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Alburnite

A valid IMA mineral species
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00615530017272472238217.jpg
View of Roșia Montană and surrounding gold mines, ca. 1900.

Roşia Montană, Roșia Montană, Alba County, Romania
Formula:
Ag8GeTe2S4
May contain As (Săbău et al., 2016).
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
7.828 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Derived from the Latin name of the deposit. The Roşia Montana Au-Ag deposit was known during the Roman period (106-273 AD) as Alburnus Maior.
Closely related to the argyrodite-canfieldite series (which contains no Te).


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
43596
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:43596:5

Similar NamesHide

AlboraniteA rock subtype

IMA Classification of AlburniteHide

Classification of AlburniteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.BA.

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

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
AlbIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of AlburniteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
7.828 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of AlburniteHide

Bireflectance:
none
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)
400nm32.00%
420nm31.20%
440nm30.60%
460nm30.00%
470nm29.70%
480nm29.30%
500nm29.00%
520nm28.50%
540nm28.10%
546nm28.00%
560nm27.75%
580nm27.50%
589nm27.35%
600nm27.20%
620nm27.10%
640nm27.00%
650nm26.95%
660nm26.90%
680nm26.85%
700nm26.80%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 32.00%.
Colour in reflected light:
gray-blue with a bluish tint
Internal Reflections:
none observed in air
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of AlburniteHide

Mindat Formula:
Ag8GeTe2S4

May contain As (Săbău et al., 2016).
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Ag65.422 %
Te19.347 %
S9.724 %
Ge5.507 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Ag
Te
S
Ge
Elements listed:
Ag, Ge, S, Te - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of AlburniteHide

Crystal System:
Isometric
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.4(1) Å
Unit Cell V:
1,124.86 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Comment:
F43m

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of AlburniteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Cârnicel vein, Roşia Montană, Roșia Montană, Alba County, Romania
General Appearance of Type Material:
Rounded to sub-rounded grains, veinlets or irregular inclusions hosted mainly by tetrahedrite, hessite, and rhodochrosite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical Museum, Department of Geology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (71a/1 and 71a/2).
Zentrale Elektronen-Mikrosonde, Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany (1064b).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Intermediate sulfidation gold-silver vein
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AltaiteCalciteChalcopyriteGalenaHessite
PyriteQuartzRhodochrositeRhodoniteSphalerite
SylvaniteTetrahedrite Subgroup
Reference:
Tamas, C. G., Grobety, B., Bailly, L., Bernhardt, H.-J., Minut, A. (2014) Alburnite, Ag8GeTe2S4, a new mineral species from the Rosia Montana Au-Ag epithermal deposit, Apuseni Mountains, Romania. American Mineralogist, 99 (1) 57-64 doi:10.2138/am.2014.4557

Synonyms of AlburniteHide

Other Language Names for AlburniteHide

Dutch:Alburniet
French:Alburnite
German:Alburnit
Norwegian:Alburnitt

Relationship of Alburnite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Argyrodite Group
Other Members of Argyrodite Group:
ArgyroditeAg8GeS6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
CanfielditeAg8SnS6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
Putzite(Cu4.7Ag3.3)GeS6Iso. 43m : F43m
SpryiteAg8(As3+0.5As5+0.5)S6Orth. mm2 : Pna21

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.BA.MakotoiteAg12(Cu3Au)S8Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
2.BA.DzierżanowskiteCaCu2S2Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.BA.XuwenyuaniteAg9Fe3+Te2S4Iso. 43m : F43m
2.BA.'Orileyite'(Fe,Cu)2As
2.BA.JuxingiteBi6Cu+138Cu2+2Fe3+30S125Iso. 43m : F43m
2.BA.LuoxianchangiteAg8SnS4Se2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.BA.05DjurleiteCu31S16Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.BA.05GeeriteCu8S5Trig. 3
2.BA.05RoxbyiteCu58S32Tric. 1 : P1
2.BA.05ChalcociteCu2SMon. 2/m : P21/c
2.BA.10DigeniteCu9S5Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
2.BA.10AniliteCu7S4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.BA.15BorniteCu5FeS4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
2.BA.20BellidoiteCu2SeTet. 4/m : P42/n
2.BA.20BerzelianiteCu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12)Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.BA.25AthabascaiteCu5Se4Orth.
2.BA.25UmangiteCu3Se2Tet. 42m : P421m
2.BA.30RickarditeCu7Te5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmn
2.BA.30WeissiteCu2-xTeHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mmm
2.BA.35AcanthiteAg2SMon. 2/m : P21/m
2.BA.35SpryiteAg8(As3+0.5As5+0.5)S6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
2.BA.40d'UM2003-13-S:AgAuCu'Ag6AuCu2S5
2.BA.40MckinstryiteAg5-xCu3+xS4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.BA.40StromeyeriteAgCuSOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.BA.42HoneaiteAu3TlTe2 Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcm
2.BA.45JalpaiteAg3CuS2Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
2.BA.45SelenojalpaiteAg3CuSe2Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
2.BA.45KuriliteAg8Te3SeTrig. 3 : R3
2.BA.47Spiridonovite(Cu1-xAgx)2TeTrig. 3m(32/m) : P3c1
2.BA.50WuyanzhiiteCu2STet. 422 : P43212
2.BA.50EucairiteAgCuSeOrth.
2.BA.52'Argentite'Ag2SIso.
2.BA.55NaumanniteAg2SeOrth. 222 : P212121
2.BA.55AguilariteAg4SeSMon. 2/m : P21/c
2.BA.60ChenguodaiteAg9Fe3+Te2S4Orth.
2.BA.60HessiteAg2TeMon. 2/m : P21/c
2.BA.60CervelleiteAg4TeSMon. 2/m : P21/c
2.BA.65Henryite(Cu,Ag)3+xTe2 , with x ~ 0.40Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3c
2.BA.65StütziteAg5-xTe3, x = 0.24-0.36Hex. 6 : P6
2.BA.70ArgyroditeAg8GeS6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
2.BA.70Putzite(Cu4.7Ag3.3)GeS6Iso. 43m : F43m
2.BA.70CanfielditeAg8SnS6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
2.BA.75FischesseriteAg3AuSe2Iso. 432 : I4132
2.BA.75UytenbogaardtiteAg3AuS2Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
2.BA.75Penzhinite(Ag,Cu)4Au(S,Se)4Hex. 622 : P6322
2.BA.75PetrovskaiteAuAgSMon.
2.BA.75PetziteAg3AuTe2Iso. 432 : I4132
2.BA.80Bezsmertnovite(Au,Ag)4Cu(Te,Pb)Orth.
2.BA.80BilibinskitePbCu2Au3Te2Iso.
2.BA.80Bogdanovite(Au,Te,Pb)3(Cu,Fe)Iso.

Fluorescence of AlburniteHide

Other InformationHide

Notes:
The mineral decomposes in intense light.
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 AlburniteHide

References for AlburniteHide

Localities for AlburniteHide

Showing 5 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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.
Argentina
 
  • San Luis Province
    • Coronel Pringles Department
Gallard-Esquivel et al. (2018)
Gallard-Esquivel et al. (2018)
Romania
 
  • Alba County
    • Roșia Montană
IATAN et al. (2016)
Tamas et al. (2014)
  • Hunedoara County
    • Certeju de Sus
Săbău et al. (2016)
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