登录注册
搜索:
矿物名称:
地区产地名称:
关键字:
 
主页关于 MindatMindat手册Mindat的历史版权我们是谁我们的科学研究Mindat 通讯 [免费下载]联系我们
捐赠给 Mindat赞助板页企业赞助已赞助的板页
学习中心什么是矿物?地球上最常见的矿物教育工作者信息Mindat 文章Mindat 通讯 [免费下载]元素矿物测验
Search Form搜索矿物的性质搜索矿物的化学矿物可视化浏览器高级地点搜索随意显示任何一 种矿物随机地点使用minID搜索按国家查找矿物矿物字母索引产地字母索引矿物共生组合搜索国家列表邻近产地照片搜索搜索文章搜索词汇表Rock H. Currier数字图书馆更多搜索选项
Mindat手册添加新照片评价照片产区编辑报告坐标完成报告添加词汇表项目
矿物岩石学化石陨石地质时代
矿业公司统计矿物博物馆矿物学会与组织矿物展及活动设备设置时光机
阅读讨论鉴定请求
照片搜索图片画廊按颜色搜索照片颜色浏览器今天最新的照片昨天最新的照片用户照片相集过去每日精选照片相集摄影

Tennantite Subgroup

A group of related mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

About Tennantite SubgroupHide

04287490017271927036648.jpg
Smithson Tennant
Formula:
Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S
In the A-site, group end-members contain six III(Cu+Ag) cations, where Cu>Ag.

C2+ = Fe2+, Zn, Cu, Hg and/or other species
Colour:
Grey-black, steel-gray, iron-gray, black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3 - 4½
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Originally called "gray sulphuret of copper in dodecahedral crystals" in 1817 by James Sowerby.
Renamed in 1819 by William Phillips in honor of Smithson Tennant [November 30, 1761, Selby, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom - February 22, 1815, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France], English chemist of independent means. Tennant established the beneficial nature of using limestone to reduce soil acidity. He and William Hyde Wollaston, who was then his chemical assistant, analyzed graphite and diamond and found that graphite and diamond were both carbon. He analyzed meteorites and found nickel in them, as well as finding iodine in sea water. Tennant's fame, however, is firmly based on his discovery of the elements iridium and osmium.
First Recorded Locality:
Biagioni et al. (2020) delineate the series of Ag-poor tennantites, where Ag < 3 apfu, belong to the tennantite series.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3911
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3911:2

Similar NamesHide

PennantiteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfatheredMn52+Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8

IMA Classification of Tennantite SubgroupHide

Discredited
IMA status notes:
Redefined by the IMA
Approval history:
As per IMA 2018-K and Biagioni et al. (2020), the name tennantite now refers to a series (or more properly as a subgroup, as four members are known as of mid-2021). The Fe-dominant member seems to be the most common, unlike in tetrahedrite where the Zn-dominant member is the most common.

Classification of Tennantite SubgroupHide

2.GB.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
B : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. with additional S
3.3.6.2

3 : SULFOSALTS
3 : 3 <ø < 4
5.1.2

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
1 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Cu

Pronunciation of Tennantite SubgroupHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of Tennantite SubgroupHide

Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Grey-black, steel-gray, iron-gray, black
Streak:
Reddish grey, black, red-brown
Hardness:
3 - 4½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=294 - 380 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal

Optical Data of Tennantite SubgroupHide

Type:
Isotropic
Colour in reflected light:
gray, inclining to black to brown to cherry-red
Comments:
n greater than 2.72

Chemistry of Tennantite SubgroupHide

Mindat Formula:
Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S

In the A-site, group end-members contain six III(Cu+Ag) cations, where Cu>Ag.

C2+ = Fe2+, Zn, Cu, Hg and/or other species

Chemical AnalysisHide

Empirical formulas:
Sample IDEmpirical Formula
1M(2)Cu6 M(1)[Cu4.00(Ni0.97Cu0.53Fe0.50)Σ2.00]X(3)Σ6.00(As2.94Sb1.06)Σ4S12.77
Sample references:
IDLocalityReferenceNotes
1Luobusha ophiolite, Qusum Co., Shannan Prefecture, Tibet, Chinaby EPMA (WDS); empirical formula basis: total cations = 16 apfu

Crystallography of Tennantite SubgroupHide

Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
43m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:
I43m
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.19 Å
Unit Cell V:
1,058.09 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Tetrahedral to rounded crystals to 20 cm.
Twinning:
Twin axis [111], twin plane {111}

Crystallographic forms of Tennantite SubgroupHide

Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
View 3D crystal model
Tennantite - {100}, modified
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

Toggle
Edge Lines | Miller Indices | Axes

Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent

View
Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File    Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0010519Tennantite SubgroupPauling L, Neumann E W (1934) The crystal structure of binnite, (Cu,Fe)12As4S13, and the chemical composition and structure of minerals of the tetrahedrite group Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 88 54-621934Lengenbach quarry, Binnatal, Switzerland0293
0006002Tennantite SubgroupMakovicky E, Karanovic L, Poleti D, Balic-Zunic T, Paar W H (2005) Crystal structure of copper-rich unsubstituted tennantite, Cu12.5As4S13 The Canadian Mineralogist 43 679-68820050293
0014744Tennantite SubgroupEdenharter A, Koto K, Nowacki W (1971) Uber pearceit, polybasit und binnit Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1971 337-34119710293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

Epitaxial Relationships of Tennantite SubgroupHide

Epitaxial Minerals:

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Loading XRD data...
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Geological Setting:
Hydrothermal veins and contact metamorphic deposits.

First Recorded Occurrence of Tennantite SubgroupHide

Synonyms of Tennantite SubgroupHide

Other Language Names for Tennantite SubgroupHide

Varieties of Tennantite SubgroupHide

Bismuth-bearing TennantiteA bismuthian variety of tennantite.
See also annivite.

A probable Bi-dominant phase was reported by Velebil & Sejkora (2018).
CuprobinniteA Ag-bearing variety of tennantite.
Lead-bearing TennantiteA Pb-bearing variety of tennantite with up to 5.5 wt% Pb.
Mercury-bearing TennantiteA mercury-bearing variety of tennantite.
If Hg>Zn/Fe, the material would be the As analogue of tetrahedrite-(Hg).


The Hg content is negatively correlated to both the Fe and, especially, the Zn content, and positively but weakly correla...
Silver-bearing TennantiteA silver-bearing variety of tennantite. Contains approx. 38 oz. Ag/Ton at United Verde Mine.
Tellurium-bearing TennantiteA tellurium-bearing variety of tennantite.
Zinc-bearing TennantiteA zinc-rich variety of tennantite.

Enrichment of zinc in tetrahedrite group minerals is much more rarely observed in tennantite than in tetrahedrite.

Relationship of Tennantite Subgroup to other SpeciesHide

Other Members of Tetrahedrite Group:
Annivite SubgroupCu6(Cu4 C2+2)Bi4S12S
Arsenofreibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)As4S12S0-1
Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1Iso. 43m : I43m
Giraudite SubgroupCu6(Cu4 C2+2)As4Se12Se
Goldfieldite Subgroup(Cu4(◻,Cu)2(Cu4Cu+2)((Te,Sb,As)2Te2)S12S
Hakite SubgroupCu6(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4Se12Se
Pošepnýite(Cu+3◻3)(Hg2+4Cu+2)Sb4Se12(Se0.5◻0.5)Iso. 43m : I43m
Rozhdestvenskayaite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Ag4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1
Rozhdestvenskayaite-(Fe)Ag6(Ag4Fe2)Sb4S13Iso. 43m : I43m
Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
Ústalečite Subgroup(Cu4(◻,Cu)2(Cu4Cu+2)((Te,Sb,As)2Te2)Se12Se
Zvěstovite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Ag4 C2+2)As4S12S0-1
Tennantite Subgroup Members:
Tennantite-(Cd) Cu6(Cu4Cd2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
Tennantite-(Cu) Cu6(Cu4Cu2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
Tennantite-(Fe) Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
Tennantite-(Hg) Cu6(Cu4Hg2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
Tennantite-(In) Cu6(Cu5In)As4S13Iso. 43m : I43m
Tennantite-(Mn) Cu6(Cu4Mn2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
Tennantite-(Ni) Cu6(Cu4Ni2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
Tennantite-(Zn) Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
Click on any node to view relationships. Formula-derived relationship network for the group members above. Use Find related species to add formula-neighbour species outside the current group view. Solid links show inferred chemical differences; dashed violet links show same-formula crystallographic differences. Hydration states are not treated as relationship changes. These relationships do not imply any real-world substitution reactions between these species.

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.GB.'Polybasite-Tac'[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.Kenoargentotetrahedrite-(Zn)[Ag6]4+(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S12◻Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Argentotetrahedrite-(Hg)Ag6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Annivite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)Bi4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Pošepnýite(Cu+3◻3)(Hg2+4Cu+2)Sb4Se12(Se0.5◻0.5)Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(Cu)Cu6(Cu4Cu2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Argentopolybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9AgS4]Trig. 32 : P321
2.GB.Tennantite-(Mn)Cu6(Cu4Mn2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Argentotetrahedrite-(Cd)Ag6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Stibioústalečite(Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(Sb2Te2)Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Stibiogoldfieldite(Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(Sb2Te2)S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Argentotetrahedrite-(Zn)Ag6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tetrahedrite-(Cd)Cu6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Arsenogoldfieldite(Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(As2Te2)S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Arsenoústalečite(Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(As2Te2)Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(In)Cu6(Cu5In)As4S13Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Rozhdestvenskayaite-(Fe)Ag6(Ag4Fe2)Sb4S13Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Zvěstovite-(Fe)Ag6(Ag4Fe2+2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Hakite-(Fe)Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)Sb4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(Cd)Cu6(Cu4Cd2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.XKenorozhdestvenskayaite-(Fe)[Ag6]4+(Ag4Fe2+2)Sb4S12◻Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tetrahedrite-(Cu)Cu6(Cu4Cu2+2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Hakite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Zvěstovite-(Zn)Ag6(Ag4Zn2)As4S12SIso.
2.GB.Hakite-(Cd)Cu6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Kenoargentotennantite-(Fe)[Ag6]4+(Cu4Fe2)As4S12◻Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(Hg)Cu6(Cu4Hg2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tetrahedrite-(Mn)Cu6(Cu4Mn2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(Ni)Cu6(Cu4Ni2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tetrahedrite-(Ni)Cu6(Cu4Ni2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Hakite-(Hg)Cu6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Rozhdestvenskayaite-(Zn)Ag6(Ag4Zn2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Argentotennantite-(Zn)Ag6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Argentotennantite-(Fe)Ag6(Cu4Fe2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tennantite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : F43m
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tennantite-(Fe)Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite-(Fe)Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite-(Hg)Cu6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Kenoargentotetrahedrite-(Fe)[Ag6]4+(Cu4Fe2+2)Sb4S12◻Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Giraudite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Argentotetrahedrite-(Fe)Ag6(Cu4Fe2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Goldfieldite(Cu4◻2)(Cu4Cu+2)Te4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05'UM1992-21-S:AgFeSb'Ag6(Ag4Fe2+2)Sb4S12SIso.
2.GB.10SelenostephaniteAg5SbSe4Orth. 222 : P212121
2.GB.10StephaniteAg5SbS4Orth. mm2 : Cmc21
2.GB.15'UM2003-14-S:AgBiFeTe'Ag16FeBiTe3S8
2.GB.15'UM1979-17-S:BiCuFe'~Cu18Fe4BiS16
2.GB.15Pearceite[Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.15Argentopearceite[Ag6As2S7][Ag9AgS4]Trig. 32 : P321
2.GB.15Cupropolybasite[Cu6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m : P31m
2.GB.15Fengruiite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS2Te2]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.15Auropearceite[Ag6As2S7][Ag9AuS4]Trig. 32 : P321
2.GB.15Selenopolybasite[(Ag,Cu)6(Sb,As)2(S,Se)7][Ag9Cu(S,Se)2Se2]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.15Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.GB.15Auropolybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9AuS4]Trig. 32 : P321
2.GB.15Cupropearceite[Cu6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.20Vorontsovite(Hg5Cu)Σ6TlAs4S12Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.20Ferrovorontsovite(Fe5Cu)Σ6TlAs4S12Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.20Galkhaite(Hg5Cu)CsAs4S12Iso. 43m : I43m

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.
Industrial Uses:
Copper ore

Tennantite Subgroup in petrologyHide

An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.

    Internet Links for Tennantite SubgroupHide

    References for Tennantite SubgroupHide

    Reference List:

    Localities for Tennantite SubgroupHide

    Showing 2,629 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.
    Hide all sections | Show all sections

    Locality ListShow

    This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
     
    and/or  
    版权所有© mindat.org1993年至2026年,除了规定的地方。 Mindat.org全赖于全球数千个以上成员和支持者们的参与。
    Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
    To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
    隐私政策 - 条款和条款细则 - 联络我们 - Report a bug/vulnerability 当前服务器日期和时间: 2026.11.1 14:44:37 页面生成: 2026.10.21 22:14:35
    Go to top of page