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Lenaite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About LenaiteHide

02598980017271924542951.jpg
Lena River (near Yakutsk, Siberia, Russia)

Lena River Basin, Bulun District, Polar Yakutia, Sakha, Russia
Formula:
AgFeS2
Colour:
Steel Grey
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
Specific Gravity:
4.63 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
For the river Lena, Russia

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
2372
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2372:2

Similar NamesHide

LengaiteA synonym of 'Natrocarbonatite'
LeoniteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfatheredK2Mg(SO4)2 · 4H2O
LinnaeiteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfatheredCo2+Co23+S4
Lionite (of Berdell)A synonym of Native Tellurium
Lionite (of Krantz)A synonym of 'Chillagite'
Luinaite-(OH)A discredited species nameNaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
LunnitA synonym of Pseudomalachite
SenaiteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfatheredPb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)2(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)18(O,OH)38

IMA Classification of LenaiteHide

Approved
IMA Formula:
Ag1+Fe3+S2-2
Approval year:
1994
First published:
1995

Classification of LenaiteHide

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.
2.9.1.5

2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, 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.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
LnIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of LenaiteHide

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:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
471nm28.2% 30.6%
548nm31.8% 35.8%
586nm32.8% 36.5%
652nm30.9% 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 LenaiteHide

Mindat Formula:
AgFeS2
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Ag47.343 %
S28.147 %
Fe24.510 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of LenaiteHide

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 StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0006082LenaiteBindi 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 44 207-2122006Gies gold-silver telluride deposit, Judith Mountains, Montana, USA0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
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 ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere>4.45
14 : Hot springs, geysers, and other subaerial geothermal minerals

Type Occurrence of LenaiteHide

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

Other Language Names for LenaiteHide

Dutch:Lenaiet
German:Lenait
Russian:Ленаит
Spanish:Lenaita

Relationship of Lenaite to other SpeciesHide

Other Members of Chalcopyrite Group:
ChalcopyriteCuFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
EskeborniteCuFeSe2Tet. 42m : P42c
GalliteCuGaS2Tet. 42m : I42d
LaforêtiteAgInS2Tet. 42m : I42d
RoquesiteCuInS2Tet. 42m : I42d
ShenzhuangiteNiFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)'Cu2MnSnS4

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Lenaite associated with StephaniteAg5SbS4
1 photo of Lenaite associated with Silver Amalgam Group

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.CB.RichardsiteZn2CuGaS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.OkruginiteCu2SnSe3Mon. m : Bb
2.CB.HanswilkeiteKFeS2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.CB.AuroselenideAuSeMon. 2/m : B2/m
2.CB.Ruizhongite(Ag2◻)Pb3Ge2S8Iso. 43m : I43d
2.CB.AgmantiniteAg2MnSnS4Orth.
2.CB.TolstykhiteAu3S4Te6Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.GachingiteAu(Te1-xSex)Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.05aHawleyiteCdSIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05'UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn'Cu2Fe3Zn5S10
2.CB.05aColoradoiteHgTeIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aMetacinnabarHgSIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aTiemanniteHgSeIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aSphaleriteZnSIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05bSakuraiite(Cu,Zn,Fe)3(In,Sn)S4 Iso.
2.CB.05cPolhemusite(Zn,Hg)STet.
2.CB.05aRudashevskyite(Fe,Zn)SIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aStilleiteZnSeIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aIshiharaite(Cu,Ga,Fe,In,Zn)SIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.07a'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)'Cu2MnSnS4
2.CB.07aShenzhuangiteNiFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10bTalnakhiteCu9(Fe,Ni)8S16Iso. 43m : I43m
2.CB.10bHaycockiteCu4Fe5S8Orth. 222
2.CB.10aGalliteCuGaS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10aRoquesiteCuInS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10aEskeborniteCuFeSe2Tet. 42m : P42c
2.CB.10a'UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn'Cu2Fe2Sn3S7
2.CB.10cOmariniiteCu8Fe2ZnGe2S12Orth. 222 : I222
2.CB.10aChalcopyriteCuFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10a'Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)'CuZn2InS4
2.CB.10bMooihoekiteCu9Fe9S16Tet. 42m : P42m
2.CB.10aLaforêtiteAgInS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10bPutoraniteCu1.1Fe1.2S2Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pn3m
2.CB.15aVelikiteCu2HgSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15c'UM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn'Cu8(Fe,Zn)3Ge2S12 (?)
2.CB.15aHocartiteAg2(Fe2+,Zn)SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15aKësteriteCu2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aPirquitasiteAg2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aStanniteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15cStannoiditeCu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12Orth. 222 : I222
2.CB.15bMohiteCu2SnS3Mon.
2.CB.15aČernýiteCu2CdSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15aIdaiteCu5FeS6Hex.
2.CB.15aFerrokësteriteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aKuramiteCu3SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.17a v'Arsenic-bearing Renierite'Cu11GeAsFe4S16
2.CB.20MawsoniteCu6Fe2SnS8Tet. 42m : P4m2
2.CB.20ChatkaliteCu6FeSn2S8Tet. 42m : P4m2
2.CB.30'Frieseite'Ag2Fe5S8 (?)
2.CB.30NekrasoviteCu26V2(Sn,As,Sb)6S32Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30'Argyropyrite'near Ag2Fe7S11
2.CB.30MaikainiteCu20(Fe,Cu)6Mo2Ge6S32Iso. m3m(4/m32/m)
2.CB.30ColusiteCu13VAs3S16Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30GermaniteCu13Fe2Ge2S16Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30GermanocolusiteCu26V2(Ge,As)6S32Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.30StibiocolusiteCu13V(Sb,Sn,As)3S16Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.30Ovamboite Cu20(Fe,Cu,Zn)6W2Ge6S32Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.35aMorozeviczite(Pb,Fe)3Ge1-xS4Iso.
2.CB.35aRenierite(Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16Tet. 42m : P42c
2.CB.35aHemusiteCu6SnMoS8Iso.
2.CB.35bCatamarcaiteCu6GeWS8Hex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.35aVincienniteCu+7Cu2+3Fe2+2Fe3+2Sn(As,Sb)S16Tet.
2.CB.35aKiddcreekiteCu6SnWS8Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.35aPolkovicite(Fe,Pb)3(Ge,Fe)1-xS4Iso.
2.CB.40LautiteCuAsSOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.CB.42LingbaoiteAgTe3Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.45CadmoseliteCdSeHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45RambergiteMnSHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45Buseckite(Fe,Zn,Mn)SHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45MaletoyvayamiteAu3Se4Te6Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.45GreenockiteCdSHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45Wurtzite(Zn,Fe)SHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.47MurchisiteCr5S6Trig. 3m(32/m) : P31c
2.CB.50'Zincselenide'ZnSe
2.CB.50WassoniteTiSTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
2.CB.52'Dzhezkazganite'ReMoCu2PbS6 ?Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.55bIsocubaniteCuFe2S3Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.CB.55aCubaniteCuFe2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.60RaguiniteTlFeS2Orth.
2.CB.60PicotpauliteTlFe2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
2.CB.65ArgentopyriteAgFe2S3Mon. 2/m
2.CB.65SternbergiteAgFe2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.70SulvaniteCu3VS4Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.75VulcaniteCuTeOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.80EmpressiteAgTeOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.85MuthmanniteAuAgTe2Mon. 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

References for LenaiteHide

Reference List:

Localities for LenaiteHide

Showing 33 localities.

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.
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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.
Australia
 
  • Western Australia
    • City of Karratha
      • Karratha
Mössinger et al. (2026)
Austria
 
  • Lower Austria
    • Lilienfeld District
      • Annaberg
Kolitsch et al. (2017)
Canada
 
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
    • Newfoundland
      • Wilding Lake
Conliffe et al. (2025)
  • Ontario
    • Thunder Bay District
      • Bomby Township
Tomkins et al. (2004)
France
 
  • Occitanie
    • Tarn
      • Castres
        • Montredon-Labessonnié
          • Peyrebrune
Guy Bernadi collection; EDX analysis ... +1 other reference
Iran
 
  • Hamadan Province
    • Malayer County
حسینخانی; ملاصالحی (2015)
Japan
 
  • Yamagata Prefecture
    • Yonezawa City
- (n.d.)
Mexico
 
Larocque et al. (2008)
Russia
 
  • Bashkortostan
    • Beloretsk district
Kovalev et al. (2017)
    • Uchalinsky District
Vikentyev et al. (2025)
  • Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
    • Okhotsk-Chukotka belt
Kolova et al. (2021)
Глухов et al. (2021)
  • Kamchatka Krai
    • Bystrinsky District
      • Central Kamchatka mining district
        • Baranyevskoe ore field
Tolstykh et al. (2021) +1 other reference
    • Yelizovsky District
Takahashi et al. (2002) +1 other reference
  • Krasnoyarsk Krai
    • Maimecha and Kotui Rivers Basin
N. V. Sorokhtina et al. (2010) +1 other reference
  • Magadan Oblast
    • Khasynsky District
      • Agan ore field
Volkov et al. (2015)
    • Omsukchansky District
      • Engteri ore cluster
Palyanova et al. (2016)
Volkov et al. (2016)
      • Primorskoe deposit
Savva et al. (2019)
Volkov et al. (2018)
    • Severo-Evensky District
Volkov et al. (2023)
  • Murmansk Oblast
    • Kovdorsky District
Sorokhtina et al. (2021)
  • Sakha
Nekrasov et al. (1987) +1 other reference
Nekrasov et al. (1987) +1 other reference
unpublished SEM/EDS analysis
    • Verkhoyansk Fold Belt
      • Verkhoyansk Silver Province
        • Khachakchan ore cluster
Amuzinskii et al. (1995) +1 other reference
Pavlova et al. (2009)
  • Zabaykalsky Krai
Eremin et al. (2023)
Slovakia
 
  • Banská Bystrica Region
    • Žarnovica District
      • Hodruša-Hámre
        • Hodruša-Hámre mines
Berkh et al. (2014)
South Korea
 
  • South Jeolla Province
    • Jindo County
      • Gasado Island
고영진 (2021)
Turkey
 
  • Balikesir Province
    • Sındırgı District
Blanks et al. (2014)
UK
 
  • England
    • Cumbria
      • Eden
        • Alston Moor
          • Garrigill
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
Bindi et al. (2006)
 
and/or  
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