Lenaite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Lenaite

Lena River (near Yakutsk, Siberia, Russia)
Lena River Basin, Bulun District, Polar Yakutia, Sakha, Russia
Lena River Basin, Bulun District, Polar Yakutia, Sakha, Russia
Formula:
AgFeS2
Colour:
Steel Grey
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
4.63 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
For the river Lena, Russia
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2372
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2372:2
Similar Names
| Lengaite | A synonym of 'Natrocarbonatite' | |
| Leonite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | K2Mg(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
| Linnaeite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Co2+Co23+S4 |
| Lionite (of Berdell) | A synonym of Native Tellurium | |
| Lionite (of Krantz) | A synonym of 'Chillagite' | |
| Luinaite-(OH) | A discredited species name | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Lunnit | A synonym of Pseudomalachite | |
| Senaite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)2(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)18(O,OH)38 |
IMA Classification of Lenaite
Classification of Lenaite
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.
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.
2.9.1.5
2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Lenaite
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 Lenaite
Anisotropism:
Moderate, in yellowish tints.
Bireflectance:
None
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 471nm | 28.2% | 30.6% |
| 548nm | 31.8% | 35.8% |
| 586nm | 32.8% | 36.5% |
| 652nm | 30.9% | 35.0% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). 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 Lenaite
Mindat Formula:
AgFeS2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Lenaite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
42m - Scalenohedral
Space Group:
I42d
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.4371 Å, c = 10.8479 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.995
Unit Cell V:
320.69 ų
Z:
4
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
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 Environment
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 Lenaite
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 Lenaite
Other Language Names for Lenaite
Relationship of Lenaite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Chalcopyrite Group:
| Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 | Tet. 42m : I42d |
| Eskebornite | CuFeSe2 | Tet. 42m : P42c |
| Gallite | CuGaS2 | Tet. 42m : I42d |
| Laforêtite | AgInS2 | Tet. 42m : I42d |
| Roquesite | CuInS2 | Tet. 42m : I42d |
| Shenzhuangite | NiFeS2 | Tet. 42m : I42d |
| 'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)' | Cu2MnSnS4 |
Common Associates
Associations 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
| 2.CB. | Richardsite | Zn2CuGaS4 |
| 2.CB. | Okruginite | Cu2SnSe3 |
| 2.CB. | Hanswilkeite | KFeS2 |
| 2.CB. | Auroselenide | AuSe |
| 2.CB. | Ruizhongite | (Ag2◻)Pb3Ge2S8 |
| 2.CB. | Agmantinite | Ag2MnSnS4 |
| 2.CB. | Tolstykhite | Au3S4Te6 |
| 2.CB. | Gachingite | Au(Te1-xSex) |
| 2.CB.05a | Hawleyite | CdS |
| 2.CB.05 | 'UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn' | Cu2Fe3Zn5S10 |
| 2.CB.05a | Coloradoite | HgTe |
| 2.CB.05a | Metacinnabar | HgS |
| 2.CB.05a | Tiemannite | HgSe |
| 2.CB.05a | Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 2.CB.05b | Sakuraiite | (Cu,Zn,Fe)3(In,Sn)S4 |
| 2.CB.05c | Polhemusite | (Zn,Hg)S |
| 2.CB.05a | Rudashevskyite | (Fe,Zn)S |
| 2.CB.05a | Stilleite | ZnSe |
| 2.CB.05a | Ishiharaite | (Cu,Ga,Fe,In,Zn)S |
| 2.CB.07a | 'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)' | Cu2MnSnS4 |
| 2.CB.07a | Shenzhuangite | NiFeS2 |
| 2.CB.10b | Talnakhite | Cu9(Fe,Ni)8S16 |
| 2.CB.10b | Haycockite | Cu4Fe5S8 |
| 2.CB.10a | Gallite | CuGaS2 |
| 2.CB.10a | Roquesite | CuInS2 |
| 2.CB.10a | Eskebornite | CuFeSe2 |
| 2.CB.10a | 'UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn' | Cu2Fe2Sn3S7 |
| 2.CB.10c | Omariniite | Cu8Fe2ZnGe2S12 |
| 2.CB.10a | Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 2.CB.10a | 'Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)' | CuZn2InS4 |
| 2.CB.10b | Mooihoekite | Cu9Fe9S16 |
| 2.CB.10a | Laforêtite | AgInS2 |
| 2.CB.10b | Putoranite | Cu1.1Fe1.2S2 |
| 2.CB.15a | Velikite | Cu2HgSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15c | 'UM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn' | Cu8(Fe,Zn)3Ge2S12 (?) |
| 2.CB.15a | Hocartite | Ag2(Fe2+,Zn)SnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Kësterite | Cu2ZnSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Pirquitasite | Ag2ZnSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Stannite | Cu2FeSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15c | Stannoidite | Cu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12 |
| 2.CB.15b | Mohite | Cu2SnS3 |
| 2.CB.15a | Černýite | Cu2CdSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Idaite | Cu5FeS6 |
| 2.CB.15a | Ferrokësterite | Cu2FeSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Kuramite | Cu3SnS4 |
| 2.CB.17a v | 'Arsenic-bearing Renierite' | Cu11GeAsFe4S16 |
| 2.CB.20 | Mawsonite | Cu6Fe2SnS8 |
| 2.CB.20 | Chatkalite | Cu6FeSn2S8 |
| 2.CB.30 | 'Frieseite' | Ag2Fe5S8 (?) |
| 2.CB.30 | Nekrasovite | Cu26V2(Sn,As,Sb)6S32 |
| 2.CB.30 | 'Argyropyrite' | near Ag2Fe7S11 |
| 2.CB.30 | Maikainite | Cu20(Fe,Cu)6Mo2Ge6S32 |
| 2.CB.30 | Colusite | Cu13VAs3S16 |
| 2.CB.30 | Germanite | Cu13Fe2Ge2S16 |
| 2.CB.30 | Germanocolusite | Cu26V2(Ge,As)6S32 |
| 2.CB.30 | Stibiocolusite | Cu13V(Sb,Sn,As)3S16 |
| 2.CB.30 | Ovamboite | Cu20(Fe,Cu,Zn)6W2Ge6S32 |
| 2.CB.35a | Morozeviczite | (Pb,Fe)3Ge1-xS4 |
| 2.CB.35a | Renierite | (Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16 |
| 2.CB.35a | Hemusite | Cu6SnMoS8 |
| 2.CB.35b | Catamarcaite | Cu6GeWS8 |
| 2.CB.35a | Vinciennite | Cu+7Cu2+3Fe2+2Fe3+2Sn(As,Sb)S16 |
| 2.CB.35a | Kiddcreekite | Cu6SnWS8 |
| 2.CB.35a | Polkovicite | (Fe,Pb)3(Ge,Fe)1-xS4 |
| 2.CB.40 | Lautite | CuAsS |
| 2.CB.42 | Lingbaoite | AgTe3 |
| 2.CB.45 | Cadmoselite | CdSe |
| 2.CB.45 | Rambergite | MnS |
| 2.CB.45 | Buseckite | (Fe,Zn,Mn)S |
| 2.CB.45 | Maletoyvayamite | Au3Se4Te6 |
| 2.CB.45 | Greenockite | CdS |
| 2.CB.45 | Wurtzite | (Zn,Fe)S |
| 2.CB.47 | Murchisite | Cr5S6 |
| 2.CB.50 | 'Zincselenide' | ZnSe |
| 2.CB.50 | Wassonite | TiS |
| 2.CB.52 | 'Dzhezkazganite' | ReMoCu2PbS6 ? |
| 2.CB.55b | Isocubanite | CuFe2S3 |
| 2.CB.55a | Cubanite | CuFe2S3 |
| 2.CB.60 | Raguinite | TlFeS2 |
| 2.CB.60 | Picotpaulite | TlFe2S3 |
| 2.CB.65 | Argentopyrite | AgFe2S3 |
| 2.CB.65 | Sternbergite | AgFe2S3 |
| 2.CB.70 | Sulvanite | Cu3VS4 |
| 2.CB.75 | Vulcanite | CuTe |
| 2.CB.80 | Empressite | AgTe |
| 2.CB.85 | Muthmannite | AuAgTe2 |
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 Lenaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2372.html
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References for Lenaite
Reference List:
Taylor, L.A. (1970) The system Ag-Fe-S: Phase equilibria and mineral assemblages. Mineralium Deposita, 5 (1). 41-58 doi:10.1007/bf00207005
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 (1). 207-212 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.44.1.207
Locock, A. J., Ercit, T. S., Kjellman, J., Piilonen, P. C. (2006) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 91 (11) 1945-1954 doi:10.2138/am.2006.477
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 doi:10.1016/j.jmmm.2019.165730
Localities for Lenaite
Showing 33 localities.
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.
Australia | |
| Mössinger et al. (2026) |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2017) |
Canada | |
| Conliffe et al. (2025) |
| Tomkins et al. (2004) |
France | |
| Guy Bernadi collection; EDX analysis ... +1 other reference |
Iran | |
| حسینخانی; ملاصالحی (2015) |
Japan | |
| - (n.d.) |
Mexico | |
| Larocque et al. (2008) | |
Russia | |
| Kovalev et al. (2017) |
| Vikentyev et al. (2025) |
| Kolova et al. (2021) |
| Глухов et al. (2021) | |
| Tolstykh et al. (2021) +1 other reference |
| Takahashi et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
| N. V. Sorokhtina et al. (2010) +1 other reference |
| Volkov et al. (2015) |
| Palyanova et al. (2016) |
| Volkov et al. (2016) | |
| Savva et al. (2019) |
| Volkov et al. (2018) | |
| Volkov et al. (2023) |
| Sorokhtina et al. (2021) |
| Nekrasov et al. (1987) +1 other reference |
| Nekrasov et al. (1987) +1 other reference | |
| unpublished SEM/EDS analysis | |
| Amuzinskii et al. (1995) +1 other reference |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) | |
| Eremin et al. (2023) |
Slovakia | |
| Berkh et al. (2014) |
South Korea | |
| 고영진 (2021) |
Turkey | |
| Blanks et al. (2014) |
UK | |
| Ixer et al. (1987) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Bindi et al. (2006) |
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Le Rivet Quarry, Peyrebrune, Montredon-Labessonnié, Castres, Tarn, Occitanie, France