Spionkopite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Spionkopite
Formula:
Cu39S28
"Extended" formula is Cu+15Cu2+4.5(S2)2S10 (Goble, 1985).
Colour:
Blue
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
5.13 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named after its discovery locality, the Spionkop Creek valley, Alberta, Canada.
See also the closely related yarrowite.
A typical intergrowth of yarrowite and spionkopite is called Blaubleibender Covellite.
Compare UM1976-15-S:CuSe.
A typical intergrowth of yarrowite and spionkopite is called Blaubleibender Covellite.
Compare UM1976-15-S:CuSe.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3730
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3730:9
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
d8d3fa54-a859-4c49-b87b-b8910a5a8299
IMA Classification of Spionkopite
Classification of Spionkopite
2.CA.05c
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
A : With Cu
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
A : With Cu
2.4.7.7
2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
3.1.6
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Spi | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Spi | 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 Spionkopite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Blue
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN15=63 - 93 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
5.13 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Spionkopite
Anisotropism:
Orange
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 | R2 | imR1 | imR2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 26.1% | 33.4% | 13.1% | 19.9% |
| 420nm | 25.8% | 32.9% | 12.5% | 19.3% |
| 440nm | 25.1% | 32.3% | 11.7% | 18.6% |
| 460nm | 24.2% | 31.45% | 10.6% | 17.4% |
| 470nm | 23.6% | 31.0% | 10.0% | 16.8% |
| 480nm | 23.0% | 30.5% | 9.46% | 16.2% |
| 500nm | 21.8% | 29.5% | 8.32% | 15.1% |
| 520nm | 20.5% | 28.5% | 7.38% | 14.1% |
| 540nm | 19.0% | 27.4% | 6.39% | 13.0% |
| 546nm | 18.6% | 27.1% | 6.10% | 12.3% |
| 560nm | 17.6% | 26.4% | 5.49% | 12.1% |
| 580nm | 16.3% | 25.4% | 4.64% | 11.3% |
| 589nm | 15.6% | 24.9% | 4.27% | 10.9% |
| 600nm | 14.9% | 24.45% | 3.86% | 10.6% |
| 620nm | 13.6% | 23.8% | 3.21% | 10.1% |
| 640nm | 12.4% | 23.8% | 2.63% | 10.2% |
| 650nm | 11.8% | 24.05% | 2.37% | 10.3% |
| 660nm | 11.2% | 24.3% | 2.12% | 10.6% |
| 680nm | 10.0% | 24.55% | 1.75% | 10.7% |
| 700nm | 9.06% | 24.3% | 1.55% | 10.5% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 33.4%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red, imR1 shown in green, imR2 shown in blue
Comments:
Distinguished from yarrowite because yarrowite is a darker shade of blue and is more strongly bireflectant and anisotropic.
Chemistry of Spionkopite
Mindat Formula:
Cu39S28
"Extended" formula is Cu+15Cu2+4.5(S2)2S10 (Goble, 1985).
"Extended" formula is Cu+15Cu2+4.5(S2)2S10 (Goble, 1985).
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Zn
Crystallography of Spionkopite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6 2 2 - Trapezohedral
Cell Parameters:
a = 22.962 Å, c = 41.429 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.804
Unit Cell V:
18,917.10 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
18
Comment:
Possible space group is P-3m1.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.955 Å | (8) |
| 5.324 Å | (5) |
| 5.032 Å | (15) |
| 4.653 Å | (5) |
| 3.681 Å | (20) |
| 3.530 Å | (5) |
| 3.408 Å | (8) |
| 3.278 Å | (15) |
| 3.223 Å | (5) |
| 3.076 Å | (85) |
| 2.964 Å | (8) |
| 2.926 Å | (5) |
| 2.849 Å | (20) |
| 2.777 Å | (30) |
| 2.592 Å | (5) |
| 2.517 Å | (20) |
| 2.483 Å | (5) |
| 2.386 Å | (20) |
| 2.297 Å | (25) |
| 2.185 Å | (8) |
| 2.123 Å | (8) |
| 2.060 Å | (8) |
| 1.965 Å | (12) |
| 1.910 Å | (100) |
| 1.820 Å | (30) |
| 1.738 Å | (12) |
| 1.684 Å | (8) |
| 1.622 Å | (20) |
| 1.573 Å | (12) |
| 1.473 Å | (15) |
| 1.424 Å | (8) |
| 1.406 Å | (8) |
| 1.386 Å | (8) |
| 1.361 Å | (8) |
| 1.321 Å | (12) |
| 1.241 Å | (12) |
| 1.151 Å | (5) |
| 1.104 Å | (12) |
| 1.089 Å | (12) |
| 1.065 Å | (8) |
| 1.032 Å | (8) |
| 0.9880 Å | (12) |
| 0.9568 Å | (12) |
| 0.9124 Å | (8) |
| 0.8823 Å | (8) |
| 0.8156 Å | (5) |
| 0.7982 Å | (5) |
Comments:
Note: There are about 12 d-values of low intensity (<20) in each of the species which distinguish spionkopite from yarrowite. Therefore, the total of about 25 independent lines present or not present may be an aid in distinguishing the two species using XRD. XRD data from: Goble, R. J. (1980) COPPER SULFIDES FROM ALBERTA: YARROWITE Cu9S8 AND SPIONKOPITE Cu39S28, Canadian Mineralogist, v. 18, pp. 511-518.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
| 6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
| 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]) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Spionkopite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Geological Survey, Ottawa, Canada.
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 122290. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 149430, 149431.
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 122290. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 149430, 149431.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Selective replacement of small (~0.5 mm diameter) spheroidal quartz aggregates, feldspar grains, fractured quartz grains and carbonate cement within sandstones and quartzites of a redbed formation, a marginal continental, shallow water sequence.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Spionkopite
Other Language Names for Spionkopite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 10 photos of Spionkopite associated with Yarrowite | Cu9S8 |
| 9 photos of Spionkopite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 8 photos of Spionkopite associated with Djurleite | Cu31S16 |
| 5 photos of Spionkopite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 3 photos of Spionkopite associated with Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| 3 photos of Spionkopite associated with Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| 3 photos of Spionkopite associated with Atacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
| 2 photos of Spionkopite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 1 photo of Spionkopite associated with Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.CA.05a | Covellite | CuS |
| 2.CA.05b | Klockmannite | CuSe |
| 2.CA.05d | Yarrowite | Cu9S8 |
| 2.CA.10 | Nukundamite | Cu3.33Fe0.66S4 |
| 2.CA.15 | Calvertite | Cu5Ge0.5S4 |
| 2.CA.20 | Erazoite | Cu4SnS6 |
| 2.CA.25 | Grokhovskyite | CuCrS2 |
Fluorescence of Spionkopite
Not fluorescent in UV
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 Spionkopite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3730.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
References for Spionkopite
Localities for Spionkopite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Colombo et al. (2011) |
| GOZALVEZ |
| de Brodtkorb et al. (2016) |
| Páez et al. (2016) |
Atlantic Ocean | |
| Firstova et al. (2016) |
| Gablina et al. (2006) | |
| Gablina et al. (2017) | |
| New Data on Minerals (2004) |
| Firstova et al. (2019) |
| Gablina et al. (2017) | |
Australia | |
| Leverett et al. (2005) |
| Richardson et al. (1997) |
| Ciobanu et al. (2017) |
| Grguric (2003) |
Austria | |
| Postl et al. (2013) |
| Bojar et al. (1999) |
| Leitner (2013) |
| Raith et al. (2015) | |
| Jakely (Hrsg.) | |
| Raith et al. (2015) |
| Moser & Postl (1990) +1 other reference |
Belgium | |
| Hatert et al. (2014) |
Canada (TL) | |
| Goble (1980) +1 other reference |
| Goble (1980) +1 other reference | |
| Sabina (2015) +1 other reference |
| Sabina (2015) +1 other reference |
| Sabina (1991) |
| Sabina |
| Sabina (1991) |
China | |
| Huang et al. (2014) |
| YANG et al. (2014) |
Czech Republic | |
| Sejkora et al. (2021) |
| Dolníček et al. (2019) |
DR Congo | |
| Canadian Mineralogist 46 (2008) +1 other reference |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Walenta (1992) |
| |
| Walenta (1992) |
| |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Walenta (1992) | |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Schmitt (1993) |
| Lapis (1) |
| Roger Lang analyses/research 1994-1998 |
| Scheiderhöhn & Kautzsch 1936 |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Markus Gerstmann - Collection |
Greece | |
| Eliopoulos +3 other references | |
India | |
| Sikka et al. (1991) |
Indonesia | |
| The Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 41 (2003) |
Iran | |
| Sadati et al. (2016) |
| www.fos.ut.ac.ir (2004) +1 other reference |
Ireland | |
| Ixer |
Italy | |
| AA. VV. |
| Folie et al. (2010) |
Papua New Guinea | |
| Noku et al. (2012) |
Poland | |
| Jadwiga PIECZONKA et al. (2008) |
| Piestrzyński et al. (2012) | |
| Kucha H. 2007: Mineralogia kruszcowa i ... +2 other references |
| Kucha (2021) +1 other reference |
| Oszczepalski et al. (2017) |
| Oszczepalski et al. (2017) |
Romania | |
| Szakáll (2002) |
Russia | |
| Nenasheva et al. (2011) |
| Palyanova et al. (2018) |
| Vikentyev et al. (2023) |
| Murzin et al. (2022) |
Slovakia | |
| Vlasáč J. et al. (2018) |
Spain | |
| Calvo (2008) |
| Castillo et al. (2009) +1 other reference |
Sweden | |
| Holtstam et al. (1999) |
Switzerland | |
| Malcherek et al. (2024) |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Ansermet (2012) |
| Stalder et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
UK | |
| Ixer et al. (2005) |
| Ixer et al. (1993) |
| [J.Russell Soc. 1998:41] |
| Ixer et al. (2005) |
| Faithfull et al. (2012) |
| Mineralogical Magazine 1996 60 : ... +1 other reference |
| |
| Cotterell et al. (2011) |
USA | |
| Graeme (1993) |
| Graeme (1993) +1 other reference | |
| Rob Bowell | |
| Robert Bowell and Rolf Luetcke | |
| Ronald Wynn Sheets et al. (1995) |
| Min News 20:9 pp1 |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Moore-Roth (2012) |
| Modris Baum |
| Dana's New Mineralogy |
| Goble et al. (1980) | |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Dietrich (1990) |
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Juniper Flats, Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, USA