Gallite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Gallite
Formula:
CuGaS2
Colour:
Grey
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3 - 3½
Specific Gravity:
4.2
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
For the gallium content.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1644
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1644:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
90b649b1-23b2-4772-9037-d3c70540b239
IMA Classification of Gallite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1958
Classification of Gallite
2.CB.10a
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.
2.9.1.3
2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
3.5.18
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
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 |
---|---|---|
Gal | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Gal | 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 Gallite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Grey
Streak:
Greyish black
Hardness:
3 - 3½ on Mohs scale
Density:
4.2 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.35 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Gallite
Anisotropism:
low
Reflectivity:
Wavelength | R |
---|---|
400nm | 20.7% |
420nm | 19.9% |
440nm | 19.4% |
460nm | 18.8% |
480nm | 18.5% |
500nm | 18.1% |
520nm | 17.9% |
540nm | 17.7% |
560nm | 17.5% |
580nm | 17.4% |
600nm | 17.2% |
620nm | 17.1% |
640nm | 17.0% |
660nm | 16.9% |
680nm | 16.8% |
700nm | 16.6% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 20.7%.
Internal Reflections:
None observed
Chemistry of Gallite
Mindat Formula:
CuGaS2
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Pb,Zn,Fe,Ge
Crystallography of Gallite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4 2m - Scalenohedral
Space Group:
I4 2d
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.360 Å, c = 10.49 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.957
Unit Cell V:
301.37 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Massive, inclusions, exsolved lamellae to 2mm.
Twinning:
Parallel to {112}, {111}
Crystal Structure
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0013004 | Gallite | Abrahams S C, Bernstein J L (1973) Piezoelectric nonlinear optic CuGaS2 and CuInS2 crystal structure: Sublattice distortion in AIBIIIC2VI and AIIBIVC2V type chalcopyrites Journal of Chemical Physics 59 5415-5420 | 1973 | Synthetic sample | 0 | 293 | |
0015449 | Gallite | Brandt G, Rauber A, Schneider J (1973) ESR and X-ray analysis of the ternary semiconductors CuAlS2, CuInS2, and AgGaS2 Solid State Communications 12 481-483 | 1973 | Synthetic sample | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Epitaxial Relationships of Gallite
Epitaxial Minerals:
Sphalerite | ZnS |
Epitaxy Comments:
Gallite exsolves as lamellae || {100} and {111} of sphalerite, and in turn shows exsolution of sphalerite on {001} of gallite.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.07 Å | (100) |
1.876 Å | (90) |
1.610 Å | (90) |
1.089 Å | (90) |
1.894 Å | (60) |
1.215 Å | (60) |
1.076 Å | (60) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
12 : Hadean hydrothermal subsurface sulfide deposits (see also #33) | |
15 : Black/white smoker minerals and other seafloor hydrothermal minerals | |
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Geological Setting:
Base metal deposits with high gallium content.
Type Occurrence of Gallite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
Massive, as included grains and exsolution lamellae in other sulfides.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Berlin Technical University, Berlin, Germany, 86/67, 87/564, 396.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Gallite
Relationship of Gallite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d |
Eskebornite | CuFeSe2 | Tet. 4 2m : P4 2c |
Laforêtite | AgInS2 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d |
Lenaite | AgFeS2 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d |
Roquesite | CuInS2 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d |
Shenzhuangite | NiFeS2 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d |
Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulpide) | Cu2MnSnS4 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
24 photos of Gallite associated with Renierite | (Cu1+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16 |
24 photos of Gallite associated with Germanite | Cu13Fe2Ge2S16 |
20 photos of Gallite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
7 photos of Gallite associated with Ovamboite | Cu20(Fe,Cu,Zn)6W2Ge6S32 |
7 photos of Gallite associated with Chalcocite | Cu2S |
7 photos of Gallite associated with Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
5 photos of Gallite associated with Galena | PbS |
4 photos of Gallite associated with Tennantite-(Zn) | Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12S |
4 photos of Gallite associated with Tsumgallite | GaO(OH) |
4 photos of Gallite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.CB. | Agmantinite | Ag2MnSnS4 |
2.CB. | Richardsite | Zn2CuGaS4 |
2.CB. | Gachingite | Au(Te1-xSex) |
2.CB. | Tolstykhite | Au3S4Te6 |
2.CB. | Hanswilkeite | KFeS2 |
2.CB. | Auroselenide | AuSe |
2.CB. | Ruizhongite | (Ag2◻)Pb3Ge2S8 |
2.CB. | Okruginite | Cu2SnSe3 |
2.CB.05a | Coloradoite | HgTe |
2.CB.05a | Hawleyite | CdS |
2.CB.05a | Metacinnabar | HgS |
2.CB.05c | Polhemusite | (Zn,Hg)S |
2.CB.05b | Sakuraiite | (Cu,Zn,Fe)3(In,Sn)S4 |
2.CB.05a | Sphalerite | ZnS |
2.CB.05a | Stilleite | ZnSe |
2.CB.05a | Tiemannite | HgSe |
2.CB.05 | UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn | Cu2Fe3Zn5S10 |
2.CB.05a | Rudashevskyite | (Fe,Zn)S |
2.CB.05a | Ishiharaite | (Cu,Ga,Fe,In,Zn)S |
2.CB.07a | Shenzhuangite | NiFeS2 |
2.CB.07a | Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulpide) | Cu2MnSnS4 |
2.CB.10a | Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
2.CB.10a | Eskebornite | CuFeSe2 |
2.CB.10b | Haycockite | Cu4Fe5S8 |
2.CB.10a | Lenaite | AgFeS2 |
2.CB.10b | Mooihoekite | Cu9Fe9S16 |
2.CB.10b | Putoranite | Cu1.1Fe1.2S2 |
2.CB.10a | Roquesite | CuInS2 |
2.CB.10b | Talnakhite | Cu9(Fe,Ni)8S16 |
2.CB.10a | Laforêtite | AgInS2 |
2.CB.10a | Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide) | CuZn2InS4 |
2.CB.10a | UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn | Cu2Fe2Sn3S7 |
2.CB.10c | Omariniite | Cu8Fe2ZnGe2S12 |
2.CB.15a | Černýite | Cu2(Cd,Zn,Fe)SnS4 |
2.CB.15a | Ferrokësterite | Cu2FeSnS4 |
2.CB.15a | Hocartite | Ag2(Fe2+,Zn)SnS4 |
2.CB.15a | Idaite | Cu5FeS6 |
2.CB.15a | Kësterite | Cu2ZnSnS4 |
2.CB.15a | Kuramite | Cu3SnS4 |
2.CB.15b | Mohite | Cu2SnS3 |
2.CB.15a | Pirquitasite | Ag2ZnSnS4 |
2.CB.15a | Stannite | Cu2FeSnS4 |
2.CB.15c | Stannoidite | Cu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12 |
2.CB.15a | Velikite | Cu2HgSnS4 |
2.CB.15c | UM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn | Cu8(Fe,Zn)3Ge2S12 (?) |
2.CB.17a v | Arsenic-bearing Renierite | Cu11GeAsFe4S16 |
2.CB.20 | Chatkalite | Cu6FeSn2S8 |
2.CB.20 | Mawsonite | Cu6Fe2SnS8 |
2.CB.30 | Argyropyrite | near Ag2Fe7S11 |
2.CB.30 | Colusite | Cu13VAs3S16 |
2.CB.30 | Germanite | Cu13Fe2Ge2S16 |
2.CB.30 | Germanocolusite | Cu26V2(Ge,As)6S32 |
2.CB.30 | Nekrasovite | Cu26V2(Sn,As,Sb)6S32 |
2.CB.30 | Stibiocolusite | Cu13V(Sb,Sn,As)3S16 |
2.CB.30 | Ovamboite | Cu20(Fe,Cu,Zn)6W2Ge6S32 |
2.CB.30 | Maikainite | Cu20(Fe,Cu)6Mo2Ge6S32 |
2.CB.30 | Frieseite | Ag2Fe5S8 (?) |
2.CB.35a | Hemusite | Cu6SnMoS8 |
2.CB.35a | Kiddcreekite | Cu6SnWS8 |
2.CB.35a | Polkovicite | (Fe,Pb)3(Ge,Fe)1-xS4 |
2.CB.35a | Renierite | (Cu1+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16 |
2.CB.35a | Vinciennite | Cu+7Cu2+3Fe2+2Fe3+2Sn(As,Sb)S16 |
2.CB.35a | Morozeviczite | (Pb,Fe)3Ge1-xS4 |
2.CB.35b | Catamarcaite | Cu6GeWS8 |
2.CB.40 | Lautite | CuAsS |
2.CB.42 | Lingbaoite | AgTe3 |
2.CB.45 | Cadmoselite | CdSe |
2.CB.45 | Greenockite | CdS |
2.CB.45 | Wurtzite | (Zn,Fe)S |
2.CB.45 | Rambergite | MnS |
2.CB.45 | Buseckite | (Fe,Zn,Mn)S |
2.CB.45 | Maletoyvayamite | Au3Se4Te6 |
2.CB.47 | Murchisite | Cr5S6 |
2.CB.50 | Zincselenide | ZnSe |
2.CB.50 | Wassonite | TiS |
2.CB.52 | Dzhezkazganite | ReMoCu2PbS6 ? |
2.CB.55a | Cubanite | CuFe2S3 |
2.CB.55b | Isocubanite | CuFe2S3 |
2.CB.60 | Picotpaulite | TlFe2S3 |
2.CB.60 | Raguinite | TlFeS2 |
2.CB.65 | Argentopyrite | AgFe2S3 |
2.CB.65 | Sternbergite | AgFe2S3 |
2.CB.70 | Sulvanite | Cu3VS4 |
2.CB.75 | Vulcanite | CuTe |
2.CB.80 | Empressite | AgTe |
2.CB.85 | Muthmannite | AuAgTe2 |
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 Gallite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1644.html
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References for Gallite
Reference List:
Localities for Gallite
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.
Atlantic Ocean | |
| Gablina et al. (2018) +1 other reference |
| Bortnikov et al. (2001) |
Bulgaria | |
| Pavel Kartashov (Mindat message www.mindat.org/mesg-7-84159.html) +3 other references |
| Cook et al. (2002) |
| American Mineralogist (1966) +1 other reference |
Cuba | |
Mineralogical Society of America - ... | |
DR Congo (TL) | |
| Strunz et al. (1958) +4 other references |
India | |
| Srivastava et al. (2015) |
Namibia (TL) | |
| Strunz et al. (1958) |
Romania | |
| Hirtopanu (2006) |
Quick NavTopAbout GalliteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureEpitaxial Relationships X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Kipushi Mine, Kipushi, Kipushi Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo