Kesterite Mineral Data

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General Kesterite Information

Chemical Formula:

Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 472.68 gm

Zinc 10.38 % Zn

Iron 2.95 % Fe

Copper 26.89 % Cu

Tin 32.65 % Sn

Sulfur 27.14 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Cu₂Zn_0.75Fe²⁺_0.25Sn_1.3S₄

Environment:

In quartz-sulfide hydrothermal veinlets in tin deposits.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1958

Locality:

Kester deposit, Yano-Adychansk region, Yakutia, Russia. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the locality.

Name Pronunciation:

Kesterite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 200419

PDF 45-688

Pandaite

Kesterite Image

Images:

Kesterite Mushistonite

Comments: Sharp, kesterite crystal, greenish in color due to a mushistonite coating with clear, prismatic beryl crystals.
Location: Xue Bao Diang Mountains, north of Pingwu, Sichuan Province, China. Scale: Crystal size 1 cm.
© Dan Weinrich

Kesterite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:2

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.44, c = 10.88, Z = 2; V = 321.98 Den(Calc)= 4.88

Crystal System:

Tetragonal - DisphenoidalH-M Symbol (4) Space Group: I 4

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.15(1), 1.93(0.7), 1.65(0.5),

Crystal Structure:

Mouse
drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
Keyboard
S - Stereo Pair on/off
H - Help Screen
I - Data Info
A - Atoms On/Off
P - Polyhedra On/Off
B - Bonds On/Off
Help on Above

Hall S R , Szymanski J T , Stewart J M , The Canadian Mineralogist , 16 (1978) p.131-137, Kesterite, Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4, and stannite, Cu2(Fe,Zn)SnS4,, structurally similar but distinct minerals

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Kesterite
[1] [2] [3]

Physical Properties of Kesterite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Greenish black.

Density:

4.54 - 4.59, Average = 4.56

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Hardness:

4.5 - Between Fluorite and Apatite

Luster:

Metallic

Streak:

black

Optical Properties of Kesterite

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Kesterite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	23.60	24.20
420 nm	24.00	24.80
440 nm	24.40	25.40
460 nm	24.50	25.60
480 nm	24.40	25.20
500 nm	24.10	24.80
520 nm	23.80	24.50
540 nm	23.40	24.30
560 nm	23.20	24.20
580 nm	23.20	24.10
600 nm	23.20	24.20
620 nm	23.30	24.20
640 nm	23.40	24.40
660 nm	23.60	24.60
680 nm	23.80	24.80
700 nm	24.20	25.20

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Kesterite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	40%	80%	100%	120%	160%	200%	240%	280%	320%	360%	380%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Kesterite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.46 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Kesterite =4.88 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.06
Boson Index = 0.94

Photoelectric:

PE_Kesterite= 118.62 barns/electron
U=PE_Kesterite x rElectron Density= 529.06 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Kesterite is Not Radioactive

Kesterite Classification

Dana Class:

02.09.02.09 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(02.09)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:1

(02.09.02)Stannite Group (Tetragonal: I-42m) A2BCS type

02.09.02.01 Stannite Cu2FeSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.02 Cernyite Cu2CdSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.03 Briartite Cu2(Zn,Fe)GeS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.04 Kuramite Cu3SnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.05 Sakuraiite (Cu,Zn,Fe,In,Sn)4S4 P 4₃2, P 43m, or P m3m Cubic

02.09.02.06 Hocartite Ag2FeSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.07 Pirquitasite Ag2ZnSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.08 Velikite Cu2HgSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.09 Kesterite Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4 I 4 4

02.09.02.10 Ferrokesterite Cu2(Fe,Zn)SnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.11 Barquillite! Cu2CdGeS4 I 42m 4 2m

Strunz Class:

02.CB.15a 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.C - Metal Sulfides, M:S = 1:1 (and similar)

02.CB -With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, Au, etc

02.CB.15a Cernyite Cu2CdSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Ferrokesterite Cu2(Fe,Zn)SnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Kesterite Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4 I 4 4

02.CB.15a Hocartite Ag2FeSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Idaite Cu5FeS6 P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

02.CB.15a Kuramite Cu3SnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Pirquitasite Ag2ZnSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Stannite Cu2FeSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Velikite Cu2HgSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

Other Kesterite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic1) PHYS. PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Kesterite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
15 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Ask about Kesterite here :
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Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Español

Print or Cut-and-Paste your Kesterite Specimen Label here :

Kesterite

Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4
Dana No: 02.09.02.09 Strunz No: 02.CB.15a
Locality:

Notes: