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Yarrowite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Yarrowite
Formula:
Cu9S8
"Extended" formula is Cu+20Cu2+7(S2)7S10 (Goble, 1985).
Colour:
Bluish-grey, black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
4.89 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1980 by R. J. Goble after its discovery locality, Yarrow Creek valley, Alberta, Canada.
Chalcocite-Yarrowite Series.
Stoichiometrically similar to the covellite (CuS).
See also the closely related spionkopite. Often forms mixtures with anilite, covellite, digenite, djurleite, and/or spionkopite.
A typical intergrowth of yarrowite and spionkopite is called Blaubleibender Covellite.
Stoichiometrically similar to the covellite (CuS).
See also the closely related spionkopite. Often forms mixtures with anilite, covellite, digenite, djurleite, and/or spionkopite.
A typical intergrowth of yarrowite and spionkopite is called Blaubleibender Covellite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4354
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4354:6
Similar Names
| Jarrowite | A synonym of 'Glendonite' |
IMA Classification of Yarrowite
Classification of Yarrowite
2.CA.05d
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
A : With Cu
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
A : With Cu
2.7.3.1
2 : SULFIDES
7 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 9:8
2 : SULFIDES
7 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 9:8
3.1.12
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu
Mineral Symbols
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.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Yar | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Yar | Warr (2020) | Warr, L.N. (2020) Recommended abbreviations for the names of clay minerals and associated phases. Clay Minerals, 55, 261–264 doi:10.1180/clm.2020.30 |
Physical Properties of Yarrowite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Bluish-grey, black
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN15=93 - 98 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
{0001}
{0001}
Density:
4.89 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Yarrowite
Anisotropism:
Strong, orange-red.
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) | imR1 (%) | imR2 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 19.2% | 32.9% | 7.22% | 19.2% |
| 420nm | 18.6% | 32.3% | 7.06% | 18.6% |
| 440nm | 17.9% | 31.4% | 6.49% | 17.6% |
| 460nm | 16.9% | 30.5% | 5.63% | 16.3% |
| 470nm | 16.3% | 30.0% | 5.14% | 15.7% |
| 480nm | 15.6% | 29.5% | 4.66% | 14.95% |
| 500nm | 14.2% | 28.2% | 3.71% | 13.7% |
| 520nm | 12.4% | 27.0% | 2.79% | 12.5% |
| 540nm | 10.7% | 25.6% | 2.02% | 11.4% |
| 546nm | 10.2% | 25.3% | 1.83% | 11.1% |
| 560nm | 9.08% | 24.3% | 1.42% | 10.4% |
| 580nm | 7.51% | 23.1% | 1.05% | 9.38% |
| 589nm | 6.89% | 22.8% | 1.00% | 9.09% |
| 600nm | 6.15% | 22.2% | 1.00% | 8.82% |
| 620nm | 5.02% | 22.2% | 1.28% | 8.99% |
| 640nm | 4.33% | 23.0% | 2.21% | 9.65% |
| 650nm | 4.2% | 23.3% | 2.93% | 9.96% |
| 660nm | 4.38% | 23.6% | 3.91% | 10.1% |
| 680nm | 5.96% | 23.4% | 7.11% | 9.92% |
| 700nm | 9.44% | 22.95% | 11.6% | 9.57% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 32.9%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red, imR1 shown in green, imR2 shown in blue
Colour in reflected light:
Blue with a slight violet tint in oil.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
Blue to bluish white.
Comments:
Distinguished from spionkopite because yarrowite is a darker shade of blue and is more strongly bireflectant and anisotropic.
Chemistry of Yarrowite
Mindat Formula:
Cu9S8
"Extended" formula is Cu+20Cu2+7(S2)7S10 (Goble, 1985).
"Extended" formula is Cu+20Cu2+7(S2)7S10 (Goble, 1985).
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Ag
Crystallography of Yarrowite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P3m1
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.800 Å, c = 67.264 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 17.701
Unit Cell V:
841.16 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Comment:
Also P3m1 and P321
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.955 Å | (20) |
| 5.332 Å | (5) |
| 5.032 Å | (30) |
| 4.828 Å | (5) |
| 4.296 Å | (5) |
| 3.896 Å | (8) |
| 3.678 Å | (25) |
| 3.537 Å | (5) |
| 3.215 Å | (8) |
| 3.061 Å | (55) |
| 2.849 Å | (25) |
| 2.767 Å | (35) |
| 2.513 Å | (15) |
| 2.292 Å | (12) |
| 2.180 Å | (8) |
| 2.120 Å | (8) |
| 2.075 Å | (8) |
| 1.961 Å | (5) |
| 1.899 Å | (100) |
| 1.827 Å | (5) |
| 1.783 Å | (8) |
| 1.731 Å | (15) |
| 1.687 Å | (8) |
| 1.670 Å | (8) |
| 1.639 Å | (5) |
| 1.613 Å | (12) |
| 1.586 Å | (12) |
| 1.572 Å | (15) |
| 1.534 Å | (5) |
| 1.504 Å | (5) |
| 1.472 Å | (8) |
| 1.441 Å | (5) |
| 1.421 Å | (5) |
| 1.385 Å | (5) |
| 1.360 Å | (8) |
| 1.314 Å | (5) |
| 1.279 Å | (5) |
| 1.232 Å | (8) |
| 1.210 Å | (5) |
| 1.163 Å | (5) |
| 1.097 Å | (12) |
| 1.073 Å | (5) |
| 1.063 Å | (5) |
| 1.028 Å | (5) |
| 1.022 Å | (5) |
| 0.9907 Å | (5) |
| 0.9505 Å | (8) |
| 0.9001 Å | (5) |
| 0.8188 Å | (5) |
Comments:
Note: XRD of yarrowite is very similar to spionkopite. There are a few medium intensity lines which are different than spionkopite. Goble, R. J. (1980) Copper Sulfides from Alberta: Yarrowite Cu9S8 and Spionkopite Cu39S28, Canadian Mineralogist, v. 18, pp. 511-518.
Note: Subcell strongly resembles covellite.
Note: Subcell strongly resembles covellite.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 12 : Hadean hydrothermal subsurface sulfide deposits (see also #33) | |
| 15 : Black/white smoker minerals and other seafloor hydrothermal minerals | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Yarrowite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Geological Survey, Ottawa, Canada.
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 149430, 149431.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 122290.
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 149430, 149431.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 122290.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Selective replacement of small (~0.5 mm diameter) spheroidal quartz aggregates, feldspar grains, fractured quartz grains and carbonate cement within sandstones and quartzites of a redbed formation, a marginal continental, shallow water sequence.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Yarrowite
Other Language Names for Yarrowite
Relationship of Yarrowite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Chalcocite-Digenite Group:
| Chalcocite | Cu2S | Mon. 2/m : P21/c |
| Digenite | Cu9S5 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Djurleite | Cu31S16 | Mon. 2/m : P21/c |
| Roxbyite | Cu58S32 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 13 photos of Yarrowite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 12 photos of Yarrowite associated with Spionkopite | Cu39S28 |
| 7 photos of Yarrowite associated with Djurleite | Cu31S16 |
| 6 photos of Yarrowite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 5 photos of Yarrowite associated with Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| 4 photos of Yarrowite associated with Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| 3 photos of Yarrowite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Yarrowite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 2 photos of Yarrowite associated with Atacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
| 2 photos of Yarrowite associated with Roxbyite | Cu58S32 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.CA.05a | Covellite | CuS |
| 2.CA.05c | Spionkopite | Cu39S28 |
| 2.CA.05b | Klockmannite | CuSe |
| 2.CA.10 | Nukundamite | Cu3.33Fe0.66S4 |
| 2.CA.15 | Calvertite | Cu5Ge0.5S4 |
| 2.CA.20 | Erazoite | Cu4SnS6 |
| 2.CA.25 | Grokhovskyite | CuCrS2 |
Other Information
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 Yarrowite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4354.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Yarrowite
Localities for Yarrowite
Showing 104 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Atlantic Ocean | |
| Firstova et al. (2016) |
| Melekestseva et al. (2022) | |
| Gablina et al. (2006) | |
| Gablina et al. (2017) | |
| Gablina et al. (2004) |
| Vlasov E.A. et al. (2010) | |
| Melekestseva et al. (2017) +1 other reference | |
| Gablina et al. (2017) | |
Australia | |
| Leverett et al. (2005) |
| Richardson et al. (1997) |
Austria | |
| Bojar et al. (1999) |
| Leitner (2013) |
| Raith et al. (2015) | |
| Jakely (Hrsg.) | |
| Moser & Postl (1990) +1 other reference |
Belgium | |
| Hatert et al. (2014) |
Canada | |
| Goble (1980) +1 other reference |
| Goble (1980) +1 other reference |
| Sabina (2015) |
| Sabina (2015) | |
| Sabina (2015) |
| Sabina (2015) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Sabina (2015) |
| Sabina (2015) +1 other reference |
| Sabina (2015) +1 other reference |
| Sabina (1991) |
| Sabina (1991) |
| Cabral et al. (2007) |
China | |
| Zijin Mining Group Company Limited |
Czech Republic | |
| Dolníček et al. (2019) |
| Dolníček et al. (with English summary) |
| Hyrsl et al. (2009) |
| Pauliš et al. (2022) |
Dominican Republic | |
| Torró et al. (2016) |
DR Congo | |
| Canadian Mineralogist 46 (2008) +1 other reference |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Walenta (1992) |
| |
| Walenta (1992) |
| |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Walenta (1992) | |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Schmitt (1993) |
| Gröbner et al. (2019) |
| Wittern et al. (1986) |
| Roger Lang analyses/research 1994-1998 |
| Scheiderhöhn & Kautzsch 1936 |
| Analysis by Dr. J. Heider |
| Wittern (2001) | |
| 86. +1 other reference |
India | |
| Sikka et al. (1991) |
Indonesia | |
| Warmada et al. (2003) |
Iran | |
| Sadati et al. (2016) |
| Barati et al. (2024) |
| Baccolo et al. (2019) |
| Jadehkenary et al. (2025) |
| www.fos.ut.ac.ir (2004) +2 other references |
Ireland | |
| Ixer |
Italy | |
| - (n.d.) |
Japan | |
| Matsubara et al (2002) |
| Matsubara (2002) +1 other reference |
Papua New Guinea | |
| Noku et al. (2012) |
Poland | |
| Piestrzyński et al. (2012) |
| Kucha H. 2007: Mineralogia kruszcowa i ... +1 other reference |
| Kucha (2021) |
Romania | |
| Szakáll (2002) |
| Szakáll (2002) |
Russia | |
| Palyanova +3 other references |
| Savva et al. (2023) |
| Nenasheva et al. (2011) |
| Palyanova et al. (2018) |
| Shavekina et al. (2026) |
| Murzin et al. (2022) |
Slovakia | |
| Vlasáč J. et al. (2018) |
| Ferenc Š. et al. (2022) |
Spain | |
| Calvo Rebollar (2018) |
| Castillo-Oliver et al. (2019) |
Sweden | |
| Jörgen Langhof et al. (2025) |
Switzerland | |
| Malcherek et al. (2024) +1 other reference |
| Stalder et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
Turkey | |
| Beih. z. Eur. J. Mineral 18 (2006) |
UK | |
| - (2006) |
| Ixer et al. (2005) |
| Ixer et al. (1993) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Ixer et al. (2005) |
| Faithfull et al. (2012) |
| Cotterell et al. (2011) |
USA | |
| Graeme (1993) |
| Graeme (1993) +1 other reference | |
| Rob Bowell | |
| Robert Bowell and Rolf Luetcke | |
| Ronald Wynn Sheets et al. (1995) |
| Raič et al. (2015) |
| Moore-Roth (2012) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Boggs (1984) |
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Washington Pass, Golden Horn Batholith, Okanogan County, Washington, USA