Catamarcaite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Flag of Catamarca, Argentina

Formula:

Cu₆GeWS₈

Colour:

Grey

Lustre:

Metallic

Hardness:

3½

Specific Gravity:

4.892 (Calculated)

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Name:

After the Province of Catamarca, where the new mineral species was found.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Capillitas mining district, Andalgalá, Andalgalá Department, Catamarca Province, Argentina

Chemically related to kiddcreekite, Cu6SnWS8, and hemusite, Cu6SnMoS8.

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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

27224

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:27224:1

IMA Classification of CatamarcaiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

Approval year:

2003

First published:

2006

Type description reference:

Putz, Hubert, Paar, Werner H., Topa, Dan, Makovicky, Emil, Roberts, Andrew C. (2006) Catamarcaite, Cu₆GeWS₈, a new germanium sulfide mineral species from Capillitas, Catamarca, Argentina: description, paragenesis and crystal structure. The Canadian Mineralogist, 44 (6) 1481-1497 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.44.6.1481

Classification of CatamarcaiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

2.CB.35b

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.

Mineral SymbolsHide

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.

Symbol	Source	Reference for Standard
Ctm	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
Ctm	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 CatamarcaiteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Grey

Streak:

Black

Hardness:

3½ on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₂₅=193 - 264 kg/mm² - Vickers

Tenacity:

Brittle

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal

Density:

4.892 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Comment:

Calculated for ideal composition

Optical Data of CatamarcaiteHide

Anisotropism:

Weak in shades of gray

Bireflectance:

Absent in air, very weak in oil

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁ (%)	R₂ (%)
470nm	24.5%	25.2%
546nm	24.1%	24.5%
589nm	24.5%	25.1%
650nm	23.4%	23.7%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 25.2%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in red

Colour in reflected light:

Greyish white with a distinct brownish tint

Internal Reflections:

Red (occasionally observed along fractures)

Pleochroism:

Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of CatamarcaiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Cu₆GeWS₈

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Cu	42.635 %
S	28.685 %
W	20.557 %
Ge	8.123 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Cu, Ge, S, W - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Ag,Fe

Crystallography of CatamarcaiteHide

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Class (H-M):

6mm - Dihexagonal Pyramidal

Space Group:

P6₃mc

Cell Parameters:

a = 7.5238(8) Å, c = 12.390(3) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 1.647

Unit Cell V:

607.4 Å³

Twinning:

Twins are typically marked by straight lamellae of varying thickness.

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0006132	Catamarcaite	Putz H, Paar W H, Topa D, Makovicky E, Roberts A C (2006) Catamarcaite, Cu6GeWS8, a new germanium sulfide mineral species from Capillitas, Catamarca, Argentina: Description, paragenesis and crystal structure The Canadian Mineralogist 44 1481-1497		2006	Capillitas, Catamarca, Argentina	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Catamarcaite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Putz H'
'Paar W H'
'Topa D'
'Makovicky E'
'Roberts A C'
_journal_name_full 'The Canadian Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 44 
_journal_year 2006
_journal_page_first 1481
_journal_page_last 1497
_publ_section_title
;
 Catamarcaite, Cu6GeWS8, a new germanium sulfide mineral species from
 Capillitas, Catamarca, Argentina: Description, paragenesis and crystal structure
;
_database_code_amcsd 0006132
_chemical_compound_source 'Capillitas, Catamarca, Argentina'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Cu6 Ge W S8'
_cell_length_a 7.5238
_cell_length_b 7.5238
_cell_length_c 12.390
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 120
_cell_volume 607.402
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      4.890
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 63 m c'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '-x,-x+y,1/2+z'
  'x-y,x,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,z'
  '-y,x-y,z'
  'x-y,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,-y,1/2+z'
  'x,x-y,z'
  '-x+y,-x,z'
  'y,x,1/2+z'
  'y,-x+y,1/2+z'
  '-x+y,y,z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Cu1   0.84020   0.15980   0.10490   0.01770
Cu2   0.50440   0.49560   0.35360   0.01890
Ge   0.00000   0.00000   0.35130   0.00850
W   0.33333   0.66667   0.48100   0.00850
S1   0.33333   0.66667   0.30020   0.01600
S2   0.50320   0.49690   0.04190   0.01420
S3   0.83810   0.67630   0.29044   0.01100
S4   0.00000   0.00000   0.53110   0.01100
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Cu1 0.02200 0.02200 0.01300 0.01370 -0.00160 0.00160
Cu2 0.01970 0.01970 0.01660 0.00940 0.00150 -0.00150
Ge 0.01000 0.01000 0.00600 0.00500 0.00000 0.00000
W 0.01030 0.01030 0.00510 0.00510 0.00000 0.00000
S1 0.02000 0.02000 0.00900 0.01000 0.00000 0.00000
S2 0.01600 0.01600 0.00900 0.00600 -0.00160 0.00160
S3 0.01200 0.01000 0.01000 0.00500 -0.00020 -0.00100
S4 0.01500 0.01500 0.00400 0.00700 0.00000 0.00000

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
5.767 Å	(100)
3.215 Å	(25)
3.151 Å	(35)
2.884 Å	(28)
2.416 Å	(26)
1.972 Å	(24)
1.881 Å	(48)
1.744 Å	(26)

Locality:

Capillitas mining district, Andalgalá, Andalgalá Department, Catamarca Province, Argentina

Reference:

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

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

Type Occurrence of CatamarcaiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Capillitas mining district, Andalgalá, Andalgalá Department, Catamarca Province, Argentina

General Appearance of Type Material:

Thin rims lining cavities and fractures in chalcocite–bornite ore, and aggregates, up to 1 mm in size, composed of anhedral to subhedral, intensely twinned grains within digenite – chalcocite – sphalerite ore.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Systematic collection of the Division of Mineralogy, Department of Material Science, University of Salzburg, Austria, catalogue numbers 14931 and 14932.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Bornite	Chalcocite	Covellite	Digenite	Hübnerite
Luzonite	Putzite	Sphalerite	Wittichenite

Reference:

Synonyms of CatamarcaiteHide

IMA2003-020

Other Language Names for CatamarcaiteHide

Dutch:Catamarcaiet

German:Catamarcait

Simplified Chinese:硫钨锗铜矿

Traditional Chinese:硫鎢鍺銅礦

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.CB.	Richardsite	Zn₂CuGaS₄	Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.	Okruginite	Cu₂SnSe₃	Mon. m : Bb
2.CB.	Hanswilkeite	KFeS₂	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.CB.	Auroselenide	AuSe	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.CB.	Ruizhongite	(Ag₂◻)Pb₃Ge₂S₈	Iso. 43m : I43d
2.CB.	Agmantinite	Ag₂MnSnS₄	Orth.
2.CB.	Tolstykhite	Au₃S₄Te₆	Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.	Gachingite	Au(Te_1-xSe_x)	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.05a	Hawleyite	CdS	Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05	'UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn'	Cu₂Fe₃Zn₅S₁₀
2.CB.05a	Coloradoite	HgTe	Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05a	Metacinnabar	HgS	Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05a	Tiemannite	HgSe	Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05a	Sphalerite	ZnS	Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05b	Sakuraiite	(Cu,Zn,Fe)₃(In,Sn)S₄	Iso.
2.CB.05c	Polhemusite	(Zn,Hg)S	Tet.
2.CB.05a	Rudashevskyite	(Fe,Zn)S	Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05a	Stilleite	ZnSe	Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05a	Ishiharaite	(Cu,Ga,Fe,In,Zn)S	Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.07a	'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)'	Cu₂MnSnS₄
2.CB.07a	Shenzhuangite	NiFeS₂	Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10b	Talnakhite	Cu₉(Fe,Ni)₈S₁₆	Iso. 43m : I43m
2.CB.10b	Haycockite	Cu₄Fe₅S₈	Orth. 222
2.CB.10a	Lenaite	AgFeS₂	Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10a	Gallite	CuGaS₂	Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10a	Roquesite	CuInS₂	Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10a	Eskebornite	CuFeSe₂	Tet. 42m : P42c
2.CB.10a	'UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn'	Cu₂Fe₂Sn₃S₇
2.CB.10c	Omariniite	Cu₈Fe₂ZnGe₂S₁₂	Orth. 222 : I222
2.CB.10a	Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂	Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10a	'Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)'	CuZn₂InS₄
2.CB.10b	Mooihoekite	Cu₉Fe₉S₁₆	Tet. 42m : P42m
2.CB.10a	Laforêtite	AgInS₂	Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10b	Putoranite	Cu_1.1Fe_1.2S₂	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pn3m
2.CB.15a	Velikite	Cu₂HgSnS₄	Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15c	'UM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn'	Cu₈(Fe,Zn)₃Ge₂S₁₂ (?)
2.CB.15a	Hocartite	Ag₂(Fe²⁺,Zn)SnS₄	Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15a	Kësterite	Cu₂ZnSnS₄	Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15a	Pirquitasite	Ag₂ZnSnS₄	Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15a	Stannite	Cu₂FeSnS₄	Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15c	Stannoidite	Cu⁺₆Cu²⁺₂(Fe²⁺,Zn)₃Sn₂S₁₂	Orth. 222 : I222
2.CB.15b	Mohite	Cu₂SnS₃	Mon.
2.CB.15a	Černýite	Cu₂CdSnS₄	Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15a	Idaite	Cu₅FeS₆	Hex.
2.CB.15a	Ferrokësterite	Cu₂FeSnS₄	Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15a	Kuramite	Cu₃SnS₄	Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.17a v	'Arsenic-bearing Renierite'	Cu₁₁GeAsFe₄S₁₆
2.CB.20	Mawsonite	Cu₆Fe₂SnS₈	Tet. 42m : P4m2
2.CB.20	Chatkalite	Cu₆FeSn₂S₈	Tet. 42m : P4m2
2.CB.30	'Frieseite'	Ag₂Fe₅S₈ (?)
2.CB.30	Nekrasovite	Cu₂₆V₂(Sn,As,Sb)₆S₃₂	Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30	'Argyropyrite'	near Ag₂Fe₇S₁₁
2.CB.30	Maikainite	Cu₂₀(Fe,Cu)₆Mo₂Ge₆S₃₂	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m)
2.CB.30	Colusite	Cu₁₃VAs₃S₁₆	Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30	Germanite	Cu₁₃Fe₂Ge₂S₁₆	Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30	Germanocolusite	Cu₂₆V₂(Ge,As)₆S₃₂	Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.30	Stibiocolusite	Cu₁₃V(Sb,Sn,As)₃S₁₆	Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.30	Ovamboite	Cu₂₀(Fe,Cu,Zn)₆W₂Ge₆S₃₂	Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.35a	Morozeviczite	(Pb,Fe)₃Ge_1-xS₄	Iso.
2.CB.35a	Renierite	(Cu⁺,Zn)₁₁Fe₄(Ge⁴⁺,As⁵⁺)₂S₁₆	Tet. 42m : P42c
2.CB.35a	Hemusite	Cu₆SnMoS₈	Iso.
2.CB.35a	Vinciennite	Cu⁺₇Cu²⁺₃Fe²⁺₂Fe³⁺₂Sn(As,Sb)S₁₆	Tet.
2.CB.35a	Kiddcreekite	Cu₆SnWS₈	Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.35a	Polkovicite	(Fe,Pb)₃(Ge,Fe)_1-xS₄	Iso.
2.CB.40	Lautite	CuAsS	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.CB.42	Lingbaoite	AgTe₃	Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.45	Cadmoselite	CdSe	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Rambergite	MnS	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Buseckite	(Fe,Zn,Mn)S	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Maletoyvayamite	Au₃Se₄Te₆	Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.45	Greenockite	CdS	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Wurtzite	(Zn,Fe)S	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.47	Murchisite	Cr₅S₆	Trig. 3m(32/m) : P31c
2.CB.50	'Zincselenide'	ZnSe
2.CB.50	Wassonite	TiS	Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
2.CB.52	'Dzhezkazganite'	ReMoCu₂PbS₆ ?	Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.55b	Isocubanite	CuFe₂S₃	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.CB.55a	Cubanite	CuFe₂S₃	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.60	Raguinite	TlFeS₂	Orth.
2.CB.60	Picotpaulite	TlFe₂S₃	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
2.CB.65	Argentopyrite	AgFe₂S₃	Mon. 2/m
2.CB.65	Sternbergite	AgFe₂S₃	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.70	Sulvanite	Cu₃VS₄	Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.75	Vulcanite	CuTe	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.80	Empressite	AgTe	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.85	Muthmannite	AuAgTe₂	Mon. 2/m : P2/c

Other InformationHide

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 CatamarcaiteHide

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https://www.mindat.org/min-27224.html
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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

Buy from D. Joyce minerals

References for CatamarcaiteHide

Reference List:

(2021) Catamarcaite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for CatamarcaiteHide

Showing 2 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 (TL)
Catamarca Province Andalgalá Department Andalgalá ⓘ Capillitas mining district (TL)	Paar et al. (2004) +1 other reference
ⓘ La Rosario vein	PUTZ +2 other references

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Catamarcaite

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of CatamarcaiteHide

Classification of CatamarcaiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of CatamarcaiteHide

Optical Data of CatamarcaiteHide

Chemistry of CatamarcaiteHide

Crystallography of CatamarcaiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of CatamarcaiteHide

Synonyms of CatamarcaiteHide

Other Language Names for CatamarcaiteHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for CatamarcaiteHide

References for CatamarcaiteHide

Localities for CatamarcaiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide