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Algodonite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered

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Photos of Algodonite (29)

Algodonite Gallery Search Photos of Algodonite

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Algodonite

Los Algodones Mine, El Arrayan, Vicuña, Elqui Province, Coquimbo, Chile

Algodonite

Painesdale, Adams Township, Houghton County, Michigan, USA

Algodonite, etc.

Houghton County, Michigan, USA

Algodonite

Los Algodones Mine, El Arrayan, Vicuña, Elqui Province, Coquimbo, Chile

Algodonite

Painesdale, Adams Township, Houghton County, Michigan, USA

Algodonite, etc.

Houghton County, Michigan, USA

Algodonite

Los Algodones Mine, El Arrayan, Vicuña, Elqui Province, Coquimbo, Chile

Algodonite

Painesdale, Adams Township, Houghton County, Michigan, USA

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About AlgodoniteHide

Formula:

(Cu_1-xAs_x)

(x ≈ 0.15)

Colour:

Steel-gray to silver-white, tarnishes dull on exposure

Lustre:

Metallic

Hardness:

Specific Gravity:

8.38

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Name:

Named after its discovery locality in Chile.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Los Algodones Mine, El Arrayan, Vicuña, Elqui Province, Coquimbo, Chile

This page provides mineralogical data about Algodonite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

114

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:114:8

GUID
(UUID V4):

0ee260f1-f646-4a57-b6c8-3fddeaf88750

IMA Classification of AlgodoniteHide

IMA status:

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

IMA Formula:

Cu_1-xAs_x (x ≈ 0.15)

First published:

1857

Classification of AlgodoniteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

2.AA.10a

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
A : Alloys
A : Alloys of metalloids with Cu, Ag, Au

Dana 8th ed.:

2.1.1.1

2 : SULFIDES
1 : A_mX_p, with m:p > 3:1

Hey's CIM Ref.:

1.38

1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)

Mineral SymbolsHide

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.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Ago	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
Alg	The Canadian Mineralogist (2019)	The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Physical Properties of AlgodoniteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Comment:

Bright metallic

Colour:

Steel-gray to silver-white, tarnishes dull on exposure

Comment:

in polished section, bright cream-white

Hardness:

4 on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₁₀₀=245 - 302 kg/mm² - Vickers

Fracture:

Sub-Conchoidal

Density:

8.38 g/cm³ (Measured) 8.72 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of AlgodoniteHide

Anisotropism:

Weak

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁	R₂
400nm	51.5%	49.3%
420nm	52.3%	50.5%
440nm	52.8%	52.4%
460nm	53.4%	54.6%
480nm	54.2%	56.4%
500nm	55.7%	58.4%
520nm	57.5%	60.5%
540nm	58.9%	62.3%
560nm	60.0%	63.8%
580nm	60.8%	64.8%
600nm	61.1%	65.5%
620nm	61.6%	66.1%
640nm	61.9%	66.5%
660nm	62.3%	66.7%
680nm	62.8%	66.9%
700nm	63.4%	67.1%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 67.1%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in red

Colour in reflected light:

Bright cream-white

Chemistry of AlgodoniteHide

Mindat Formula:

(Cu_1-xAs_x)

(x ≈ 0.15)

Elements listed:

As, Cu - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Crystallography of AlgodoniteHide

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Class (H-M):

6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal

Space Group:

P6₃/mmc

Setting:

P6₃/mmc

Cell Parameters:

a = 2.600 Å, c = 4.228 Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 1.626

Unit Cell V:

24.75 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

As incrustations of minute highly distorted crystals; commonly massive and granular.

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0018469	Algodonite	Heyding R D, Despault G J G (1960) The copper/arsenic system and the copper arsenide minerals Canadian Journal of Chemistry 38 2477-2481		1960	synthetic	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Algodonite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Heyding R D'
'Despault G J G'
_journal_name_full 'Canadian Journal of Chemistry'
_journal_volume 38 
_journal_year 1960
_journal_page_first 2477
_journal_page_last 2481
_publ_section_title
;
 The copper/arsenic system and the copper arsenide minerals
;
_database_code_amcsd 0018469
_chemical_compound_source 'Synthetic'
_chemical_formula_sum '(Cu.889 As.111)'
_cell_length_a 2.588
_cell_length_b 2.588
_cell_length_c 4.226
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 120
_cell_volume 24.513
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      8.781
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 63/m m c'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '-x,-x+y,1/2+z'
  'x,x-y,1/2-z'
  '-x+y,-x,1/2-z'
  'x-y,x,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,z'
  'y,x,-z'
  'y,-x+y,-z'
  '-y,x-y,z'
  'x-y,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x+y,y,1/2-z'
  'x,y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,1/2+z'
  'x,x-y,z'
  '-x,-x+y,-z'
  'x-y,x,-z'
  '-x+y,-x,z'
  'y,x,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,1/2-z'
  '-y,x-y,1/2-z'
  'y,-x+y,1/2+z'
  '-x+y,y,z'
  'x-y,-y,-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
Cu   0.33333   0.66667   0.25000   0.88900
As   0.33333   0.66667   0.25000   0.11100

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
2.25 Å	(20)
2.11 Å	(40)
1.989 Å	(100)
1.299 Å	(20)
1.194 Å	(20)
1.110 Å	(20)
0.837 Å	(20)
0.823 Å	(20)

Comments:

Mohawk mine, Keweenaw Co., Michigan, USA (ICDD 9-429).

Geological EnvironmentHide

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])

Geological Setting:

Uncommon in hydrothermal deposits, intimately associated with other copper arsenides.

Type Occurrence of AlgodoniteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Los Algodones Mine, El Arrayan, Vicuña, Elqui Province, Coquimbo, Chile

Synonyms of AlgodoniteHide

Algadonite

Other Language Names for AlgodoniteHide

German:Algadonit
Algodonit

Russian:Альгодонит

Simplified Chinese:微晶砷铜矿

Spanish:Algadonita
Algodonita

Varieties of AlgodoniteHide

Argentoalgodonite

An artificial argentian Algodonite

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

18 photos of Algodonite associated with Quartz	SiO₂
12 photos of Algodonite associated with Domeykite	Cu₃As
8 photos of Algodonite associated with Copper	Cu
8 photos of Algodonite associated with Silver	Ag
5 photos of Algodonite associated with Mohawkite
5 photos of Algodonite associated with Calcite	CaCO₃
4 photos of Algodonite associated with Prehnite	Ca₂Al₂Si₃O₁₀(OH)₂
2 photos of Algodonite associated with Maucherite	Ni₁₁As₈
2 photos of Algodonite associated with Olivenite	Cu₂(AsO₄)(OH)
2 photos of Algodonite associated with Cuprite	Cu₂O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.AA.	Trigodomeykite	Cu_3-xAs	Trig. 3 : P3
2.AA.10b	Domeykite	Cu₃As	Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d
2.AA.10d	Koutekite	Cu₅As₂	Hex.
2.AA.15	Novákite	(Cu,Ag)₂₁As₁₀	Mon.
2.AA.20	Cuprostibite	Cu₂(Sb,Tl)	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm
2.AA.25	Kutinaite	Ag₆Cu₁₄As₇	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m)
2.AA.30	Allargentum	(Ag_1-xSb_x)	Hex.
2.AA.35	Dyscrasite	Ag₃Sb	Orth. mm2 : Pmm2
2.AA.40	Maldonite	Au₂Bi	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m
2.AA.45	Stistaite	SnSb	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
2.AA.50	Zaccariniite	RhNiAs	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm
2.AA.55	Dienerite	Ni₃As	Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d

Other InformationHide

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 AlgodoniteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-114.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for AlgodoniteHide

Reference List:

Field, F. (1857) On algodonite, a new mineral containing arsenic and copper. The Quarterly Journal of the Chemical Society: 10: 289-292.

Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1944) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 1 - Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, New York.

Heyding, R.D., Despault, G.J.G. (1960) The copper/arsenic system and the copper arsenide minerals. Canadian Journal of Chemistry: 38: 2477-2481. [http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1139/v60-335]

Geological Society of America Memoir 85 (1962), 14.

Ramdohr, Paul (1969) The Ore Minerals and their Intergrowths. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1174pp. doi:10.1016/c2013-0-10027-x

Skinner, B.J., Luce, F.D. (1971) Stabilities and compositions of alpha-domeykite and algodonite. Economic Geology: 66: 133-139.

Naud, J., Priest, P. (1972) Contribution a l'etude du systeme cuivre-arsenic. Materials Research Bulletin: 7: 782.

Anthony, John Williams, Bideaux, Richard A., Bladh, Kenneth W., Nichols, Monte C. (1990) Handbook of Mineralogy Vol. 1 - Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, Arizona.p.8

Bayliss, P. (1990) Revised unit cell dimensions, space group, and chemical formula of some metallic minerals. The Canadian Mineralogist: 28: 751-755.

(2023) Algodonite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for AlgodoniteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- 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.


Argentina
Neuquén Province Picún Leufú department Picún Leufú ⓘ Kokito mine	Las Especies Minerales de la Republica ...

Austria
Styria Murtal District Spielberg Flatschach Cu deposit (Schönberg) ⓘ Brunngraben district ?	Paar et al. (1979)
ⓘ Weißenbach district (Flatschachgraben; Weißenbachgraben) ?	Paar et al. (1979)

Bolivia
La Paz Pacajes Province ⓘ Coro Coro	Wilson (2001)

Canada
Northwest Territories North Slave Region Great Bear Lake ⓘ Port Radium District	Lang (1952)
ⓘ Contact Lake Mine (B.E.A.R. deposit)	Lang (1952)
ⓘ Echo Bay Mine (Cross Fault shaft)	Lang (1952)
Eldorado Mine ⓘ No. 1 Shaft (Port Radium mine)	Lang (1952)

Chile (TL)
Coquimbo Elqui Province Vicuña El Arrayan ⓘ Los Algodones Mine (TL)	[Economic Geology 66 (1971)
O'Higgins ⓘ Cerro de Los Seguas	AA. VV.

Czech Republic
Hradec Králové Region Náchod District Náchod ⓘ Běloves	Černý

France
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Alpes-Maritimes Nice Daluis ⓘ Roua Mines (Clue de Roua)	Mineralogical Record 32: 312. +6 other references
Puget-Théniers La-Croix-sur-Roudoule ⓘ Le Cerisier	R. Pierrot

Germany
Bavaria Lower Franconia Aschaffenburg District Haibach Dörrmorsbach ⓘ Stahl quarry	Wittern (2001)
Rhineland-Palatinate Birkenfeld Baumholder ⓘ Frauenberg	e-rocks.com (n.d.)
ⓘ Reichenbach	Rahm (2014)
Donnersbergkreis Winnweiler Imsbach ⓘ Reich Geschiebe Mine	analysis by Dr. G. Müller +1 other reference

Greece
Peloponnese Corinthia Corinth ⓘ Angelokastro	Φωτιάδης (2010)

Iran
Isfahan Province Nain County Anarak District ⓘ Talmessi Mine	AA. VV. +1 other reference

Italy
Tuscany Metropolitan City of Florence Impruneta ⓘ Nalbi ?	Prosperi et al. (2013)

Kazakhstan
Karaganda Region ⓘ Dzhezkazgan mining district	Evseev (1995)

Mexico
Guerrero Coyuca de Catalán Municipality ⓘ Cerro las Paracatas	Joan Rosell (2022)

Namibia
Oshikoto Region ⓘ Tsumeb	AA. VV.

New Zealand
Northland Region Kaipara District ⓘ Kaipara Harbour	Railton et al. (1990)

Sweden
Värmland County Filipstad Långban Ore District ⓘ Långban Mine	Burke (1986) +1 other reference
Persberg ore district Pajsberg ⓘ Harstigen Mine	Nysten (2004)

Switzerland
Aargau Rheinfelden ⓘ Weierfeld	Stalder et al. (1998)
Valais Leuk Turtmann-Unterems Turtmann Valley Pipjitälli ⓘ Pipji glacier	The Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 44 (2006) +1 other reference
Vaud Aigle Leysin ⓘ Roche Rouge	Stalder et al. (1998)

UK
England Devon East Devon Budleigh Salterton ⓘ Littleham Bay	from XRD and EPMA results - B. Smith +1 other reference
Leicestershire Hinckley and Bosworth Stanton under Bardon Cliffe Hill Quarry ⓘ New Cliffe Hill Quarry	Ixer et al. (2005)

USA
Colorado Montrose County La Sal Mining District (Paradox Valley Mining District) ⓘ Cashin Mine (Red Chief claim; Titon claim; Angell claim; Horse Shoe claim; Bennie claim; Maud claim; Humboldt claim)	Eckel et al. (1997)
Michigan ⓘ Baraga County	...
Houghton County Adams Township Champion Mine ⓘ Champion Mine	[Mineralogical Record:23 (2) +1 other reference
ⓘ Calumet Township
Franklin Township Pewabic ⓘ Pewabic Mine	Dana 6:A2:2 +1 other reference
Houghton ⓘ Sheldon-Columbian Mine	Beste (2005)
Schoolcraft Township ⓘ St. Louis River	Heinrich et al. (2004)
Keweenaw County Allouez Township Ahmeek ⓘ Ahmeek Mine	Morris Jr. (1983)
ⓘ Ahmeek No. 2 Shaft	Heinrich et al. (2004)
ⓘ Ahmeek No. 3 Shaft	Heinrich et al. (2004)
ⓘ Ahmeek No. 4 Shaft	Heinrich et al. (2004)
Mohawk ⓘ Mohawk Mine	Mineralogical Record - Vol 23 No. 2 +1 other reference
Seneca Seneca Mine ⓘ Seneca No. 1 Shaft	Morris Jr. (1983)
ⓘ Seneca No. 2 shaft (Gratiot Mine)	Heinrich et al. (2004)
ⓘ Keweenaw Peninsula	Norman King Collection
Ontonagon County Mass City ⓘ Algomah Mine
White Pine ⓘ White Pine Mine	Heinrich et al. (2004)

Algodonite

About AlgodoniteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of AlgodoniteHide

Classification of AlgodoniteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of AlgodoniteHide

Optical Data of AlgodoniteHide

Chemistry of AlgodoniteHide

Crystallography of AlgodoniteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of AlgodoniteHide

Synonyms of AlgodoniteHide

Other Language Names for AlgodoniteHide

Varieties of AlgodoniteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for AlgodoniteHide

References for AlgodoniteHide

Localities for AlgodoniteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide