2.CB.10a

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.

Dana 8th ed.:

2.9.1.5

2 : SULFIDES
9 : A_mB_nX_p, with (m+n):p = 1:1

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Ln	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of LenaiteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Steel Grey

Streak:

Dark grey to black

Hardness:

4½ on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₁₀=270 - 300 kg/mm² - Vickers

Cleavage:

None Observed

Density:

4.63 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of LenaiteHide

Anisotropism:

Moderate, in yellowish tints.

Bireflectance:

None

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁	R₂
471.1 nm	28.2%	30.6%
548.3 nm	31.8%	35.8%
586.6 nm	32.8%	36.5%
652.3 nm	30.9%	35.0%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 36.5%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in red

Colour in reflected light:

Greyish white.

Internal Reflections:

None.

Pleochroism:

Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of LenaiteHide

Mindat Formula:

AgFeS₂

Elements listed:

Ag, Fe, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of LenaiteHide

Crystal System:

Tetragonal

Class (H-M):

4 2m - Scalenohedral

Space Group:

I4 2d

Cell Parameters:

a = 5.4371 Å, c = 10.8479 Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 1.995

Unit Cell V:

320.69 Å³

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4

View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c

Rotation
Stop | Start

Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow

Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0006082	Lenaite	Bindi L, Spry P G, Pratesi G (2006) Lenaite from the Gies gold-silver telluride deposit, Judith Mountains, Montana, USA: occurrence, composition, and crystal structure The Canadian Mineralogist 44 207-212		2006	Gies gold-silver telluride deposit, Judith Mountains, Montana, USA	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Lenaite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Bindi L'
'Spry P G'
'Pratesi G'
_journal_name_full 'The Canadian Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 44 
_journal_year 2006
_journal_page_first 207
_journal_page_last 212
_publ_section_title
;
 Lenaite from the Gies gold-silver telluride deposit, Judith Mountains, Montana, USA:
 occurrence, composition, and crystal structure
;
_database_code_amcsd 0006082
_chemical_compound_source 'Gies gold-silver telluride deposit, Judith Mountains, Montana, USA'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Ag Fe S2'
_cell_length_a 5.4371
_cell_length_b 5.4371
_cell_length_c 10.8479
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 320.686
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      4.719
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'I -4 2 d'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  '1/2-y,-x,3/4+z'
  '-y,1/2-x,1/4+z'
  'y,-x,-z'
  '1/2+y,1/2-x,1/2-z'
  '-x,1/2+y,1/4-z'
  '1/2-x,+y,3/4-z'
  '-x,-y,z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+y,x,3/4+z'
  '+y,1/2+x,1/4+z'
  '-y,x,-z'
  '1/2-y,1/2+x,1/2-z'
  'x,1/2-y,1/4-z'
  '1/2+x,-y,3/4-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Ag   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000   0.01609
Fe   0.00000   0.00000   0.50000   0.01505
S   0.28570   0.25000   0.12500   0.01800
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Ag 0.01620 0.01620 0.01586 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000
Fe 0.01520 0.01520 0.01480 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000
S 0.01890 0.01750 0.01760 0.00000 0.00000 -0.00030

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.15 Å	(100)
1.910 Å	(40)
2.445 Å	(20)
1.692 Å	(20)
2.340 Å	(< 20)
3.43 Å	(10)
2.824 Å	(10)

Comments:

Geis Mine, Montana, USA. The data are from Bindi et al. (2006).

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere	>4.45
14 : Hot springs, geysers, and other subaerial geothermal minerals

Type Occurrence of LenaiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Khachakchan Ag-Sb-Hg deposit, Khachakchan ore cluster, Verkhoyansk Silver Province, Verkhoyansk Fold Belt, Sakha, Russia

General Appearance of Type Material:

Xenomorphic or equant grains, to 0.2 mm, in goethite pseudomorphs after magnesian siderite.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Geological Museum, Yakutsk Scientific Center, Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russia.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of LenaiteHide

IMA1994-008

Other Language Names for LenaiteHide

German:Lenait

Russian:Ленаит

Spanish:Lenaita

Relationship of Lenaite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Chalcopyrite Group

Other Members of this group:

Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
Eskebornite	CuFeSe₂	Tet. 4 2m : P4 2c
Gallite	CuGaS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
Laforêtite	AgInS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
Roquesite	CuInS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
Shenzhuangite	NiFeS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulpide)	Cu₂MnSnS₄

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

1 photo of Lenaite associated with Stephanite	Ag₅SbS₄
1 photo of Lenaite associated with Silver Amalgam Group

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.CB.	Agmantinite	Ag₂MnSnS₄	Orth.
2.CB.	Richardsite	Zn₂CuGaS₄	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.	Gachingite	Au(Te_1-xSe_x)	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.	Tolstykhite	Au₃S₄Te₆	Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.	Hanswilkeite	KFeS₂	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.CB.	Auroselenide	AuSe	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.CB.	Ruizhongite	(Ag₂◻)Pb₃Ge₂S₈	Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d
2.CB.	Okruginite	Cu₂SnSe₃	Mon. m : Bb
2.CB.05a	Coloradoite	HgTe	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05a	Hawleyite	CdS	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05a	Metacinnabar	HgS	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05c	Polhemusite	(Zn,Hg)S	Tet.
2.CB.05b	Sakuraiite	(Cu,Zn,Fe)₃(In,Sn)S₄	Iso.
2.CB.05a	Sphalerite	ZnS	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05a	Stilleite	ZnSe	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05a	Tiemannite	HgSe	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05	UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn	Cu₂Fe₃Zn₅S₁₀
2.CB.05a	Rudashevskyite	(Fe,Zn)S	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05a	Ishiharaite	(Cu,Ga,Fe,In,Zn)S	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.07a	Shenzhuangite	NiFeS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.07a	Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulpide)	Cu₂MnSnS₄
2.CB.10a	Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10a	Eskebornite	CuFeSe₂	Tet. 4 2m : P4 2c
2.CB.10a	Gallite	CuGaS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10b	Haycockite	Cu₄Fe₅S₈	Orth. 2 2 2
2.CB.10b	Mooihoekite	Cu₉Fe₉S₁₆	Tet. 4 2m : P4 2m
2.CB.10b	Putoranite	Cu_1.1Fe_1.2S₂	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pn3m
2.CB.10a	Roquesite	CuInS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10b	Talnakhite	Cu₉(Fe,Ni)₈S₁₆	Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m
2.CB.10a	Laforêtite	AgInS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10a	Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)	CuZn₂InS₄
2.CB.10a	UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn	Cu₂Fe₂Sn₃S₇
2.CB.10c	Omariniite	Cu₈Fe₂ZnGe₂S₁₂	Orth. 2 2 2 : I2 2 2
2.CB.15a	Černýite	Cu₂(Cd,Zn,Fe)SnS₄	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.15a	Ferrokësterite	Cu₂FeSnS₄	Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15a	Hocartite	Ag₂(Fe²⁺,Zn)SnS₄	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.15a	Idaite	Cu₅FeS₆	Hex.
2.CB.15a	Kësterite	Cu₂ZnSnS₄	Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15a	Kuramite	Cu₃SnS₄	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.15b	Mohite	Cu₂SnS₃	Mon.
2.CB.15a	Pirquitasite	Ag₂ZnSnS₄	Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15a	Stannite	Cu₂FeSnS₄	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.15c	Stannoidite	Cu⁺₆Cu²⁺₂(Fe²⁺,Zn)₃Sn₂S₁₂	Orth. 2 2 2 : I2 2 2
2.CB.15a	Velikite	Cu₂HgSnS₄	Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15c	UM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn	Cu₈(Fe,Zn)₃Ge₂S₁₂ (?)
2.CB.17a v	Arsenic-bearing Renierite	Cu₁₁GeAsFe₄S₁₆
2.CB.20	Chatkalite	Cu₆FeSn₂S₈	Tet. 4 2m : P4m2
2.CB.20	Mawsonite	Cu₆Fe₂SnS₈	Tet. 4 2m : P4m2
2.CB.30	Argyropyrite	near Ag₂Fe₇S₁₁
2.CB.30	Colusite	Cu₁₃VAs₃S₁₆	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3n
2.CB.30	Germanite	Cu₁₃Fe₂Ge₂S₁₆	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3n
2.CB.30	Germanocolusite	Cu₂₆V₂(Ge,As)₆S₃₂	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m
2.CB.30	Nekrasovite	Cu₂₆V₂(Sn,As,Sb)₆S₃₂	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3n
2.CB.30	Stibiocolusite	Cu₁₃V(Sb,Sn,As)₃S₁₆	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m
2.CB.30	Ovamboite	Cu₂₀(Fe,Cu,Zn)₆W₂Ge₆S₃₂	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3n
2.CB.30	Maikainite	Cu₂₀(Fe,Cu)₆Mo₂Ge₆S₃₂	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m)
2.CB.30	Frieseite	Ag₂Fe₅S₈ (?)
2.CB.35a	Hemusite	Cu₆SnMoS₈	Iso.
2.CB.35a	Kiddcreekite	Cu₆SnWS₈	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.35a	Polkovicite	(Fe,Pb)₃(Ge,Fe)_1-xS₄	Iso.
2.CB.35a	Renierite	(Cu¹⁺,Zn)₁₁Fe₄(Ge⁴⁺,As⁵⁺)₂S₁₆	Tet. 4 2m : P4 2c
2.CB.35a	Vinciennite	Cu⁺₇Cu²⁺₃Fe²⁺₂Fe³⁺₂Sn(As,Sb)S₁₆	Tet.
2.CB.35a	Morozeviczite	(Pb,Fe)₃Ge_1-xS₄	Iso.
2.CB.35b	Catamarcaite	Cu₆GeWS₈	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.40	Lautite	CuAsS	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.CB.42	Lingbaoite	AgTe₃	Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.45	Cadmoselite	CdSe	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Greenockite	CdS	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Wurtzite	(Zn,Fe)S	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Rambergite	MnS	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Buseckite	(Fe,Zn,Mn)S	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Maletoyvayamite	Au₃Se₄Te₆	Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.47	Murchisite	Cr₅S₆	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1c
2.CB.50	Zincselenide	ZnSe
2.CB.50	Wassonite	TiS	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
2.CB.52	Dzhezkazganite	ReMoCu₂PbS₆ ?	Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.55a	Cubanite	CuFe₂S₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.55b	Isocubanite	CuFe₂S₃	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m
2.CB.60	Picotpaulite	TlFe₂S₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm
2.CB.60	Raguinite	TlFeS₂	Orth.
2.CB.65	Argentopyrite	AgFe₂S₃	Mon. 2/m
2.CB.65	Sternbergite	AgFe₂S₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.70	Sulvanite	Cu₃VS₄	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m
2.CB.75	Vulcanite	CuTe	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.80	Empressite	AgTe	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.85	Muthmannite	AuAgTe₂	Mon. 2/m : P2/m

Other InformationHide

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 LenaiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-2372.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Search Engines:

Look for Lenaite on Google

Look for Lenaite images on Google

Look for Lenaite on Bing

Look for Lenaite images on Bing

Look for Lenaite on DuckDuckGo

Look for Lenaite images on DuckDuckGo

Look for Lenaite in the Rock H. Currier Digital Library

External Links:

Look for Lenaite on Webmineral

Look for Lenaite on Wikipedia

Look for Lenaite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.

The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals

Buy from David K Joyce minerals

Blue Gems Australian & International

High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service

Buy from McDougall Minerals

Wilensky Exquisite Minerals

Buy rare minerals from Excalibur Minerals

References for LenaiteHide

Reference List:

Amuzinskii, V.A., Zhdanov, Yu.Ya., Zayakina, N.V., Leskova, N.V. (1995) Lenaite, AgFeS2, a new mineral species. Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 124(5): 85-91. [in Russian, abstract in Amer. Mineral., 81, 1283]

Mandarino, Joseph A. (1996) Abstracts of New Mineral Descriptions. The Mineralogical Record, 27 (6) 463-466

Jambor, J.L., Kovalenker, V.A., Puziewics, J., Roberts, A.C. (1996) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 81: 1282-1286.

Samusikov, V.P., Gamyanin, G.N., Pavlova, L.A. (2000) Chalcopyrite-lenaite: A new isomorphic series of copper and silver. Doklady Earth Sciences, 374, 1166-1168.

Bindi, L., Spry, P.G., Pratesi, G. (2006) Lenaite from the Gies gold–silver telluride deposit, Judith Mountains, Montana, U.S.A.: occurrence, composition, and crystal structure. The Canadian Mineralogist: 44: 207-212.

Locock, A.J., Ercit, T.S., Kjellman, J., Piilonen, C. (2006) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 91: 1945-1954.

Boon, J.W. (2010) The crystal structure of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and AgFeS2: The permutoidic reactions KFeS2 -> CuFeS2 and KFeS2 -> AgFeS2. Recueil des Travaux Chimiques des Pays-Bas: 63: 69-80.

Djaafri, T., Bouafia, H., Sahli, B., Djebour, B., Uğur, Ş., Uğur, G., & Moussa, H. (2020). Study of the ground-state magnetic ordering, magnetic and optoelectronic properties of (Lenaite) AgFeS2 in its chalcopyrite structure. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 493, 165730.

Prakash, G., Paulraj, S., Adam, A.M., Ibrahim, E.M.M., Veluswamy, P., Kathirvel, V. (2021) Thermoelectric properties of Lenaite: A first principles study. Materials Letters, 300, 130146.

(2023) Lenaite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for LenaiteHide

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

- 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). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Austria
Lower Austria Lilienfeld District Annaberg ⓘ St Anna Mine ("Hocheck" mine) ?	Kolitsch et al. (2017)

France
Occitanie Tarn Castres Montredon-Labessonnié Peyrebrune ⓘ Le Rivet Quarry	Guy Bernadi collection; EDX analysis ... +1 other reference

Japan
Yamagata Prefecture Yonezawa City ⓘ Yatani mine ?	Dr. Kameki Kinoshita collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan)

Mexico
Mexico ⓘ Popocatepetl Volcano ?	Larocque et al. (2008)

Russia
Bashkortostan Beloretsk district ⓘ Uluelga-Kudashman zone	Kovalev et al. (2017)
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Okhotsk-Chukotka belt ⓘ Corrida deposit	Kolova et al. (2021)
ⓘ Pepenveem deposit	Глухов et al. (2021)
Kamchatka Krai Bystrinsky District Central Kamchatka mining district Baranyevskoe ore field ⓘ Baranyevskoe deposit	Tolstykh et al. (2021)
Yelizovsky District ⓘ Rodnikovoe	Takahashi et al. (2002) +1 other reference
Krasnoyarsk Krai Maimecha and Kotui Rivers Basin ⓘ Gulinskii massif (Guli)	N. V. Sorokhtina et al. (2010) +1 other reference
Magadan Oblast Omsukchansky District Engteri ore cluster ⓘ Julietta deposit	Palyanova et al. (2016)
Primorskoe deposit ⓘ Teplyi	Savva et al. (2019)
ⓘ Teploe deposit	Volkov et al. (2018)
Sakha ⓘ Aid deposit ?	Nekrasov et al. (1987) +1 other reference
ⓘ Alfa deposit ?	Nekrasov et al. (1987) +1 other reference
ⓘ Privol'noye mine	unpublished SEM/EDS analysis
Verkhoyansk Fold Belt Verkhoyansk Silver Province Khachakchan ore cluster ⓘ Khachakchan Ag-Sb-Hg deposit (TL)	Amuzinskii et al. (1995) +1 other reference
ⓘ Nochnoe Ag-Sb-Hg deposit	Pavlova et al. (2009)
Zabaykalsky Krai ⓘ Taseyevskoye Au deposit	Eremin et al. (2023)

Slovakia
Banská Bystrica Region Žarnovica District Hodruša-Hámre Hodruša-Hámre mines ⓘ Kopanice	Berkh et al. (2014)

Turkey
Balikesir Province Sindirgi District ⓘ Kiziltepe deposit	Blanks et al. (2014)

UK
England Cumbria Eden Alston Moor Garrigill ⓘ Tynebottom Mine ?	Ixer et al. (1987) +1 other reference

USA
Montana Fergus County Warm Springs District (Gilt Edge District; Gold Hill District; Maiden District) Cone Butte Sub-District ⓘ Geis Mine (Red Metal Claim group; Gies Mine; Elk Peak project; Bertha claim group)	Bindi et al. (2006)

Lenaite

About LenaiteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of LenaiteHide

Classification of LenaiteHide