Berndtite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Berndtite
Formula:
SnS2
Colour:
Yellow-brown
Lustre:
Resinous
Hardness:
1 - 2
Specific Gravity:
4.5
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
For Dr. Fritz Berndt, born 14 November 1916, German Mineralogist at Corporation Minera de Bolivia, Oruro.
There are two polytypes, -2T and -4H.
Not isostructural with is chemical Ge analogue, radvaniceite (not a true analogy).
Not isostructural with is chemical Ge analogue, radvaniceite (not a true analogy).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
637
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:637:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
b9536f65-5e38-4d78-a707-b408a3dbd2cd
IMA Classification of Berndtite
Approved
First published:
1964
Classification of Berndtite
2.EA.20
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
A : M:S = 1:2 - With Cu, Ag, Au
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
A : M:S = 1:2 - With Cu, Ag, Au
2.12.14.5
2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
3.6.3
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
6 : Sulphides etc. of Sb and Pb
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
6 : Sulphides etc. of Sb and Pb
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Bti | 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 Berndtite
Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Yellow-brown
Streak:
Golden yellow
Hardness:
1 - 2 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {0001}
On {0001}
Density:
4.5 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.55 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured on synthetic material
Optical Data of Berndtite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.930 nε = 1.705
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.225
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Anisotropism:
Dark greenish gray
Colour in reflected light:
Gray
Internal Reflections:
Intense brownish to orange-yellow
Pleochroism:
Strong
Chemistry of Berndtite
Mindat Formula:
SnS2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Berndtite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P3m1
Setting:
P3m1
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.639 Å, c = 5.868 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.613
Unit Cell V:
67.30 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
Tabular hexagonal crystals.
Comment:
On C6 polymorph
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0000625 | Berndtite | Hazen R M, Finger L W (1978) The crystal structures and compressibilities of layer minerals at high pressure. I. SnS2, berndtite American Mineralogist 63 289-292 | 1978 | 0 | 293 | ||
0000626 | Berndtite | Hazen R M, Finger L W (1978) The crystal structures and compressibilities of layer minerals at high pressure. I. SnS2, berndtite American Mineralogist 63 289-292 | 1978 | 1.2 | 293 | ||
0000627 | Berndtite | Hazen R M, Finger L W (1978) The crystal structures and compressibilities of layer minerals at high pressure. I. SnS2, berndtite American Mineralogist 63 289-292 | 1978 | 3 | 293 | ||
0011799 | Berndtite | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 239-444 | 1963 | 0 | 293 | ||
0018172 | Berndtite | Oftedal I (1926) Die Kristallstruktur von Sn S2 _cod_database_code 1011330 Norsk Geologisk Tidsskrift 9 225-233 | 1926 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
5.89 Å | (100) |
2.784 Å | (55) |
3.162 Å | (30) |
1.824 Å | (30) |
2.155 Å | (25) |
1.743 Å | (20) |
1.669 Å | (8) |
Comments:
Synthetic
Type Occurrence of Berndtite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Very fine inclusions in pyrite which has replaced stannite. Tabular habit .
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, numbers 114486 and C5354A.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Secondary mineral in a tin deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Moh, G.H. and Berndt, F. (1964) Two new natural tin sulfides, Sn2S3 and SnS2 Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Monatshefte: 3: 94-95.
Other Language Names for Berndtite
Relationship of Berndtite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Kitkaite | NiTeSe | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
Melonite | NiTe2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
Merenskyite | PdTe2 | Trig. 3m : P3m1 |
Moncheite | Pt(Te,Bi)2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
Shuangfengite | IrTe2 | Trig. 3m : P3m1 |
Sudovikovite | PtSe2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Berndtite associated with Tschermigite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
1 photo of Berndtite associated with Herzenbergite | SnS |
1 photo of Berndtite associated with Ottemannite | Sn2S3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.EA. | Radvaniceite | GeS2 |
2.EA.05 | Sylvanite | AgAuTe4 |
2.EA.10 | Calaverite | AuTe2 |
2.EA.15 | Kostovite | CuAuTe4 |
2.EA.15 | Krennerite | Au3AgTe8 |
2.EA.20 | Kitkaite | NiTeSe |
2.EA.20 | Melonite | NiTe2 |
2.EA.20 | Merenskyite | PdTe2 |
2.EA.20 | Moncheite | Pt(Te,Bi)2 |
2.EA.20 | Shuangfengite | IrTe2 |
2.EA.20 | Sudovikovite | PtSe2 |
2.EA.20 | Ognitite | NiBiTe |
2.EA.25 | Verbeekite | PdSe2 |
2.EA.30 | Drysdallite | MoSe2 |
2.EA.30 | Jordisite | MoS2 |
2.EA.30 | Molybdenite | MoS2 |
2.EA.30 | Tungstenite | WS2 |
2.EA.40 | Pampaloite | AuSbTe |
Other Information
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 Berndtite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-637.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Berndtite
Reference List:
Fleischer, Michael, Chao, G. Y., Cabri, L. J. (1975) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 60 (7-8) 736-739
Bailey, S. W. (1977) Report of the I.M.A.-I. U.Cr. Joint Committee on Nomenclature. American Mineralogist, 62 (5-6) 411-415
Localities for Berndtite
Locality List
- 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.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Bolivia | |
| King (n.d.) |
| Franco (2018) |
Jiménez-Franco et al. (2018) | |
Jiménez-Franco et al. (2018) | |
Jiménez-Franco et al. (2018) | |
| Torres et al. (2019) |
| Moh et al. (1964) +1 other reference |
Germany | |
| T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998 (7/8) |
Japan | |
| The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed) +2 other references |
Namibia | |
| |
| rruff.geo.arizona.edu (2006) |
Portugal | |
| Sopa de Pedras |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
USA | |
| Grant (Apr 74) +2 other references |
Quick NavTopAbout BerndtiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Lichtenberg Absetzer dump, Kauern, Greiz District, Thuringia, Germany