Greenockite
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Charles Murray Cathcart
Formula:
CdS
System:
Hexagonal
Colour:
Yellow to red.
Lustre:
Adamantine, Resinous
Hardness:
3 - 3½
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1840 by Henry James Brooke and Arthur Connell for Lord Greenock - later Earl Charles Murray Cathcart, 2nd Earl Cathcart [December 21, 1783, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, England, UK - July 16, 1859, St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, England, UK]. Earl Charles Murray Cathcart was a general in the British army and served as Governor of the Province of Canada. He was also the author of two papers: one on igneous rocks in Edinburgh, Scotland and one on coal in southern Scotland.
Dimorph of:
Typically found as yellow to red hemimorphic pyramidal crystals and earthy coatings. Caution should be used in sight identifying yellow cadmium sulfide coatings as hawleyite (dimorph of greenockite) is not a very rare species and occurs in identical appearing coatings and identical environments; furthermore some of these coatings can be X-ray amorphous ("xanthochroite").
Classification of Greenockite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
2/C.13-30
2.CB.45
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.
Dana 7th ed.:
2.6.4.2
2.8.7.2
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
3.4.7
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
4 : Sulphides etc. of Group II metals other than Hg (Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd)
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
4 : Sulphides etc. of Group II metals other than Hg (Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd)
Physical Properties of Greenockite
Adamantine, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):
Translucent
Colour:
Yellow to red.
Streak:
Orange-yellow to brick red.
Hardness (Mohs):
3 - 3½
Hardness (Vickers):
VHN25=98 kg/mm2
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Distinct on {1122}, imperfect on {0001}.
Distinct on {1122}, imperfect on {0001}.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
4.8 - 4.9 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.824 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Greenockite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 2.529 nε = 2.506
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.023
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Uniaxial + for wavelengths red to blue-green
Chemical Properties of Greenockite
Formula:
CdS
Elements listed in formula:
Common Impurities:
Zn
Crystallography of Greenockite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6mm - Dihexagonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
P63mc
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.136 Å, c = 6.713 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.623
Unit Cell Volume:
V 99.45 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals hemimorphic pyramidal. Earthy coatings (sphalerite)
Twinning:
Twin plane {1122} rare forming trillings.
Crystallographic forms of Greenockite
Crystal Atlas:
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Greenockite - {100}, {00-1}, {00-1}, modified
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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Edge Lines | Miller Indicies | Axes
Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent
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Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation
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Edge Lines | Miller Indicies | Axes
Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent
View
Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation
X-Ray Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.58 | (80) |
| 3.37 | (60) |
| 3.16 | (100) |
| 2.45 | (30) |
| 2.07 | (60) |
| 1.90 | (40) |
| 1.79 | (20) |
| 1.76 | (50) |
Occurrences of Greenockite
Type Occurrence of Greenockite
Relationship of Greenockite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Group:
| Buseckite | (Fe,Zn,Mn)S |
| Cadmoselite | CdSe |
| Rambergite | MnS |
| Wurtzite | (Zn,Fe)S |
Common Associates:
| 2.CB. | Agmantinite | Ag2MnSnS4 |
| 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.10a | Chalcopyrite | Cu1+Fe3+S2 |
| 2.CB.10a | Eskebornite | CuFeSe2 |
| 2.CB.10a | Gallite | CuGaS2 |
| 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 | Cu9Fe8S16 |
| 2.CB.10a | Laforêtite | AgInS2 |
| 2.CB.15a | Černýite | Cu2CdSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Ferrokësterite | Cu2(Fe,Zn)SnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Hocartite | Ag2FeSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Idaite | Cu3FeS4 |
| 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 | Cu8(Fe,Zn)3Sn2S12 |
| 2.CB.15a | Velikite | Cu2HgSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15c | UM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn | Cu8(Fe,Zn)3Ge2S12 (?) |
| 2.CB.20 | Chatkalite | Cu6FeSn2S8 |
| 2.CB.20 | Mawsonite | Cu6Fe2SnS8 |
| 2.CB.30 | Colusite | Cu12VAs3S16 |
| 2.CB.30 | Germanite | Cu13Fe2Ge2S16 |
| 2.CB.30 | Germanocolusite | Cu13VGe3S16 |
| 2.CB.30 | Nekrasovite | Cu13VSn3S16 |
| 2.CB.30 | Stibiocolusite | Cu13V(Sb,Sn,As)3S16 |
| 2.CB.30 | Ovamboite | Cu10Fe3WGe3S16 |
| 2.CB.30 | Maikainite | Cu10Fe3MoGe3S16 |
| 2.CB.35a | Hemusite | Cu41+Cu22+SnMoS8 |
| 2.CB.35a | Kiddcreekite | Cu6WSnS8 |
| 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 | Cu10Fe4SnAsS16 |
| 2.CB.35a | Morozeviczite | Pb3Ge1-xS4 |
| 2.CB.35b | Catamarcaite | Cu6GeWS8 |
| 2.CB.40 | Lautite | CuAsS |
| 2.CB.45 | Cadmoselite | CdSe |
| 2.CB.45 | Wurtzite | ZnS |
| 2.CB.45 | Rambergite | MnS |
| 2.CB.45 | Buseckite | (Fe,Zn,Mn)S |
| 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 |
| 3.4.1 | Niningerite | MgS |
| 3.4.2 | Oldhamite | CaS |
| 3.4.3 | Mátraite | ZnS |
| 3.4.4 | Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 3.4.5 | Wurtzite | ZnS |
| 3.4.6 | Stilleite | ZnSe |
| 3.4.8 | Hawleyite | CdS |
| 3.4.9 | Cadmoselite | CdSe |
Other Names for Greenockite
Name in Other Languages:
Catalan:Greenockita
Dutch:Greenockiet
German:Greenockit
Italian:Greenockite
Japanese:硫カドミウム鉱
Polish:Grenokit
Russian:Гринокит
Simplified Chinese:硫镉矿
Slovak:Greenockit
Spanish:Greenockita
Traditional Chinese:硫鎘礦
Ukrainian:Гринокіт
Other Information
Health Risks:
Contains cadmium - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest.
References for Greenockite
Reference List:
Brooke, J. & Connell, A. (1840) Der Greenockit, ein neues Mineral, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 127, 274-275.
Breithaupt, A. (1840) Greenockit, ein neues Mineral, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 127, 507-510.
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, 834pp.: 228-230.
American Mineralogist (1961) 46: 1382.
Gaines, Richard V., H. Catherine, W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, Abraham Rosenzweig (1997) Dana's New Mineralogy: The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana: 73.
Deore, S. and Navrotsky, A. (2006) Oxide melt solution calorimetry of sulfides: Enthalpy of formation of sphalerite, galena, greenockite, and hawleyite. American Mineralogist: 91: 400-403.
Breithaupt, A. (1840) Greenockit, ein neues Mineral, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 127, 507-510.
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, 834pp.: 228-230.
American Mineralogist (1961) 46: 1382.
Gaines, Richard V., H. Catherine, W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, Abraham Rosenzweig (1997) Dana's New Mineralogy: The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana: 73.
Deore, S. and Navrotsky, A. (2006) Oxide melt solution calorimetry of sulfides: Enthalpy of formation of sphalerite, galena, greenockite, and hawleyite. American Mineralogist: 91: 400-403.
Internet Links for Greenockite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1746.html
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Specimens:
The following Greenockite specimens are currently listed for sale on minfind.com.
Siglo Veinte Mine, Llallagua, Rafael Bustillo Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia