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Benjaminite

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Big Photo

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

Show Benjaminite Photos (5)



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).


Cu-rich and Cu-poor varieties are described by Makovicky et al. (2010).

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

Occurrences of Benjaminite

Geological Setting:Hydrothermal veins

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
Hardness (Vickers):VHN50=186 - 232 kg/mm2
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
Fair in one direction.
Density (measured):6.34 g/cm3
Density (calculated):6.68 g/cm3

Crystallography of Benjaminite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/m {B1 1 2/m} {C2/m} {C1 2/m 1}
Space Group Setting:C2/m
Cell Parameters:a = 13.25(2) Å, b = 4.05(1) Å, c = 20.25(3) Å
β = 103.14(7)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 3.272 : 1 : 5
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,058.21 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Massive and laths.
Twinning:Commonly polysynthetic.

Optical Data of Benjaminite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong
Colour in reflected light:Creamy white to very pale brownish

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
(Cu,Ag)
 
3-4
(Bi,Pb)
 
7-8
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.05aCupromakopavonite
Ag
 
3
Cu
 
8
Pb
 
4
Bi
 
19
S
 
38
2.JA.05Dantopaite
Cu
 
1.06
Ag
 
4.24
Pb
 
0.9
Bi
 
12.23
S
 
21.89
Te
 
0.11
2.JA.10aCuprobismutite
Cu
 
8
AgBi
 
12
S
 
24
2.JA.10cHodrušite
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
(Cd,Mn,Fe)Ag
 
5.5
Pb
 
12
Sb
 
21.5
S
 
48
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
Ag
 
5
Pb
 
14
Sb
 
21
S
 
48
5.7.28Owyheeite
Ag
 
3+x
Pb
 
10-2x
Sb
 
11+x
S
 
28
, -0.13 < x > +0.20
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
Ag
 
2
Cu
 
6
Pb
 
25
Bi
 
26
S
 
68
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
 
8
Pb
 
4-x
(Tl
 
2
As
 
2
)
 
x
(Ag
 
2
As
 
2
)As
 
16
S
 
40
5.7.48Hatchite
AgTlPbAs
 
2
S
 
5

Other Names for Benjaminite

Other Languages:
German:Benjaminit
Russian:Бенджаминит
Simplified Chinese:铜银铅铋矿
Spanish: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.

Herbert, H.K. & Mumme, W.G. (1981): Unsubstituted benjaminite from the AW mine, New South Wales: a discussion of metal substitutions and stability. Neues Jahrb. Mineral., Monatsh., 69-80.

Chang, L. L. Y.; Wu, D.; Knowles, C. R. (1988): Phase relations in the system Ag2S-Cu2S-PbS-Bi2S3. Economic Geology 83, 405-418.

Makovicky, E., Paar, W.H., Putz, H., Zagler, G. (2010): Dantopaite, Ag5Bi13S22, the 6P natural member of the pavonite homologous series, from Erzwies, Austria. Canadian Mineralogist, 48, 467-481

Internet Links for Benjaminite

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

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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
    		Amer.Min.(2000) 85, 1066-1075
    • Salta
      • Organullo Mining District
    		Milka K. de Brodtkorb (2002) Las Especies Minerales de la Republica Argentina. Vol. 1 (elements, sulphides and sulphosalts). (Asociacion Mineralogica Argentina); DE BRODTKORB, Milka K. Precious metaltellurides and other Te-bearing minerals in different paragenesis of Argentina: A review. Rev. Asoc. Geol. Argent. [online]. 2009, vol.64, n.3, pp. 365-372.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Clive Co.
        • Bolivia
    		Herbert, H.K. & Mumme, W.G. (1981): Unsubstituted benjaminite from the AW mine, New South Wales: a discussion of metal substitutions and stability. Neues Jahrb. Mineral., Monatsh., 69-80.; Handbook of Mineralogy
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • Goldberg group
          • Zirknitz
            • Kleine Zirknitz valley
              • Kluidscharte
    		G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995
    • Salzburg
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • Gastein valley
    		Makovicky, E., Paar, W.H., Putz, H., Zagler, G. (2010): Dantopaite, Ag5Bi13S22, the 6P natural member of the pavonite homologous series, from Erzwies, Austria. Canadian Mineralogist, 48, 467-481.
    Bolivia
     
    • La Paz Department
      • Aroma Province
        • Laurani District
    		Kempff, O., Paar, W.H., Tawackoli, S.: "Minerales de Bolivia", 115pp (La Paz, 2009)
    • Oruro Department
      • Cercado Province
        • Oruro City
    		Keutsch, F. & Brodtkorb, M. (2007) Metalliferous parageneses of the San Jose mine. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 26, 485-491.
    • Potosí Department
      • Sud Lípez Province
        • Cerro Bonete
    USGS Bulletin # 1975 (1992)
    Brazil
     
    • Minas Gerais
      • Mariana (Marianna de Itacolumy)
        • Passagem de Mariana District
    		Oberthür, T. and Weiser, T. W. (2008): Gold-bismuth-telluride-sulphide assemblages at the Viceroy Mine, Harare-Bindura-Shamva greenstone belt, Zimbabwe. Mineral. Mag. 72, 953-970. [contains also data on Passagem de Mariana Mine]
    Bulgaria
     
    • Balkan Mts (Stara-Planina Mts)
    		http://www.bgd.bg/summanual_2003_5.htm
    Canada
     
    • Northwest Territories
      • Camsell River area
    		; Previously added data - no reference
    • Ontario
      • Timiskaming District
        • Cobalt-Gowganda region
          • Cobalt area
            • Coleman Township
    		the Canadian Mineralogist V 11 Part 1 1971
          • South Lorrain Township
    		Handbook of Mineralogy
    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.
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		Blaß, G. & Graf, H.W. (2001): Neue Funde aus dem Schwarzwald. Mineralien-Welt, 12 (4), 24-26.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kinki Region
        • Hyogo Prefecture
          • Asago City
            • Ikuno-cho-ono
    		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
     
    • Bihor Co.
      • Nucet
    		www.minerals-of-the carpathians.eu (2009)
    • 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
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
        • Indigirka River Basin
          • Ust'-Nera
    		American Mineralogist, Volume 79, pages 763-767, 1994
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Primorskiy Kray
        • Dal'negorsk (Dalnegorsk; Tetyukhe; Tjetjuche; Tetjuche)
          • Karadubsky ore field
    		http://www.fegi.ru/FEGI/museum/polisk_e.htm
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Poltár Co.
        • 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
      • Michalovce Co.
    		Bacsó,Z.,Ďuďa,R.,1988: Metalogenéza a rudné formácie rudného poľa Remetské Hámre. Min.Slovaca,Bratislava, 3, 193-220p
      • Rožňava Co.
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590k
      • Trebišov Co.
    		Kaličiak, M., Ďuďa, R., 1996: Geolgický vývoj, stavba a metalogenéza neovulkanitov na Východnom Slovensku. Manuskript, Archív Geofond, Bratislava, 83p
    • Žilina Region
      • Liptovský Mikuláš Co.
    		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
    Tajikistan
     
    • Viloyati Mukhtori Gorno-Badakhshan (Viloyati Badakhshoni Kuni)
      • Pamir Mts
        • Pamir Silver District
          • Bazardara ore cluster
    		Pavlova, G.G., and Borisenko, A.S. (2009): Ore Geology Reviews 35, 164-185.
    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.
      • Ouray Co.
        • Gold Hill District
    		U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1753
      • 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.
    • Montana
      • Jefferson Co.
        • Whitehall District (Cardwell District)
    		Spry, P.G., Foster, F., Truckle, J.S., and Chadwick, T.H. (1997): Mineralogy and Petrology 59, 143-164.; Economic Geology,(1996) Vol. 91-3, pp.507-526
    • Nevada
      • Nye Co.
        • Round Mountain District
    		Shannon (1924), U.S. National Museum, Proceedings: 65, art. 24, 1.; NBMG Open File Report 79-3
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. 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. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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