ag
 
1.3
Pb
 
1.6
Bi
 
11.2
S
 
22
5.7.46Rayite
Pb
 
8
(Ag,Tl)
 
2
Sb
 
8
S
 
21
5.7.47Rathite
(Pb,Tl)
 
3
As
 
5
S
 
10
5.7.48Hatchite
(PbTl)
 
2
AgAs
 
2
S
 
3

Other Names for Benjaminite

German names:
Benjaminit
Russian names:
Бенджаминит
Spanish names:
Benjaminita

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 Benjaminite

Reference List:Shannon (1924), U.S. National Museum, Proceedings: 65, art. 24, 1.

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: 441-442.

Canadian Mineralogist (1975): 13: 394-407.

Canadian Mineralogist (1979): 17: 607-618.

Articles/Blogs about Benjaminite

Internet Links for Benjaminite

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

    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
    		No reference listed
    • Salta
      • Organullo Mining District
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • Goldberg group
          • Zirknitz
            • Kleine Zirknitz valley
              • Kluidscharte
    		G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995
    Bolivia
     
    • Potosí Department
      • Sud Lípez Province
        • Cerro Bonete
    USGS Bulletin # 1975 (1992)
    Bulgaria
     
    • Balkan Mts (Stara-Planina Mts)
    		http://www.bgd.bg/summanual_2003_5.htm
    Canada
     
    • Northwest Territories
      • Camsell River
    • Ontario
      • Timiskaming District
        • Cobalt-Gowganda region
          • South Lorrain Township
    		No reference listed
    China
     
    • Jiangsu Province
      • Nanjing Prefecture
        • Jiangning District
          • Ningzhen Mining District
    		Xiangping, G., Watanabe, M., Ohkawa, M., Hoshino, K., Shibata, Y., and Desong, C. (2001): Canadian Mineralogist 39(6), 1641-1652.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kinki Region
        • Hyogo Prefecture
          • Asago-gun
            • Ikuno-machi
    		The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed) Matsubara
    Poland
     
    • Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie)
      • Rudawy Janowickie Mts
        • Czarnów
          • Rędziny
    		Gołębiowska B., Pieczka A., Parafiniuk J. 2006: Cu(Ag)-Pb-Bi(Sb) sulphosalts from Rędziny (Western Sudetes, Poland). Mineralogia Polonica - Special Papers, vol. 28, 78-80
    Romania
     
    • Maramures Co.
      • Baiut
    		Nigel G. Cook : "Bismuth Sulphosalts from Hydrothermal Vein Deposits of Neogen Age, N.W. Romania, Mitt. Österr. Miner. Ges. , 143, 1998 / Lecture to the Austrian Mineralogical Society, 23rd June 1997, Salzburg.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Primorskiy Kray
        • Dal'negorsk (Dalnegorsk)
          • Karadubsky ore field
    		http://www.fegi.ru/FEGI/museum/polisk_e.htm
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Western Slovenské Rudohorie Mts
        • Kokava nad Rimavicou
    		Ferenc Š, Bakoš F.,2006: Au-Bi-Te mineralizácia v sineckej astrižnej zóne (Kokava nad Rimavicou) – nový typ mineralizácie v Západných Karpatoch. Min.Slovaca, 38, 223-240
    • Košice Region
      • Eastern Slovenské Rudohorie Mts
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590k
      • Southern Vihorlat Mts
    		Bacsó,Z.,Ďuďa,R.,1988: Metalogenéza a rudné formácie rudného poľa Remetské Hámre. Min.Slovaca,Bratislava, 3, 193-220p
      • Zemplínske Mts
    		Kaličiak, M., Ďuďa, R., 1996: Geolgický vývoj, stavba a metalogenéza neovulkanitov na Východnom Slovensku. Manuskript, Archív Geofond, Bratislava, 83p
    • Žilina Region
      • Northern Low Tatra Mts
    		Ozdin D., Chovan M., 1999: New mineralogical and paragenetic knowledge about siderite veins in the vicinity of Vyšná Boca, Nízke Tatry Mts. Slov. Geol. Magazine, Bratislava, 5, 4, 255-271
    Sweden
     
    • Värmland
      • Säffle
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • Clear Creek Co.
        • Alice District
    		"Minerals of Colorado, updated & revised", p. 13, by Eckel, Edwin B., 1997
    Min Rec 18:3 pp185-187
        • Montezuma (Summit Co.)
          • Cinnamon Gulch
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • Park Co.
        • Montezuma District
          • Hall Valley
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B.
      • San Juan Co.
        • Silverton District
          • Poughkeepsie Gulch
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • Summit Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    • Nevada
      • Nye Co.
        • Round Mountain District
    		No reference listed
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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