Krennerite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Krennerite
Krenner József Sándor
Formula:
Au3AgTe8
Colour:
Silver white
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2 - 3
Specific Gravity:
8.62
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in 1877 by Gerhard vom Rath in honor of József Sándor Krenner [March 3, 1839, Buda, Hungary - January 6, 1920, Budapest, Hungary], crystallographer and curator of the Hungarian Mineral Museum and professor at the Technical University of Budapest. Krenner named this mineral "bunsenine" after Robert Bunsen, but vom Rath renamed it as bunsenite had previously been used as a mineral name. Krenner also named semseyite.
Type Locality:
Closely related to calaverite.
See also sylvanite. Maximal contents of silver in krennerite are 5-7 wt.%.
Krennerite, Sylvanite, and Calaverite can be easily distinguished by their cleavage or its absence. Krennerite has a perfect cleavage on {001}. Sylvanite has a perfect cleavage on {010}, along the length of the crystal. Calaverite has no cleavage.
See also sylvanite. Maximal contents of silver in krennerite are 5-7 wt.%.
Krennerite, Sylvanite, and Calaverite can be easily distinguished by their cleavage or its absence. Krennerite has a perfect cleavage on {001}. Sylvanite has a perfect cleavage on {010}, along the length of the crystal. Calaverite has no cleavage.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2274
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2274:9
Similar Names
| Greinerite | A variety of Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Grunerite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | ◻Fe22+Fe52+(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
IMA Classification of Krennerite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Krennerite
2.EA.15
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
2.12.13.1
2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
3.3.2
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
3 : Sulphides etc. of Au
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
3 : Sulphides etc. of Au
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Knn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Knn | 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 Krennerite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Silver white
Hardness:
2 - 3 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=166 - 186 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {001}; Ramdohr (1969) mentions as second "very indistinct" cleavage without specifying orientation.
on {001}; Ramdohr (1969) mentions as second "very indistinct" cleavage without specifying orientation.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
8.62 g/cm3 (Measured) 8.86 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Krennerite
Anisotropism:
Strong to dark brown
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 44.4% | 50.3% |
| 420nm | 46.8% | 52.5% |
| 440nm | 49.1% | 54.6% |
| 460nm | 51.1% | 56.4% |
| 480nm | 52.6% | 57.7% |
| 500nm | 53.7% | 58.7% |
| 520nm | 56.4% | 59.4% |
| 540nm | 55.1% | 59.9% |
| 560nm | 55.6% | 60.3% |
| 580nm | 56.0% | 60.6% |
| 600nm | 56.4% | 60.7% |
| 620nm | 56.7% | 60.8% |
| 640nm | 57.0% | 60.9% |
| 660nm | 57.2% | 60.9% |
| 680nm | 57.3% | 60.9% |
| 700nm | 57.4% | 60.8% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 60.9%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Creamy white
Pleochroism:
Weak
Chemistry of Krennerite
Mindat Formula:
Au3AgTe8
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe
Crystallography of Krennerite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Pma2
Cell Parameters:
a = 16.58 Å, b = 8.849 Å, c = 4.464 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.874 : 1 : 0.504
Unit Cell V:
654.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Crystals striated, short prismatic.
Crystallographic forms of Krennerite
Crystal Atlas:
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Krennerite - Short prismatic [001]
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
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Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019042 | Krennerite | Dye M D, Smyth J R (2012) The crystal structure and genesis of krennerite, Au3AgTe8 The Canadian Mineralogist 50 119-127 | 2012 | Cripple Creek, Colorado, USA | 0 | 293 | |
| 0015699 | Krennerite | Pertlik F (1984) Crystal chemistry of natural tellurides II: Redetermination of the crystal structure of krennerite, (Au1-xAgx)Te2 with x ~ 0.2 Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen 33 253-262 | 1984 | Sacaramb, Romania | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000052 | Krennerite | Tunell G, Murata K J (1950) The atomic arrangement and chemical composition of krennerite American Mineralogist 35 959-984 |  | 1950 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0017987 | Krennerite | Tunell G, Ksanda C (1936) The crystal structure of krennerite _cod_database_code 1011091 Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 26 507-527 | 1936 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.08 Å | (5) |
| 4.69 Å | (10) |
| 4.47 Å | (5) |
| 3.94 Å | (20) |
| 3.88 Å | (20) |
| 3.03 Å | (100) |
| 2.94 Å | (60) |
| 2.35 Å | (5) |
| 2.23 Å | (50) |
| 2.16 Å | (10) |
| 2.11 Å | (70) |
| 2.07 Å | (40) |
| 2.01 Å | (10) |
| 1.97 Å | (20) |
| 1.92 Å | (20) |
| 1.84 Å | (10) |
| 1.78 Å | (40) |
| 1.74 Å | (10) |
| 1.69 Å | (40) |
| 1.52 Å | (40) |
| 1.50 Å | (5) |
| 1.47 Å | (30) |
| 1.40 Å | (20) |
| 1.35 Å | (40) |
| 1.33 Å | (20) |
| 1.32 Å | (30) |
| 1.268 Å | (30) |
| 1.251 Å | (5) |
| 1.232 Å | (20) |
| 1.212 Å | (20) |
| 1.202 Å | (40) |
| 1.179 Å | (5) |
| 1.165 Å | (4) |
| 1.120 Å | (10) |
| 1.089 Å | (5) |
| 1.082 Å | (20) |
Comments:
ICDD 8-20
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]) |
Geological Setting:
Hydrothermal veins with tellurium.
Type Occurrence of Krennerite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary.
Synonyms of Krennerite
Other Language Names for Krennerite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 20 photos of Krennerite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 13 photos of Krennerite associated with Calaverite | AuTe2 |
| 10 photos of Krennerite associated with Native Gold | Au |
| 6 photos of Krennerite associated with Native Tellurium | Te |
| 6 photos of Krennerite associated with Sylvanite | AgAuTe4 |
| 5 photos of Krennerite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 4 photos of Krennerite associated with Tellurite | TeO2 |
| 4 photos of Krennerite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 4 photos of Krennerite associated with Rodalquilarite | Fe2(TeO2OH)3(TeO3)Cl |
| 3 photos of Krennerite associated with Petzite | Ag3AuTe2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.EA. | Radvaniceite | GeS2 |
| 2.EA. | Zavyalovite | Ag2TeS3 |
| 2.EA.05 | Sylvanite | AgAuTe4 |
| 2.EA.10 | Calaverite | AuTe2 |
| 2.EA.15 | Kostovite | CuAuTe4 |
| 2.EA.20 | Melonite | NiTe2 |
| 2.EA.20 | Merenskyite | PdTe2 |
| 2.EA.20 | Ognitite | NiBiTe |
| 2.EA.20 | Shuangfengite | IrTe2 |
| 2.EA.20 | Berndtite | SnS2 |
| 2.EA.20 | Sudovikovite | PtSe2 |
| 2.EA.20 | Kitkaite | NiTeSe |
| 2.EA.20 | Moncheite | Pt(Te,Bi)2 |
| 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 |
Fluorescence of Krennerite
Not fluorescent in UV
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 Krennerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2274.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 Krennerite
Reference List:
Klaproth, M. H. (1802) LLXXIII. Chemische Untersuchung der siebenbürgischen Golderze, C. Gelberz. In Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper Vol. 3. Rottmann. p.20-25.
Schrauf, A. (1878) XVII. Ueber die Tellurerze Siebenbürgens. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 2 (1) 209-252 doi:10.1524/zkri.1878.2.1.209
Short, M. N. (1937) Etch tests on calaverite, krennerite, and sylvanite. American Mineralogist, 22 (5) 667-674
Thompson, R. M. (1949) The telluride minerals and their occurrence in Canada. American Mineralogist, 34 (5-6) 341-382
Tunnell, G., Pauling, L. (1952) The atomic arrangement and bonds of the gold–silver ditellurides. Acta Crystallographica, 5 (3) 375-381 doi:10.1107/s0365110x52001106
Cabri, Louis J. (1965) Phase relations in the Au-Ag-Te systems and their mineralogical significance. Economic Geology, 60 (8) 1569-1606 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.60.8.1569
Ramdohr, Paul (1969) The Ore Minerals and their Intergrowths. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1174pp. doi:10.1016/c2013-0-10027-x
Pertlik, F. (1984) Crystal chemistry of natural tellurides II: Redetermination of the crystal structure of krennerite, (Au1-xAgx)Te2 with x ~ 0.2. TMPM Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 33 (4) 253-262 doi:10.1007/bf01082672
Gregoriades, P., Van Tendeloo, G., Amelinckx, S., Gregoriades, P. (1984) Electron microscopic studies of modulated structures in (Au,Ag)Te2. III. Krennerite. Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 53. 281-289 doi:10.1016/0022-4596(84)90105-1
Wagner, F. E., Sawicki, J. A., Friedl, J., Mandarino, J. A., Harris, D. C., Cabri, L. J. (1994) 197Au Mössbauer study of the gold–silver ditellurides sylvanite, krennerite and calaverite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 32 (1) 189-201
Stanek, J. (1995) 197Au Mössbauer study of the gold-silver ditellurides sylvanite, krennerite and calaverite: discussion. The Canadian Mineralogist, 33 (1) 185
Wagner, F. E., Sawicki, J. A., Friedl, J. (1995) 197Au Mössbauer study of the gold-silver ditellurides sylvanite, krennerite and calaverite: reply. The Canadian Mineralogist, 33 (1) 187-188
Dye, M. D., Smyth, J. R. (2012) The crystal structure and genesis of krennerite, Au3AgTe8. The Canadian Mineralogist, 50 (1) 119-127 doi:10.3749/canmin.50.1.119
Xu, W., Zhao, J., Brugger, J., Chen, G., Pring, A. (2013) Mechanism of mineral transformations in krennerite, Au3AgTe8, under hydrothermal conditions. American Mineralogist, 98 (11) 2086-2095 doi:10.2138/am.2013.4485
Kitahara, Ginga, Yoshiasa, Akira, Tokuda, Makoto, Nespolo, Massimo, Hongu, Hidetomo, Momma, Koichi, Miyawaki, Ritsuro, Sugiyama, Kazumasa (2022) Crystal structure, XANES and charge distribution investigation of krennerite and sylvanite: analysis of Au—Te and Te—Te bonds in Au1–xAgxTe2 group minerals. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, Crystal Engineering and Materials, 78 (2) 117-132 doi:10.1107/S2052520622000804
Localities for Krennerite
Showing 161 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 | |
| Brodtkorb (2002) +2 other references |
| PUTZ +1 other reference | |
| PUTZ +1 other reference | |
| De Brodtkorb (2009) |
| Brodtkorb (2002) +1 other reference |
Armenia | |
| Kovalenker et al. (1990) |
| Kolpakova et al. (2001) +2 other references | |
| Keheyan et al. (2023) |
| Mederer et al. (2019) |
Australia | |
| Shackleton et al. (2003) +1 other reference |
| Noble (2017) | |
| Noble (2017) | |
| Noble (2017) | |
| Simon et al. (1997) | |
| Simpson (1948) | |
| Simpson (1948) | |
| Simpson (1948) | |
| Mueller et al. (2020) | |
| Simpson (1948) | |
| Simpson (1948) |
Bulgaria | |
| Cook et al. (2002) |
| Tsonev et al. (Eds.) +1 other reference |
| Tarassova et al. (2015) |
| Cook et al. (2002) |
Canada | |
| - (2022) |
| Sabina (1991) |
| Harris et al. (1973) +1 other reference |
| Sabina (2003) +1 other reference |
| Sabina (1974) |
| Sabina (2003) | |
| Am Min (1948) | |
Chile | |
| "Faja de mineralización de oro +2 other references |
| Cooper et al. (2019) |
China | |
| Gao et al. (2015) +2 other references |
| Jun Lü et al. (2009) +10 other references |
| Mao et al. (2002) |
| Chang et al. (2022) |
| |
| Changfu Chen et al. (1999) |
| Zhimin Cao (1991) |
Czech Republic | |
| Small and microscopical minerals |
Dominican Republic | |
| Colomer et al. (2013) |
| Barrick Gold Corporation |
Egypt | |
| Osman et al. (2002) |
Fiji | |
| 16th Australian Geological Convention +1 other reference |
| Econ.Geol.: 83: 395-404. +6 other references |
Finland | |
| Poutiainen et al. (1996) +1 other reference |
Georgia | |
| Ramaz Migineishvili (2005) |
Greece | |
| McFall et al. (2016) |
| Voudouris et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
| Bonev et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll & Jánosi. Minerals of Hungary |
India | |
| Afifi et al. (1988) |
Indonesia | |
| Hartiningsih et al. (2022) |
Italy | |
| Fadda et al. (2005) |
Japan | |
| Aoki (1988) |
| K Jouhou (15-4-2002) +1 other reference | |
| Ishibashi (1960) +2 other references |
| Int Geol Congr (2008) |
| Nakata et al. (2011) | |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) +3 other references |
| Глоба В.А. Месторождение Манка - новый геолого-промышленный тип месторождений золота. // Изв. НАН РК et al. (403) |
| Baibatsha et al. (2015) |
Mexico | |
| Braith et al. (2001) |
| Bonev et al. (2005) | |
Mongolia | |
| Władysław Zygo (2011) |
Morocco | |
| Ilmen et al. (2024) |
New Zealand | |
| Sorrell (n.d.) |
North Macedonia | |
| Singer et al. (2008) +1 other reference |
Papua New Guinea | |
| Barrick Gold Corporation |
Romania | |
| Wilson (1982) |
| Ramdohr et al. (1973) +1 other reference |
| Tămaș et al. (2024) |
| Afifi et al. (1988) |
| Term.Füz. (1877) +3 other references |
Russia | |
| Izvekova et al. (2021) |
| Vikent’eva +6 other references |
| Plotinskaya et al. (2020) | |
| Plotinskaya et al. (2014) | |
| Spiridonov et al. (the South Urals) +1 other reference | |
| Vikent’ev et al. (2006) |
| www.igem.ru (2001) +1 other reference |
| Andreeva et al. (2013) +2 other references |
| Anastasiya SERGEEVA (2023) |
| Tolstykh et al. (2017) +1 other reference |
| Kovalenker et al. (2005) | |
| Pekov et al. (2026) | |
| Tamara Yu. Yakich * et al. (2024) +1 other reference |
| Goryachev et al. (2014) |
| Vinokurov et al. (2010) +2 other references |
| Kondratieva et al. (2021) |
| Kondratieva et al. (2021) | |
| Kondratieva et al. (2023) |
| Simon et al. (1997) |
| D. Krinov data |
| Shadchin et al. (2024) |
| Yurgenson et al. (2023) |
Sierra Leone | |
| Stenhouse et al. (2016) |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
Spain | |
| Ignacio Gaspar Collection |
| Analysis performed at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Ignacio Gaspar) | |
| www.foro-minerales.com (n.d.) | |
Sweden | |
| Billström et al. (2022) |
| Scherbina (1941) |
USA | |
| Graeme (1993) |
| Graeme (1993) +2 other references | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Friends of Mineralogy (2008) |
| Lovering et al. (1950) |
| Lovering et al. (1950) | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Lovering et al. (1950) +1 other reference | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Lovering et al. (1950) +2 other references |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Econ Geol (1980) +2 other references |
| Saunders (1986) +1 other reference |
| - (2005) | |
| - (2005) | |
| - (2005) | |
| - (2005) | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Marko Burkhardt | |
| Betts (n.d.) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Collection of Barry Murphy | |
| King (n.d.) | |
| Carnein et al. (2005) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Carnein et al. (2005) | |
| RRUFF project | |
| 2009 New Mexico Mineral Symposium ... | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Econ Geol (1994) |
| Barrick Gold Corporation |
| Ransome et al. (1909) +1 other reference |
| Castor et al. (2004) | |
| Aird et al. (2021) |
| Sillitoe et al. (1994) |
| Lueth et al. (1995) |
| Callahan et al. (1995) |
| Bell |
| USGS Prof Paper 1024 +1 other reference |
| Bullock (1981) | |
| SEM-EDS analyzed by Dr. Rob Bowell. | |
| In the collection of Alex Earl |
| Cannon (1975) |
| Lasmanis (1995) |
| Derkey et al. (1990, November) +1 other reference |
| DeMatties (1996) |
Uzbekistan | |
| Сайитов et al. (2023) |
| Eleonora A. Dunin-Barkovskaya et al. (2005) |
| Il'ina +7 other references |
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Ajax Mine, Cripple Creek Mining District, Teller County, Colorado, USA