Tetrahedrite

Tetrahedrite

Infobox mineral
name = Tetrahedrite
category = Mineral: sulfosalt
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caption = A sample of grey tetrahedrite, with white quartz
formula = (Cu,Fe)12Sb4S13
molweight = 1,643.31 gm
color = Steel gray to iron-gray
habit = massive to well formed crystals
system = Cubic
twinning =
cleavage = None
fracture = Uneven
tenacity =
mohs = 3½ - 4
luster = Metallic
streak = Black
polish =
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diaphaneity = Opaque
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Tetrahedrite is a copper antimony sulfosalt mineral with formula: (Cu,Fe)12Sb4S13. It is the antimony endmember of the continuous solid solution series with arsenic bearing tennantite. Pure endmembers of the series are seldom if ever seen in nature. Of the two, the antimony rich phase is more common. Other elements also substitute in the structure, most notably iron and zinc along with less common silver, mercury and lead. Bismuth also substitutes for the antimony site and "bismuthian tetrahedrite" or "annivite" is a recognized variety. The related, silver dominant, mineral species freibergite, although rare, is notable in that it can contain up to 18% silver.

Tetrahedrite gets its name from the distinctive tetrahedron shaped cubic crystals. The mineral usually occurs in massive form, it is a steel grey to black metallic mineral with Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4 and specific gravity of 4.6 to 5.2.

It occurs in low to moderate temperature hydrothermal veins and in some contact metamorphic deposits. It is a minor ore of copper and associated metals. It was first described in 1845 for occurrences in Freiberg, Saxony, Germany.

ee also

*Bornite
*Cuprite
*Tennantite

References

* Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, "Manual of Mineralogy", 20th ed., Wiley, ISBN 0-471-80580-7
* [http://www.mindat.org/min-3924.html Mindat]
* [http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/tetrahed/tetrahed.htm Mineral galleries]
* [http://www.webmineral.com/data/Tetrahedrite.shtml Webmineral data]


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  • Tetrahedrite — Tet ra*he drite, n. [So called because the crystals of the species are commonly tetrahedrons.] (Min.) A sulphide of antimony and copper, with small quantities of other metals. It is a very common ore of copper, and some varieties yield a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tetrahedrite — [te΄trə hē′drīt΄] n. [Ger tetraëdrit < LGr tetraedros (see TETRAHEDRON) + it, ITE1] a gray to black, semihard, cubic mineral, copper iron antimony sulfide, (Cu,Fe) 12Sb4S13, that is a main ore of copper …   English World dictionary

  • tetrahedrite — /te treuh hee druyt/, n. a steel gray or blackish mineral with a brilliant metallic luster, essentially copper and antimony sulfide, (Cu, Fe, Zn, Ag,)12 Sb4S13, an end member of a series of solid solutions into which arsenic enters to form… …   Universalium

  • tetrahedrite — tetraedritas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Mineralas. formulė Cu₁₂Sb₄S₁₃ atitikmenys: angl. tetrahedrite rus. тетраэдрит …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • tetrahedrite — noun A complex ore of copper, a mixed sulfide of copper, iron, zinc, silver and antimony …   Wiktionary

  • tetrahedrite — [ˌtɛtrə hi:drʌɪt, hɛdrʌɪt] noun a grey mineral consisting of a sulphide of antimony, iron, and copper …   English new terms dictionary

  • tetrahedrite — tet·ra·he·drite …   English syllables

  • tetrahedrite — tet•ra•he•drite [[t]ˌtɛ trəˈhi draɪt[/t]] n. 1) mir any of a group of copper and silver ore minerals ranging from copper iron antimony sulfide to copper iron arsenic sulfide; copper is the chief metal but other metals (Fe, Zn, Ag) substitute for… …   From formal English to slang

  • tetrahedrite — /tɛtrəˈhidraɪt/ (say tetruh heedruyt) noun a steel grey or blackish mineral with a brilliant metallic lustre, essentially copper and antimony sulphide (nearly Cu3SbS3), but often containing other elements, as silver, etc., occurring in… …  

  • tetrahedrite — ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈhēˌdrīt noun ( s) Etymology: German tetraëdrit, from Late Greek tetraedros having four faces + German it ite : a fine grained gray mineral (Cu,Fe)12Sb4S13 that is isomorphous with tennantite, consists of a sulfide of copper, iron, and… …   Useful english dictionary

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