Idaite Mineral Data
General Idaite Information
Chemical Formula:
Cu5FeS6
Composition:
Molecular Weight = 565.97 gm
Iron 9.87 % Fe
Copper 56.14 % Cu
Sulfur 33.99 % S
______
100.00 %
Empirical Formula:
Cu5 Fe2+ S6
Environment:
A lamellar decomposition product of bornite, commonly associated with fine spindles of chalcopyrite, apparently of secondary origin as the first product of enrichment.
IMA Status:
Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1958
Locality:
Ida mine, Khan, and Tsumeb, Namibia. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Name Origin:
Named for the locality.
Name Pronunciation:
Idaite
Synonym:
ICSD 16552 ?
PDF 13-161
Idaite Image
Images:
Idaite Crystallography
Axial Ratios:
a:c = 1:4.34615
Cell Dimensions:
a = 3.9, c = 16.95, Z = 1; V = 223.27 Den(Calc)= 4.21
Crystal System:
Hexagonal - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal H-M Symbol (6/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: P 63 /mmc
X Ray Diffraction:
By Intensity(I/Io ): 3.134(1), 2.818(0.8), 1.887(0.65),
Physical Properties of Idaite
Color:
Brown, Copper red, Red.
Density:
4.2
Diaphaneity:
Opaque
Habit:
Inclusions - Generally found as inclusions in other minerals.
Habit:
Microscopic Crystals - Crystals visible only with microscopes.
Hardness:
2.5-3.5 - Finger Nail-Copper Penny
Luster:
Metallic
Optical Properties of Idaite
RL Anisotrophism:
Strong, reddish orange to reddish brown.
RL Color:
Coppery red to pinchbeck brown.
Reflectivity
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Idaite in Air
λ
R1
R 2
∑ R1 (λ)
∑ R2 (λ)
400 nm
13.90
17.70
420 nm
14.80
18.50
440 nm
15.70
19.30
460 nm
16.90
21.00
480 nm
18.40
23.20
500 nm
20.50
25.50
520 nm
23.20
27.80
540 nm
26.10
29.40
560 nm
28.90
30.60
580 nm
30.60
31.40
600 nm
31.90
31.60
620 nm
32.80
31.90
640 nm
33.50
32.20
660 nm
34.10
32.80
680 nm
34.70
33.20
700 nm
35.20
33.70
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Idaite in Air
Relative Intensity
0%
60%
100%
120%
180%
240%
300%
360%
420%
480%
530%
R1
R2
Calculated Properties of Idaite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.97 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Idaite =4.21 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.0046414341 Boson Index = 0.9953585659
Photoelectric:
PEIdaite = 29.94 barns/electronU=PEIdaite x r Electron Density= 118.91 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Idaite is Not Radioactive
Idaite Classification
Dana Class:
02.09.14.01 (02) Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides
(02.09) where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:1
(02.09.14) Dana Group
02.09.14.01 Idaite Cu5FeS6 P 63 /mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m
02.09.14.02 Catamarcaite ! Cu6GeWS8 P 63 mc 6/m 2/m 2/m
Strunz Class:
02.CB.15a 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf
02.C - Metal Sulfides, M:S = 1:1 (and similar)
02.CB -With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, Au, etc
02.CB.15a Cernyite Cu2CdSnS4 I 4 2m 4 2m
02.CB.15a Ferrokesterite Cu2(Fe,Zn)SnS4 I 4 2m 4 2m
02.CB.15a Kesterite Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4 I 4 4
02.CB.15a Hocartite Ag2FeSnS4 I 4 2m 4 2m
02.CB.15a Idaite Cu5FeS6 P 63 /mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m
02.CB.15a Kuramite Cu3SnS4 I 4 2m 4 2m
02.CB.15a Pirquitasite Ag2ZnSnS4 I 4 2m 4 2m
02.CB.15a Stannite Cu2FeSnS4 I 4 2m 4 2m
02.CB.15a Velikite Cu2HgSnS4 I 4 2m 4 2m
Other Idaite Information
References:
NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Dana8) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)
See Also:
Links to other databases for Idaite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
Search for Idaite using:
[AOL ]
[Bing ]
[Dog Pile ]
[GeoScienceWorld ]
[HotBot ]
[Ixquick ]
[Lycos ]
[MAMMA ]
[Scirus ]
[Teoma ]
[WebCrawler ]
[Wikipedia ]
[YAHOO ]
Visit our Advertisers for Idaite :
Ask about Idaite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
Original Rockhounds Discussion Group
Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in
Espa�ol
Print or Cut-and-Paste your Idaite Specimen Label here :
Idaite
Cu5FeS6
Dana No: 02.09.14.01 Strunz No: 02.CB.15a
Locality:
Notes:
Dakota Matrix
Excalibur Minerals
Exceptional Minerals
Hudson Insitute
John Betts Fine Minerals
Mc Dougall Minerals
Mineral News
Rock and Mineral Shows
Weinrich Minerals, Inc.