Eucairite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Eucairite
Formula:
AgCuSe
Colour:
Brilliant creamy white
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
7.6 - 7.8
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
For the Greek for opportunity, since it was first found shortly after the description of selenium.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Eucairite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1415
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1415:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
15280ebf-2c89-4100-bc90-372e044f76f7
IMA Classification of Eucairite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
CuAgSe
Classification of Eucairite
2.BA.50
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
2.4.6.2
2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
3.2.13
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.
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 |
---|---|---|
Eca | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Euc | 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 Eucairite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Brilliant creamy white
Comment:
Tarnishes to bright orange
Streak:
Shining
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=27 - 31 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Comment:
Somewhat sectile
Density:
7.6 - 7.8 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.91 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Eucairite
Anisotropism:
Strong olive-brown to steel-blue with a purplish tinge
Colour in reflected light:
Tin-white with faint creamy tinge
Pleochroism:
Weak
Chemistry of Eucairite
Mindat Formula:
AgCuSe
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Eucairite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.105 Å, b = 4.07 Å, c = 6.31 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.009 : 1 : 1.55
Unit Cell V:
105.42 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
10
Morphology:
Granular masses and blebs
Comment:
Orthorhombic, pseudotetragonal. Point Group: 4/m 2/m 2/m ;Space Group: P4/nmm.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0010578 | Eucairite | Frueh A J, Czamanske G K, Knight C (1957) The crystallography of eucairite, CuAgSe Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 108 389-396 | 1957 | Skrikerum, Sweden | 0 | 293 | |
0010579 | Eucairite | Frueh A J, Czamanske G K, Knight C (1957) The crystallography of eucairite, CuAgSe Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 108 389-396 | 1957 | Skrikerum, Sweden | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
2.12 Å | (10) |
2.61 Å | (7) |
2.88 Å | (5) |
2.48 Å | (4) |
2.02 Å | (2) |
3.14 Å | (1) |
1.861 Å | (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]) |
Geological Setting:
Hydrothermal deposits
Type Occurrence of Eucairite
Reference:
Berzelius J (1818) III. Undersökning af några föreningar, som bero af svagare frändskaper 12. Undersökning om fórekommandet af selenium i mineralriket. Afhandlingar i Fysik, Kemi och Mineralogi 6, 134-144
Synonyms of Eucairite
Other Language Names for Eucairite
French:Cuivre Sélénié Argental
Norwegian:Eukairite
Russian:Эвкайрит
Simplified Chinese:硒铜银矿
Spanish:Berzelinita
Eucairita
Eucairita
Traditional Chinese:硒銅銀礦
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
39 photos of Eucairite associated with Clausthalite | PbSe |
31 photos of Eucairite associated with Berzelianite | Cu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12) |
21 photos of Eucairite associated with Umangite | Cu3Se2 |
19 photos of Eucairite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
12 photos of Eucairite associated with Tiemannite | HgSe |
9 photos of Eucairite associated with Hakite-(Hg) | Cu6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4Se12Se |
7 photos of Eucairite associated with Klockmannite | CuSe |
7 photos of Eucairite associated with Uraninite | UO2 |
4 photos of Eucairite associated with Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
4 photos of Eucairite associated with Pitchblende | UO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.BA. | Orileyite | (Fe,Cu)2As |
2.BA. | Alburnite | Ag8GeTe2S4 |
2.BA. | Dzierżanowskite | CaCu2S2 |
2.BA. | Makotoite | Ag12(Cu3Au)S8 |
2.BA. | Xuwenyuanite | Ag9Fe3+Te2S4 |
2.BA.05 | Chalcocite | Cu2S |
2.BA.05 | Djurleite | Cu31S16 |
2.BA.05 | Geerite | Cu8S5 |
2.BA.05 | Roxbyite | Cu9S5 |
2.BA.10 | Anilite | Cu7S4 |
2.BA.10 | Digenite | Cu9S5 |
2.BA.15 | Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
2.BA.20 | Bellidoite | Cu2Se |
2.BA.20 | Berzelianite | Cu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12) |
2.BA.25 | Athabascaite | Cu5Se4 |
2.BA.25 | Umangite | Cu3Se2 |
2.BA.30 | Rickardite | Cu7Te5 |
2.BA.30 | Weissite | Cu2-xTe |
2.BA.35 | Acanthite | Ag2S |
2.BA.35 | Spryite | Ag8(As3+0.5As5+0.5)S6 |
2.BA.40 | Mckinstryite | Ag5-xCu3+xS4 |
2.BA.40 | Stromeyerite | AgCuS |
2.BA.40d | UM2003-13-S:AgAuCu | Ag6AuCu2S5 |
2.BA.42 | Honeaite | Au3TlTe2 |
2.BA.45 | Jalpaite | Ag3CuS2 |
2.BA.45 | Kurilite | Ag8Te3Se |
2.BA.45 | Selenojalpaite | Ag3CuSe2 |
2.BA.47 | Spiridonovite | (Cu1-xAgx)2Te |
2.BA.50 | Wuyanzhiite | Cu2S |
2.BA.52 | Argentite | Ag2S |
2.BA.55 | Aguilarite | Ag4SeS |
2.BA.55 | Naumannite | Ag2Se |
2.BA.60 | Cervelleite | Ag4TeS |
2.BA.60 | Hessite | Ag2Te |
2.BA.60 | Chenguodaite | Ag9Fe3+Te2S4 |
2.BA.65 | Henryite | (Cu,Ag)3+xTe2 , with x ~ 0.40 |
2.BA.65 | Stützite | Ag5-xTe3, x = 0.24-0.36 |
2.BA.70 | Argyrodite | Ag8GeS6 |
2.BA.70 | Canfieldite | Ag8SnS6 |
2.BA.70 | Putzite | (Cu4.7Ag3.3)GeS6 |
2.BA.75 | Fischesserite | Ag3AuSe2 |
2.BA.75 | Penzhinite | (Ag,Cu)4Au(S,Se)4 |
2.BA.75 | Petrovskaite | AuAgS |
2.BA.75 | Petzite | Ag3AuTe2 |
2.BA.75 | Uytenbogaardtite | Ag3AuS2 |
2.BA.80 | Bezsmertnovite | (Au,Ag)4Cu(Te,Pb) |
2.BA.80 | Bilibinskite | PbCu2Au3Te2 |
2.BA.80 | Bogdanovite | (Au,Te,Pb)3(Cu,Fe) |
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 Eucairite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1415.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Eucairite
Reference List:
Localities for Eucairite
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 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Paar, Werner H., Topa, Dan, Roberts, Andrew C., Criddle, Alan J., Amann, Gerhard, Sureda, Ricardo J. (2002) The new mineral species brodtkorbite, Cu2HgSe2, and the associated selenide assemblage from Tuminico, Sierra de Cacho, La Rioja, Argentina. The Canadian Mineralogist, 40 (1) 225-237 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.40.1.225 | |
| |
| |
| |
Australia | |
| |
| |
| |
Bulgaria | |
| |
| |
Canada | |
| |
| Pringle, G. J., Thorpe, R. I. (1980) Bohdanowiczite, junoite and laitakarite from the Kidd Creek mine, Timmins, Ontario. The Canadian Mineralogist, 18 (3) 353-360 |
| |
Chile | |
| |
China | |
| |
Czech Republic | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
France | |
| |
Germany | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Greenland | |
| |
Middle East | |
Norway | |
| |
Poland | |
| |
| |
Romania | |
| |
Sweden (TL) | |
| |
UK | |
| |
USA | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Uzbekistan | |
|
Quick NavTopAbout EucairiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Předbořice deposit, Předbořice, Kovářov, Písek District, South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic