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MINERAL CLASSIFICATION / SYSTEMATIK der MINERALE

           based on E.H. Nickel & M.C. Nichols (2009), H. Strunz & E.H. Nickel (2001),
           revised by Thomas Witzke (2022)



2. SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS
(Sulfides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides, Antimonides, Bismuthides, Sulfarsenites, Sulfantimonites, Sulfbismuthites, etc.)


2.L: Sulfosalts with an excess of small (univalent) cations (Ag, Cu) relative to (As, Sb, Bi); unclassified sulfosalts and possible sulfosalts


2.LA. Cu(Ag)-rich sulfosalts
 
2.LA.005. Wittichenite group
 
Skinnerite Cu3SbS3 mon., P21/c IMA 1973-075
Wittichenite Cu3BiS3 orth., P212121 G
Bytízite Cu3SbSe3 orth., Pnma IMA 2016-044


 
2.LA.010. Eldragónite
 
Eldragónite Cu6BiSe4(Se2) orth., Pmcn IMA 2010-077

Structure of Eldragónite: Mixed selenide-diselenide sulfosalt, with alternating thick slabs Cu6Bi2Se6 similar to that in Wittichenite, and thin slabs Cu6Se6 derived from the CaF2 archetype (Paar et al., 2012).


 
2.LA.015. Tennantite group
 
Tennantite-(Mn) Cu6Cu4Mn2As4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2022-040
Tennantite-(Fe) Cu6Cu4Fe2As4S12S cub., I43m G, Rn
Tennantite-(Ni) Cu6Cu4Ni2As4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2021-018
Tennantite-(Cu) Cu6Cu4Cu2As4S12S cub., I43m FOTO IMA 2020-096
Tennantite-(Zn) Cu6Cu4Zn2As4S12S cub., I43m IMA 18-K
Tennantite-(Cd) Cu6Cu4Cd2As4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2021-083
Tennantite-(Cd) Cu6Cu5InAs4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2023-011
Tennantite-(Hg) Cu6Cu4Hg2As4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2020-063
Tetrahedrite-(Mn) Cu6Cu4Mn2Sb4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2021-098
Tetrahedrite-(Fe) Cu6Cu4Fe2Sb4S12S cub., I43m G, Rn
Tetrahedrite-(Ni) Cu6Cu4Ni2Sb4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2021-031
Tetrahedrite-(Cu) Cu6Cu4Cu2Sb4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2022-078
Tetrahedrite-(Zn) Cu6Cu4Zn2Sb4S12S cub., I43m IMA 18-K
Tetrahedrite-(Cd) Cu6Cu4Cd2Sb4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2022-115
Tetrahedrite-(Hg) Cu6Cu4Hg2Sb4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2019-003
Argentotennantite-(Fe) Ag6Cu4Fe2As4S12S cub., I43m IMA 1985-026, Rn
Argentotetrahedrite-(Fe) Ag6Cu4Fe2Sb4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2016-093, Rn
Argentotetrahedrite-(Zn) Ag6Cu4Zn2Sb4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2020-069
Argentotetrahedrite-(Cd) Ag6Cu4Cd2Sb4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2022-053
Argentotetrahedrite-(Hg) Ag6Cu4Hg2Sb4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2020-079
Kenoargentotennantite-(Fe) Ag6Cu4Fe2As4S12 cub., I43m IMA 2020-062
Kenoargentotetrahedrite-(Fe) Ag6Cu4Fe2Sb4S12 cub., I43m G, Rd, Rn
Kenoargentotetrahedrite-(Zn) Ag6Cu4Zn2Sb4S12 cub., I43m IMA 2020-075
Zvěstovite-(Fe) Ag6Ag4Fe2As4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2022-092
Zvěstovite-(Zn) Ag6Ag4Zn2As4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2020-061
Rozhdestvenskayaite-(Zn) Ag6Ag4Zn2Sb4S12S cub., I43m IMA 2016-094
Kenorozhdestvenskayaite-(Fe) Ag6Ag4Fe2Sb4S12 cub., I43m IMA 2022-001
Giraudite-(Zn) Cu6Cu4Zn2As4Se13 cub., I43m IMA 1980-089
Hakite-(Fe) Cu6Cu4Fe2Sb4Se13 cub., I43m IMA 2022-082
Hakite-(Zn) Cu6Cu4Zn2Sb4Se13 cub., I43m IMA 2022-083
Hakite-(Cd) Cu6Cu4Cd2Sb4Se13 cub., I43m IMA 2022-090
Hakite-(Hg) Cu6Cu4Hg2Sb4Se13 cub., I43m IMA 1970-019, Rn
Pošepnýite (Cu33)(Hg4Cu2)Sb4(Se12.50.5) cub., I43m IMA 2018-121a
Arsenogoldfieldite Cu6Cu6(As2Te2)S13 cub., I43m IMA 2022-084
Stibiogoldfieldite Cu6Cu6(Sb2Te2)S13 cub., I43m IMA 2020-104
Goldfieldite (Cu42)Cu6Te4S13 cub., I43m Rd
Arsenoústalečite Cu6Cu6(As2Te2)Se13 cub., I43m IMA 2022-116
Stibioústalečite Cu6Cu6(Sb2Te2)Se13 cub., I43m IMA 2021-071

Kenoargentotetrahedrite-(Fe) was originally described as Freibergite, renamed.


 
2.LA.020. Galkhaite group
 
Galkhaite (Cs,Tl,)(Hg,Cu,Zn)6(As,Sb)4S12 cub., I43m FOTO IMA 1971-029
Vorontsovite (Hg5Cu)TlAs4S12 cub., I43m IMA 2016-076
Ferrovorontsovite (Fe5Cu)TlAs4S12 cub., I43m IMA 2017-007


 
2.LA.025. Nowackiite group
 
Zhengminghuaite Cu6Fe3As4S12 trig., R3 IMA 2022-047
Nowackiite Cu6Zn3As4S12 trig., R3 A
Aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 trig., R3 FOTO Rd
Gruzdevite Cu6Hg3Sb4S12 trig., R3 IMA 1980-053


 
2.LA.030. Sinnerite
 
Sinnerite Cu6As4S9 tric., P1 FOTO IMA 1964-020


 
2.LA.035. Watanabeite
 
Watanabeite Cu4As2S5 orth. IMA 1991-025


 
2.LA.040. Laffittite
 
Laffittite AgHgAsS3 mon., Aa FOTO IMA 1973-031


 
2.LA.045. Stalderite group
 
Stalderite TlCuZn2As2S6 tetr., I42m IMA 1987-024
Ferrostalderite TlCuFe2As2S6 tetr., I42m IMA 2014-090
Routhierite TlCuHg2As2S6 tetr., I4/mmm IMA 1973-030
Ralphcannonite TlAgZn2As2S6 tetr., 42m IMA 2014-077
Arsiccioite TlAgHg2(As,Sb)2S6 tetr., 42m IMA 2013-058


 
2.LA.050. Miharaite
 
Miharaite Cu4FePbBiS6 orth., Pb21m IMA 1976-012


 
2.LA.055. Petrovicite group
 
Petrovicite Cu3PbHgBiSe5 orth., Pnam IMA 1975-010
Mazzettiite Ag3PbHgSbTe5 orth., Pnam IMA 2004-003


 
2.LA.060. Quijarroite
 
Quijarroite Cu6HgPb2Bi4Se12 orth., Pmn21 IMA 2016-052



 
 
2.LB. Ag-rich sulfosalts
 
2.LB.005. Samsonite
 
Samsonite MnAg4Sb2S6 mon., P21/n G


 
2.LB.010. Proustite group
 
Proustite Ag3AsS3 trig., R3c FOTO G
Pyrargyrite Ag3SbS3 trig., R3c FOTO G


 
2.LB.015. Ellisite
 
Ellisite Tl3AsS3 trig., R3m IMA 1977-041


 
2.LB.020. Xanthoconite group
 
Xanthoconite Ag3AsS3 mon., C2/c FOTO G
Pyrostilpnite Ag3SbS3 mon., P21/c FOTO G
Eckerite Ag2CuAsS3 mon., C2/c IMA 2014-063


 
2.LB.025. Pyradoketosite
 
Pyradoketosite Ag3SbS3 mon., P21/n IMA 2019-132


 
2.LB.030. Polybasite group
 
Cupropearceite [Ag9CuS4][Cu6As2S7] trig. IMA 2007-046
Cupropolybasite [Ag9CuS4][Cu6Sb2S7] trig. IMA 2007-046
Pearceite [Ag9CuS4][(Ag,Cu)6(As,Sb)2S7] trig., P3m1 FOTO Rd
Polybasite [Ag9CuS4][(Ag,Cu)6(Sb,As)2S7] trig., P3m1 Rd
Argentopearceite [Ag9AgS4][Ag6As2S7] trig., P321 IMA 2020-049
Argentopolybasite [Ag9AgS4][Ag6Sb2S7] trig., P321 IMA 2021-119
Selenopolybasite [Ag9Cu(S,Se)2Se2][(Ag,Cu)6(Sb,As)2(S,Se)7] trig. IMA 2007-046

"Arsenpolybasite" and "Antimonpearceite" were discredited in 2006, new defined as polytypes of pearceite or polybasite.
Pearceite polytypes: Pearceite-Tac (trig., P3m1), Pearceite-T2ac (trig.), Pearceite-M2a2b2c (mon.).
Polybasite polytypes: Polybasite-Tac (trig.), Polybasite-T2ac (trig., P321), Polybasite-M2a2b2c (mon., C2/c).
Cupropearceite and Cupropolybasite are known as -Tac polytypes.


 
2.LB.035. Stephanite group
 
Stephanite Ag5SbS4 orth., Cmc21 FOTO G
Selenostephanite Ag5Sb(Se,S)4 orth., Cmc21 IMA 1982-028


 
2.LB.040. Fettelite
 
Fettelite [Ag6As2S7][Ag10HgAs2S8] mon., C2 FOTO IMA 1994-056
Ferrofettelite [Ag6As2S7][Ag10FeAs2S8] mon., C2 IMA 2021-094


 
2.LB.045. Benleonardite
 
Benleonardite Ag8(Sb,As)Te2S3 tetr. IMA 1985-043


 
2.LB.050. Tsnigriite
 
Tsnigriite Ag9Te3SbS3 mon., P2/m or Pm IMA 1991-051


 
2.LB.055. Dervillite group
 
Dervillite Ag2AsS2 mon., P2/a Rd
Biagioniite Tl2SbS2 mon., Pc IMA 2019-120


 
2.LB.060. Debattistiite
 
Debattistiite Ag9Hg0.5As6S12Te2 tric., P1 IMA 2011-098



 
 
2.LC. Unclassified sulfosalts and possible sulfosalts with sulfur deficiency
 
2.LC.005. Tvalchrelidzeite
 
Tvalchrelidzeite Hg3SbAsS3 tric., P1 IMA 1974-052


 
2.LC.010. Criddleite
 
Criddleite TlAg2Au3Sb10S10 mon. IMA 1987-037
Thunderbayit TlAg3Au3Sb7S6 tric., P1 IMA 2020-042


 
2.LC.015. Chaméanite
 
Chaméanite (Cu,Fe)4AsSe4 cub. IMA 1980-088


 
2.LC.020. Mgriite
 
Mgriite (Cu,Fe)3AsSe3 cub., Fd3m IMA 1980-100

Mgriite has possibly diamond derivative structure and is possibly identical with chaméanite. Chaméanite would have priority.


 
2.LC.025. Larosite
 
Larosite (Cu,Ag)21(Pb,Bi)2S13 orth., Immm IMA 1971-014


 
2.LC.030. Arcubisite
 
Arcubisite CuAg6(Bi,Pb)S4 ? IMA 1973-009


 
2.LC.035. Jonassonite
 
Jonassonite AuBi5S4 mon., F2/m, F2 or Fm IMA 2004-031


 
2.LC.040. Borovskite
 
Borovskite Pd3SbTe4 cub. IMA 1972-032



 
 

G = Grandfathered minerals: original description preceded the establishment of the CNMNC in 1959, and generally regarded as a valid species
A or IMA No. = Minerals approved by the CNMNC
Rd = Redefinition of the mineral approved by the CNMNC
Rn = Renamed with approval by the CNMNC
Q = Questionable mineral



Classification principles:
Subdivision of the Sulfides etc. subclass 2.L: Sulfosalts with an excess of small (univalent) cations (Ag, Cu) relative to (As, Sb, Bi); unclassified sulfosalts and possible sulfosalts different from Strunz 9, adapted from the sulfosalt systematics in Moëlo et al. (2008) and modified, new: 2.LA Cu(Ag)-rich sulfosalts; 2.LB Ag-rich sulfosalts; 2.LC Unclassified sulfosalts and possible sulfosalts with sulfur deficiency.
Further classification:
2.LA.: Cu(Ag)-rich sulfosalts: Order according to Moëlo et al. (2008), modified and adapted to the Strunz 9 classification scheme.
2.LB.: Ag-rich sulfosalts: Order according to Moëlo et al. (2008), modified and adapted to the Strunz 9 classification scheme
2.LC.: Unclassified sulfosalts and possible sulfosalts with sulfur deficiency: ...


Based on
Moëlo, Y. et al. (2008): Sulfosalt systematics: a review. Report of the sulfosalt sub-committee of the IMA Commission on Ore Mineralogy.- Eur. J. Mineral. 20, 7-46.


To distinguish from classical Strunz numbering, on hierarchical "group" level, a numbering with 3 digits is used, like "2.LA.005. Wittichenite group", instead of 2 digits (like "2.LA.05.") in the Strunz system.


© Thomas Witzke (2023)


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