Tennantite Mineral Data

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General Tennantite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Cu,Fe)12As4S13

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 1,471.40 gm

Iron 3.80 % Fe

Copper 47.51 % Cu

Arsenic 20.37 % As

Sulfur 28.33 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Cu₁₁Fe²⁺As₄S₁₃

Environment:

Hydrothermal veins and contact metamorphic deposits.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1819

Locality:

Cornwall, England, UK. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after the English chemist, Smithson Tennant (1761-1815).

Name Pronunciation:

Tennantite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

Binnite

ICSD 26780

Julianite

PDF 43-1478

Tennantite Image

Images:

Tennantite Calcioandyrobertsite-1M

Comments: Vein of blue calcioandyrobertsite in massive dark gray tennantite. The vein of calcioandyrobertsite extends for 0.8cm.
Location: Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Namibia. Scale: Specimen size 1.1 x 0.5 cm.
© John Veevaert

Images:

Tennantite

Comments: Crystals of dark gray tennantite on white quartz.
Location: Concepcion del Oro, Zacatecas, Mexico. Scale: 6 x 5.5 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Images:

Tennantite Schaurteite

Comments: Bright white silky fibrous schaurteite on dark tennantite.
Location: Tsumeb, Oshikoto, Namibia. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Images:

Tennantite

Comments: Micro-quartz coated, dark gray tennantite on quartz. Former Sussman Tsumeb specimen.
Location: Tsumeb, Namibia. Scale: Crystal size 5 cm.
© John Schneider

Tennantite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 10.186, Z = 2; V = 1,056.84 Den(Calc)= 4.62

Crystal System:

Isometric - HextetrahedralH-M Symbol (4 3m) Space Group: I 43m

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.94(1), 1.801(0.8), 1.535(0.5),

Forms:

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Forms: ( 2 1 1) ( 1 0 0) ( 1 1 0)

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Crystal Structure:

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Makovicky E , Karanovic L , Poleti D , Balic-Zunic T , Paar W H , The Canadian Mineralogist , 43 (2005) p.679-688, Crystal structure of copper-rich unsubstituted tennantite, Cu12.5As4S13, Sample: Cerro Atajo, Catamarco, Argentina

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Tennantite
[1] [2]

Physical Properties of Tennantite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Steel gray, Black.

Density:

4.6 - 4.7, Average = 4.65

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Fracture:

Hackly - Jagged, torn surfaces, (e.g. fractured metals).

Habit:

Disseminated - Occurs in small, distinct particles dispersed in matrix.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Hardness:

3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Metallic

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

reddish gray

Optical Properties of Tennantite

Optical Data:

Isotropic, n=2.72.

RL Color:

Gray, inclining to black to brown to cherry-red.

RL Pleochroism:

None.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Tennantite in Air**
λ	R	∑ R(λ)
400 nm	31.40
420 nm	30.60
440 nm	29.80
460 nm	29.20
480 nm	29.00
500 nm	29.00
520 nm	28.80
540 nm	28.50
560 nm	28.00
580 nm	27.30
600 nm	26.40
620 nm	25.60
640 nm	24.80
660 nm	24.20
680 nm	23.80
700 nm	23.40

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Tennantite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	40%	80%	100%	120%	160%	200%	240%	280%	320%	340%
R

Calculated Properties of Tennantite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.30 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Tennantite =4.62 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0029294543
Boson Index = 0.9970705457

Photoelectric:

PE_Tennantite= 38.34 barns/electron
U=PE_Tennantite x rElectron Density= 164.92 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

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

Tennantite Classification

Dana Class:

03.03.06.02 (03)Sulfides - Sulfosalts

(03.03)where 3 < z/y < 4 - (A+)i (A++)j [By Cz], A=metals, B=semi-metals, C=non-metals

(03.03.06)Tetrahedrite Group (Isometric: I-43m)

03.03.06.01 Tetrahedrite (Cu,Fe)12Sb4S13 I 43m 4 3m

03.03.06.02 Tennantite (Cu,Fe)12As4S13 I 43m 4 3m

03.03.06.03 Freibergite (Ag,Cu,Fe)12(Sb,As)4S13 I 43m 4 3m

03.03.06.04 Hakite (Cu,Hg)3(Sb,As)(Se,S)3 I 43m 4 3m

03.03.06.05 Giraudite (Cu,Zn,Ag)12(As,Sb)4(Se,S)13 I 43m 4 3m

03.03.06.06 Goldfieldite Cu12(Te,Sb,As)4S13 I 43m 4 3m

03.03.06.07 Argentotennantite (Ag,Cu)10(Zn,Fe)2(As,Sb)4S13 I 43m 4 3m

Strunz Class:

02.GB.05 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.G - Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites

02.GB -Neso-sulfarsenites, etc

02.GB.05 Argentotennantite (Ag,Cu)10(Zn,Fe)2(As,Sb)4S13 I 43m 4 3m

02.GB.05 Giraudite (Cu,Zn,Ag)12(As,Sb)4(Se,S)13 I 43m 4 3m

02.GB.05 Goldfieldite Cu12(Te,Sb,As)4S13 I 43m 4 3m

02.GB.05 Freibergite (Ag,Cu,Fe)12(Sb,As)4S13 I 43m 4 3m

02.GB.05 Hakite (Cu,Hg)3(Sb,As)(Se,S)3 I 43m 4 3m

02.GB.05 Tennantite (Cu,Fe)12As4S13 I 43m 4 3m

02.GB.05 Tetrahedrite (Cu,Fe)12Sb4S13 I 43m 4 3m

Other Tennantite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Tennantite :
1 - Alkali-Nuts(English)
2 - Alkali-Nuts(Francais)
3 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
4 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
5 - Athena
6 - EUROmin Project
7 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
8 - Franklin Minerals(Dunn)
9 - Franklin Minerals(Palache)
10 - GeoScienceWorld
11 - Google Images
12 - Google Scholar
13 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
14 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
15 - HyperPhysics
16 - MinDAT
17 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
18 - Online Mineral Museum
19 - QUT Mineral Atlas
20 - Ruff.Info
21 - Scandinavian mineral gallery
22 - WWW-MINCRYST

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

Tennantite

(Cu,Fe)12As4S13
Dana No: 03.03.06.02 Strunz No: 02.GB.05
Locality:

Notes: