Catamarcaite Mineral Data

General Catamarcaite Information

Chemical Formula:

Cu6GeWS8

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 902.31 gm

Iron 0.19 % Fe

Copper 42.89 % Cu

Silver 0.12 % Ag

Germanium 7.89 % Ge

Tungsten 20.99 % W

Sulfur 27.93 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Cu_6.09Ag_0.01Fe³⁺_0.03Ge_0.98W_1.03S_7.86

Environment:

Occurs as a thin rim lining cavities and fractures in chalcocite-bornite ore.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 2003 (Dana # Added)

Locality:

Old dumps near the La Rosario vein, Capillitas epithermal deposit, Catamarca Province, Argentina. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after the locality.

Synonym:

IMA2003-020

Catamarcaite Image

Images:

Click Here for Larger Catamarcaite Image

Catamarcaite Putzite

Comments: Polished section of putzite (pu) grain in close association with unnamed Cu8Fe2ZnGe2S12 (un1) and catamarcaite (ca), as inclusions in chalcocite-sphalerite (cc/sp) (CanMin 42:1761).
Location: Old dumps near the Rosario vein, Capillitas mining district, Department of AndalgalÃ¡, Catamarca Province, Argentina.. Scale: See Image.
© Canadian Mineralogist

Images:

Catamarcaite

Comments: Fractured aggregate of catamarcaite (Ct) composed of twinned grains with red internal reflections; Dg is digenite, Sp sphalerite. Oil immersion, crossed polars. (CanMin, v44:1481).
Location: Bornite-rich ore from old dumps near the La Rosario vein, Capillitas epithermal deposit, Catamarca Province, Argentina. Scale: See Image.
© Canadian Mineralogist

Images:

Catamarcaite Briartite Bornite

Comments: Briartite-type phase (Bri) in close association with catamarcaite (Ct) lining a cavity in massive bornite (Bn) - chalcocite (Cc) ore; Sp is sphalerite (CanMin v44:1481).
Location: Bornite-rich ore from old dumps near the La Rosario vein, Capillitas epithermal deposit, Catamarca Province, Argentina.. Scale: See Image.
© Canadian Mineralogist

Images:

Catamarcaite Luzonite

Comments: Catamarcaite (Ct) in contact with luzonite (Luz), unnamed Cu8Fe2ZnGe2S12 (un), sphalerite (Sp) and fine-grained chalcocite - covellite (Cc/Cv). (CanMin v44:1481).
Location: Bornite-rich ore from old dumps near the La Rosario vein, Capillitas epithermal deposit, Catamarca Province, Argentina. Scale: See Image.
© Canadian Mineralogist

Catamarcaite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:1.64677

Cell Dimensions:

a = 7.5238, c = 12.39, Z = 2; V = 607.40 Den(Calc)= 4.93

Crystal System:

Hexagonal - Dihexagonal DipyramidalH-M Symbol (6/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: P 6₃mc

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 5.767(1)(011), 1.881(0.48)(220), 3.151(0.35)(021),2.884(0.28)(022), 1.744(0.26)(026), 2.416(0.26)(121), 3.215(0.25)(112), 1.972(0.24)(025),

Crystal Structure:

Mouse
drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
Keyboard
S - Stereo Pair on/off
H - Help Screen
I - Data Info
A - Atoms On/Off
P - Polyhedra On/Off
B - Bonds On/Off
Help on Above

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

Physical Properties of Catamarcaite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Gray.

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Fracture:

Brittle - Irregular - Very brittle fracture producing irregular fragments

Habit:

Aggregates - Made of numerous individual crystals or clusters.

Habit:

Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix.

Hardness:

3.5 - Copper Penny

Luster:

Metallic

Streak:

black

Optical Properties of Catamarcaite

RL Anisotrophism:

Weak in shades of gray.

RL Bireflectance:

Very weak in oil, absent in air.

RL Color:

Grayish white with a distinct brownish tine with red internal reflections.

RL Pleochroism:

None.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Catamarcaite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	24.30	25.00
420 nm	24.50	25.30
440 nm	24.60	25.30
460 nm	24.50	25.20
470 nm	24.50	25.20
480 nm	24.40	25.10
500 nm	24.20	24.70
520 nm	24.10	24.50
540 nm	24.10	24.50
546 nm	24.10	24.50
560 nm	24.40	24.80
580 nm	24.50	25.10
589 nm	24.50	25.10
600 nm	24.50	25.00
620 nm	24.00	24.50
640 nm	23.60	23.90
650 nm	23.40	23.70
660 nm	23.10	23.30
680 nm	22.60	22.80
700 nm	22.20	22.40

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Catamarcaite in Oil**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	10.40	10.90
420 nm	10.40	10.80
440 nm	10.60	11.10
460 nm	10.60	11.10
470 nm	10.50	11.10
480 nm	10.40	10.90
500 nm	10.20	10.50
520 nm	10.10	10.30
540 nm	10.20	10.30
546 nm	10.20	10.40
560 nm	10.30	10.60
580 nm	10.50	10.90
589 nm	10.50	10.80
600 nm	10.40	10.80
620 nm	10.30	10.50
640 nm	9.80	10.00
650 nm	9.70	9.80
660 nm	9.50	9.70
680 nm	9.10	9.20
700 nm	9.00	9.00

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Catamarcaite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	40%	80%	100%	120%	160%	200%	240%	280%	320%	360%	370%
R₁
R₂

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Catamarcaite in Oil**
Relative Intensity	0%	90%	100%	180%	270%	360%	450%	540%	630%	720%	810%	880%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Catamarcaite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.49 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Catamarcaite =4.93 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.03
Boson Index = 0.97

Photoelectric:

PE_Catamarcaite= 275.18 barns/electron
U=PE_Catamarcaite x rElectron Density=1,236.49 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Catamarcaite is Not Radioactive

Catamarcaite Classification

Dana Class:

02.09.14.02 (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 6₃mc 6/m 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

02.CB.35a 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.35a Hemusite Cu6SnMoS8 Unk Cubic

02.CB.35a Kiddcreekite Cu6SnWS8 Unk Cubic

02.CB.35a Renierite (Cu,Zn)11(Ge,As)2Fe4S16 P 4₂c- 4 2m

02.CB.35a Polkovicite (Fe,Pb)3(Ge,Fe)1-xS4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

02.CB.35a Morozeviczite (Pb,Fe)3Ge1-xS4 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

02.CB.35a Catamarcaite! Cu6GeWS8 P 6₃mc 6/m 2/m 2/m

02.CB.35a Vinciennite Cu10Fe4Sn(As,Sb)S16 P 4₁22 4 2 2

Other Catamarcaite Information

References:

NAME( CanMin, v44:1481) PHYS. PROP.(CanMin, v44:1481) OPTIC PROP.(CanMin, v44:1481)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Catamarcaite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - GeoScienceWorld
4 - Google Images
5 - Google Scholar
6 - MinDAT
7 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
8 - Online Mineral Museum
9 - QUT Mineral Atlas
10 - Ruff.Info

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Catamarcaite Specimen Label here :

Catamarcaite

Cu6GeWS8
Dana No: 02.09.14.02 Strunz No: 02.CB.35a
Locality:

Notes: