Cameronite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Cameronite
Formula:
Cu5-x(Cu,Ag)3+xTe10 (x = 0.43)
Originally assumed to be Cu7AgTe10.
Colour:
Gray
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
7.144 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Eugene N. Cameron (10 August 1910, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA - 21 April 1999, Madison, Wisconsin, USA), professor at the University of Wisconsin, USA who first recognized it. Early in his career he worked for the U.S. Geological Survey. He was an expert on pegmatites and studied lunar samples.
This page provides mineralogical data about Cameronite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
873
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:873:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
83037182-1118-421c-8e85-68896ceeb705
Classification of Cameronite
Approved
First published:
1986
2.DB.35
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
B : M:S = 2:3
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
B : M:S = 2:3
2.16.20.1
2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
3.2.14
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
2 : Sulphides etc. of Ag
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
2 : Sulphides etc. of Ag
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Cme | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Cameronite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Gray
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=151 - 172 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
7.144 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Cameronite
Anisotropism:
Distinct, medium gray to slate-gray to brownish gray.
Reflectivity:
Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
---|---|---|
400nm | 23.6% | 28.4% |
420nm | 25.6% | 30.1% |
440nm | 27.4% | 31.4% |
460nm | 28.9% | 32.5% |
480nm | 30.1% | 33.1% |
500nm | 31.0% | 33.6% |
520nm | 31.6% | 33.7% |
540nm | 32.1% | 33.8% |
560nm | 32.5% | 33.7% |
580nm | 32.8% | 33.6% |
600nm | 33.0% | 33.4% |
620nm | 33.1% | 33.2% |
640nm | 33.3% | 33.0% |
660nm | 33.4% | 32.7% |
680nm | 33.5% | 32.6% |
700nm | 33.6% | 32.3% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 33.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Pale gray to pale brownish gray.
Chemical Properties of Cameronite
Formula:
Cu5-x(Cu,Ag)3+xTe10 (x = 0.43)
Originally assumed to be Cu7AgTe10.
Originally assumed to be Cu7AgTe10.
IMA Formula:
Cu5-x(Cu,Ag)3+xTe10 (x = 0.43)
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Cameronite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C1 2/c 1
Cell Parameters:
a = 17.906(1) Å, b = 17.927(1) Å, c = 21.230(2) Å
β = 98.081(8)°
β = 98.081(8)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.999 : 1 : 1.184
Unit Cell V:
6747.2 ų
Z:
16
Morphology:
Anhedral grains to 200 microns.
Comment:
Originally assumed to be tetragonal, a = 12.695, c = 42.186 A.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0020464 | Cameronite | Bindi L, Pinch W W (2014) Cameronite, Cu5-x(Cu,Ag)3+xTe10 (x = 0.43), from the Good Hope mine, Vulcan, Colorado: Crystal structure and revision of the chemical formula The Canadian Mineralogist 52 423-432 | 2014 | Good Hope mine, Vulcan, Colorado, USA | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.45 Å | (100) |
2.118 Å | (100) |
1.804 Å | (60) |
1.377 Å | (40) |
1.222 Å | (40) |
1.815 Å | (30) |
1.151 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Good Hope mine, Colorado, USA. Data from the type description.
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 Cameronite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
British Natural History Museum
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Hydrothermal tellurium bearing veins.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Cameronite
Other Language Names for Cameronite
German:Cameronit
Spanish:Cameronita
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.DB. | Stangersite | SnGeS3 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
2.DB.05 | Antimonselite | Sb2Se3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
2.DB.05 | Bismuthinite | Bi2S3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
2.DB.05 | Guanajuatite | Bi2Se3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
2.DB.05 | Metastibnite | Sb2S3 | Amor. |
2.DB.05 | Pääkkönenite | Sb2AsS2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.DB.05 | Stibnite | Sb2S3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
2.DB.10 | Ottemannite | Sn2S3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
2.DB.10 | Suredaite | PbSnS3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
2.DB.15 | Bowieite | Rh2S3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
2.DB.15 | Kashinite | Ir2S3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
2.DB.20 | Montbrayite | (Au,Ag,Sb,Bi,Pb)23(Te,Sb,Bi,Pb)38 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
2.DB.25 | Edgarite | FeNb3S6 | Hex. 6 : P63 |
2.DB.30 | Tarkianite | (Cu,Fe)(Re,Mo)4S8 | Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m |
2.DB.40 | Schreibersite (of Shephard) | Cr2S3 |
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.
References for Cameronite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Roberts, A.C., Harris, D.C., Criddle, A.J., Pinch, W.W. (1986) Cameronite, a new copper-silver telluride from the Good Hope Mine, Vulcan, Colorado. The Canadian Mineralogist: 24: 379-384.
Bindi, L., Pinch, W.W. (2014) Cameronite, Cu5−x(Cu,Ag)3+xTe10 (x = 0.43), from the Good Hope Mine, Vulcan, Colorado: Crystal structure and revision of the chemical formula. The Canadian Mineralogist: 52: 423-432.
Internet Links for Cameronite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-873.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Localities for Cameronite
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.
USA (TL) | |
| Roberts, A.C., Harris, D.C., Criddle, A.J., Pinch, W.W. (1986) Cameronite, a new copper-silver telluride from the Good Hope Mine, Vulcan, Colorado. The Canadian Mineralogist: 24: 379-384.; Eckel, Edwin B. (1997) Minerals of Colorado, updated & revised. 127-128.; Bindi, L., Pinch, W.W. (2014) Cameronite, Cu5−x(Cu,Ag)3+xTe10 (x = 0.43), from the Good Hope Mine, Vulcan, Colorado: Crystal structure and revision of the chemical formula. Canadian Mineralogist: 52: 423-432. |
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Good Hope Mine, Vulcan, Vulcan Mining District, Gunnison County, Colorado, USA