Tyrrellite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Tyrrellite
Formula:
Cu(Co3+,Ni3+)2Se4
Colour:
Bronze
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
6.6
Crystal System:
Isometric
Member of:
Name:
Informally named by S.C. Robinson in honor of Joseph Burr Tyrrell (November 1, 1858 Weston, Ontario, Canada - August 26, 1957), geologist, Geological Survey of Canada. Tyrrell was an early explorer and surveyor of northern Canada, especially the area between Lake Athabasca and Hudson Bay.
Robinson & Brooker (1952) gave a partial description of an unnamed selenide from Ato Bay (TL2), which according to Harris (1970) was later informally named tyrrellite by Robinson. The name appeared in Hey (1963) and Sendeeva (1964) without explanation. It was formally confirmed as a new species by Harris (1970), who completed the full description of the mineral on material from the Eagle claims (TL1) (Horváth 2003).
Robinson & Brooker (1952) gave a partial description of an unnamed selenide from Ato Bay (TL2), which according to Harris (1970) was later informally named tyrrellite by Robinson. The name appeared in Hey (1963) and Sendeeva (1964) without explanation. It was formally confirmed as a new species by Harris (1970), who completed the full description of the mineral on material from the Eagle claims (TL1) (Horváth 2003).
Co-Type Localities:
Isostructural with:
Se analogue of carrollite and Co analogue of nickeltyrrellite. Unique combination of elements.
Compare bornhardtite.
Occurs as small grains that look like clausthalite without the cleavage.
Compare bornhardtite.
Occurs as small grains that look like clausthalite without the cleavage.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4071
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4071:2
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
2c339983-44d2-4459-813a-40a9ebc5ae68
IMA Classification of Tyrrellite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Cu(Co,Ni)2Se4
Approval year:
1970
First published:
1970
Classification of Tyrrellite
2.DA.05
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
A : M:S = 3:4
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
A : M:S = 3:4
2.10.1.4
2 : SULFIDES
10 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:4
2 : SULFIDES
10 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:4
3.11.20
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
11 : Sulphides etc. of Ni
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
11 : Sulphides etc. of Ni
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Ty | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Ty | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Pronunciation of Tyrrellite
Pronunciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Tyrrellite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Bronze
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=343 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
{001}
{001}
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
6.6 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.59 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Tyrrellite
Reflectivity:
Wavelength | R |
---|---|
400nm | 41.8% |
420nm | 42.6% |
440nm | 43.5% |
460nm | 44.4% |
480nm | 45.0% |
500nm | 45.5% |
520nm | 45.9% |
540nm | 46.3% |
560nm | 46.5% |
580nm | 46.8% |
600nm | 47.0% |
620nm | 47.3% |
640nm | 47.5% |
660nm | 47.6% |
680nm | 47.8% |
700nm | 48.0% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 48.0%.
Colour in reflected light:
Pale brassy bronze, light bronze with a distinct pinkish shade
Comments:
The reflected colour is particularly distinctive when compared to clausthalite.
Chemistry of Tyrrellite
Mindat Formula:
Cu(Co3+,Ni3+)2Se4
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Tyrrellite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Fd3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.005 Å
Unit Cell V:
1,001.50 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
granular
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0010334 | Tyrrellite | Yang H, Hubler D K, Lavina B, Downs R T, Costin G (2007) Tyrrellite, Cu(Co0.68Ni0.32)2Se4, isostructural with spinel Acta Crystallographica C63 i73-i74 | 2007 | Eagle Claims, Beaverlodge Lake area, Saskatchewan, Canada | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
5.78 Å | (40) |
3.54 Å | (40) |
3.02 Å | (60) |
2.89 Å | (70) |
2.50 Å | (90) |
1.93 Å | (60) |
1.77 Å | (100) |
1.51 Å | (40) |
Comments:
8-1
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Tyrrellite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
Grains, rounded or subhedral cubes.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Geological Survey, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, number either 61592 (Handbook of Mineralogy) or 61952 (IMA Catalogue of type mineral specimens).
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, numbers M26095, M26096.
Muséum Nationale d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, number 180.53.
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, numbers M26095, M26096.
Muséum Nationale d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, number 180.53.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Selenide deposit composed primarily of umangite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Tyrrellite
Other Language Names for Tyrrellite
Relationship of Tyrrellite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Bornhardtite Subgroup | A2+D3+2Se4 | |
Nickeltyrrellite | CuNi2Se4 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
13 photos of Tyrrellite associated with Umangite | Cu3Se2 |
8 photos of Tyrrellite associated with Clausthalite | PbSe |
7 photos of Tyrrellite associated with Chalcomenite | CuSeO3 · 2H2O |
4 photos of Tyrrellite associated with Athabascaite | Cu5Se4 |
4 photos of Tyrrellite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
3 photos of Tyrrellite associated with Berzelianite | Cu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12) |
3 photos of Tyrrellite associated with Trogtalite | CoSe2 |
3 photos of Tyrrellite associated with Eskebornite | CuFeSe2 |
2 photos of Tyrrellite associated with Krut'aite | CuSe2 |
2 photos of Tyrrellite associated with Klockmannite | CuSe |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.DA. | Zaykovite | Rh3Se4 |
2.DA. | Grimmite | NiCo2S4 |
2.DA. | Zolenskyite | FeCr2S4 |
2.DA. | Ezochiite | Cu+(Rh3+Pt4+)S4 |
2.DA. | Ferrodimolybdenite | FeMo2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Bornhardtite | Co2+Co3+2Se4 |
2.DA.05 | Carrollite | CuCo2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Cuproiridsite | (Cu,Fe)Ir2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Cuprorhodsite | (Cu1+0.5Fe3+0.5)Rh3+2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Daubréelite | Fe2+Cr3+2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Fletcherite | CuNi2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Florensovite | (Cu,Zn)Cr1.5Sb0.5S4 |
2.DA.05 | Greigite | Fe2+Fe3+2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Indite | FeIn2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Kalininite | ZnCr2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Linnaeite | Co2+Co3+2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Malanite | Cu1+(Ir3+Pt4+)S4 |
2.DA.05 | Polydymite | Ni2+Ni3+2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Siegenite | CoNi2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Trüstedtite | Ni3Se4 |
2.DA.05 | Violarite | Fe2+Ni3+2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Xingzhongite | Pb2+Ir3+2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Cadmoindite | CdIn2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Cuprokalininite | CuCr2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Joegoldsteinite | MnCr2S4 |
2.DA.05 | Nickeltyrrellite | CuNi2Se4 |
2.DA.10 | Rhodostannite | Cu1+(Fe2+0.5Sn4+1.5)S4 |
2.DA.10 | Toyohaite | Ag1+(Fe2+0.5Sn4+1.5)S4 |
2.DA.15 | Brezinaite | Cr3S4 |
2.DA.15 | Heideite | (Fe,Cr)1.15(Ti,Fe)2S4 |
2.DA.20 | Inaglyite | Cu3Pb(Ir,Pt)8S16 |
2.DA.20 | Konderite | Cu3Pb(Rh,Pt,Ir)8S16 |
2.DA.25 | Kingstonite | (Rh,Ir,Pt)3S4 |
Fluorescence of Tyrrellite
Not fluorescent
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Tyrrellite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4071.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Tyrrellite
Localities for Tyrrellite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Milka K. de Brodtkorb (2002) +3 other references |
Paar (1996) | |
| Grundmann et al. (2018) |
| Grundmann et al. (2018) |
Canada (TL) | |
| ROBINSON et al. (1952) +3 other references |
| ROBINSON et al. (1952) +1 other reference |
Collected and analyzed by Gunnar Farber. | |
Econ Geol (1997) | |
Czech Republic | |
| Scharm et al. (2000) |
| Paar et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
| Kvaček +1 other reference |
Vavřín +1 other reference | |
| Vavřín +1 other reference |
Kvaček (1979) | |
DR Congo | |
| Wilson (2018) |
Germany | |
| Seeliger et al. (1965) +1 other reference |
| Heider et al. (2012) |
Spain | |
| Econ Geol (1997) |
UK | |
| Stanley et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
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Eagle Claims U-Cu-Se occurrence, Beaverlodge Lake area, Saskatchewan, Canada