Duranusite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Duranusite
Formula:
As4S
Colour:
Grey black, translucent dark red in very tiny splinters
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
4.50 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named by Zdenek Johan, Claude Laforêt, Paul Picot and Jean Feraud in 1973 for the type locality, the small community of Duranus, France.
A rare black sulphide mineral.
Layered structure, related to that of arsenolamprite. The unit cell has 8 As and 2 S atoms. There are two types of corrugated layers - As2 and As2S - stacked along [010].
Layered structure, related to that of arsenolamprite. The unit cell has 8 As and 2 S atoms. There are two types of corrugated layers - As2 and As2S - stacked along [010].
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1333
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1333:4
IMA Classification of Duranusite
Approved
Approval year:
1973
Classification of Duranusite
2.FA.05
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
F : Sulfides of arsenic, alkalies; sulfides with halide, oxide, hydroxide, H2O
A : With As, (Sb), S
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
F : Sulfides of arsenic, alkalies; sulfides with halide, oxide, hydroxide, H2O
A : With As, (Sb), S
2.1.4.1
2 : SULFIDES
1 : AmXp, with m:p > 3:1
2 : SULFIDES
1 : AmXp, with m:p > 3:1
3.7.2
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Du | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Du | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Duranusite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Grey black, translucent dark red in very tiny splinters
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=58 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
4.50 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Duranusite
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 39.0% | 42.0% |
| 420nm | 36.8% | 39.4% |
| 440nm | 34.6% | 36.8% |
| 460nm | 33.0% | 34.8% |
| 480nm | 32.1% | 33.6% |
| 500nm | 31.4% | 32.7% |
| 520nm | 30.8% | 32.2% |
| 540nm | 30.4% | 31.8% |
| 560nm | 30.0% | 31.5% |
| 580nm | 29.6% | 31.0% |
| 600nm | 29.1% | 30.6% |
| 620nm | 28.7% | 30.3% |
| 640nm | 28.4% | 30.0% |
| 660nm | 28.0% | 29.7% |
| 680nm | 27.6% | 29.3% |
| 700nm | 27.1% | 29.0% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 42.0%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Gray white
Chemistry of Duranusite
Mindat Formula:
As4S
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Duranusite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pmna
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.576(2) Å, b = 6.759(2) Å, c = 10.074(5) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.529 : 1 : 1.49
Unit Cell V:
243.49 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Small polycrystalline grains, fibers, wiry aggregates.
Comment:
Bonazzi et al. (2016) give a = 3.611(5), b 6.755(8), c = 10.10(1) Å.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.919 Å | (100) |
| 5.620 Å | (90) |
| 5.037 Å | (90) |
| 1.969 Å | (90) |
| 1.788 Å | (90) |
| 2.682 Å | (80) |
| 3.016 Å | (70) |
Comments:
Duranus, France. Data from the type description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Duranusite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Tiny grey black grains encased in realgar.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Calcite veinlets in marls and siliceous limestones.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Duranusite
Other Language Names for Duranusite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.FA. | Bonazziite | As4S4 |
| 2.FA. | Anorpiment | As2S3 |
| 2.FA. | Paradimorphite | As4S3 |
| 2.FA.10 | Dimorphite | As4S3 |
| 2.FA.15b | Pararealgar | As4S4 |
| 2.FA.15a | Realgar | As4S4 |
| 2.FA.15d | 'UM1970-18-S:As' | As4S4 |
| 2.FA.20 | Alacránite | As8S9 |
| 2.FA.25 | Uzonite | As4S5 |
| 2.FA.30 | Laphamite | As2Se3 |
| 2.FA.30 | Orpiment | As2S3 |
| 2.FA.35 | Getchellite | AsSbS3 |
| 2.FA.40 | Wakabayashilite | [(As,Sb)6S9][As4S5] |
| 2.FA.40 | Kalgoorlieite | As2Te3 |
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 Duranusite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1333.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Duranusite
Reference List:
Johan, Zdenek, Laforêt, Claude, Picot, Paul, Feraud, Jean (1973) La duranusite, As4S, un nouveau minéral. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 96 (2) 131-134 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1973.6794
Fleischer, Michael; Mandarino, Joseph A. (1975) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 60 (9-10). 945-947
Bonazzi, Paola, Bindi, Luca (2008) A crystallographic review of arsenic sulfides: effects of chemical variations and changes induced by exposure to light. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 223 (1). 132-147 doi:10.1524/zkri.2008.0011
Localities for Duranusite
Showing 14 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Márquez-Zavalía et al. (1999) +1 other reference |
| Márquez-Zavalía et al. (1999) | |
Bulgaria | |
| Miadenova (2000) |
Canada | |
| Roberts et al. (1980) |
Czech Republic | |
| Scharm +7 other references |
France (TL) | |
| Johan et al. (1973) |
Germany | |
| SEM-EDS and XRD by Joy Desor and ... |
| Belendorff (2021) |
Greece | |
| Uwe Kolitsch and Branko Rieck analyses (see also http://lavrion.gr/Minerals/Updates.html) |
Kosovo | |
| Mederski et al. (2022) |
North Macedonia | |
| Đorđević et al. (2017) |
Russia | |
| Kasatkin et al. (2018) +1 other reference |
Serbia | |
| Slobodan A. Radosavljević et al. (2013) | |
| Radosavljević +3 other references |
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L'Eguisse Mine, Duranus, Nice Arrondissement, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France