Dobrovolskaya M G, Tsepin A I, Evstigneeva T L, Vyal'sov L N, Zaozerina A O (1981) Kurunskite, K2Cu3FeS4 a new sulfide of potassium, copper, and iron. Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 110: 468-473.

Classification of MurunskiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

2.BD.30

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl

Dana 8th ed.:

2.5.5.3

2 : SULFIDES
5 : A_mB_nX_p, with (m+n):p = 3:2

Hey's CIM Ref.:

3.0.6

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
0 : Sulphides etc. of the alkalis

Mineral SymbolsHide

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
Mu	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 MurunskiteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Copper-red to pinchbeck-brown

Comment:

iridescent
a fresh surface oxidizes to a sooty black film

Hardness:

3 on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₁₀=92 - 123 kg/mm² - Vickers

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

Imperfect/Fair
Imperfect.

Density:

3.86 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of MurunskiteHide

Anisotropism:

Moderate, gray to brownish gray with a bluish tint.

Colour in reflected light:

grayish orange-cream

Chemistry of MurunskiteHide

Mindat Formula:

K₂(Cu,Fe)₄S₄

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Cu	55.181 %
S	27.844 %
K	16.976 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Cu, Fe, K, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of MurunskiteHide

Crystal System:

Tetragonal

Class (H-M):

4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal

Space Group:

I4/mmm

Setting:

I4/mmm

Cell Parameters:

a = 3.8460(10) Å, c = 13.308(3) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 3.46

Unit Cell V:

196.85 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Crystal StructureHide

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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4

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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c

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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)
0017729	Murunskite	Pekov I V, Zubkova N V, Lisitsyn D V, Pushcharovsky D Y (2009) Crystal chemistry of murunskite Doklady Earth Sciences 424 139-141		2009	Murun pluton, Eastern Siberia, Russia	0	293
0014368	Murunskite	Mujica C, Paez J, Llanos J (1994) Synthesis and crystal structure of layered chalcogenides [KCuFeS2 and KCuFeSe2] Materials Research Bulletin 29 263-268		1994	synthetic	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Murunskite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Pekov I V'
'Zubkova N V'
'Lisitsyn D V'
'Pushcharovsky D Y'
_journal_name_full 'Doklady Earth Sciences'
_journal_volume 424 
_journal_year 2009
_journal_page_first 139
_journal_page_last 141
_publ_section_title
;
 Crystal chemistry of murunskite
;
_database_code_amcsd 0017729
_chemical_compound_source 'Murun pluton, Eastern Siberia, Russia'
_chemical_formula_sum 'K.737 Cu1.48 Fe.54 S2'
_cell_length_a 3.8460
_cell_length_b 3.8460
_cell_length_c 13.308
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 196.848
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      3.664
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'I 4/m m m'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,z'
  '1/2-y,1/2-x,1/2+z'
  'y,x,-z'
  '1/2+y,1/2+x,1/2-z'
  'y,-x,-z'
  '1/2+y,1/2-x,1/2-z'
  '-y,x,z'
  '1/2-y,1/2+x,1/2+z'
  'x,-y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  'x,y,-z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  'y,x,z'
  '1/2+y,1/2+x,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,-z'
  '1/2-y,1/2-x,1/2-z'
  '-y,x,-z'
  '1/2-y,1/2+x,1/2-z'
  'y,-x,z'
  '1/2+y,1/2-x,1/2+z'
  '-x,y,z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  'x,-y,-z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
K   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000   0.73700   0.03670
Cu   0.00000   0.50000   0.25000   0.74000   0.02230
FeCu   0.00000   0.50000   0.25000   0.27000   0.02230
S   0.00000   0.00000   0.35177   1.00000   0.01880

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
6.52 Å	(10)
2.53 Å	(8)
2.90 Å	(6)
1.940 Å	(5)
1.715 Å	(4)
2.10 Å	(3)
3.29 Å	(2)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
26 : Hadean detrital minerals
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of MurunskiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia

General Appearance of Type Material:

very tiny grains, to 1 µm, and in aggregates

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia (81604)

Geological Setting of Type Material:

rocks that have undergone intensive potassium metasomatism

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Aegirine

Charoite

K Feldspar

Reference:

Synonyms of MurunskiteHide

IMA1980-064

Other Language Names for MurunskiteHide

Dutch:Murunskiet

German:Murunskit

Simplified Chinese:穆硫铁铜钾矿

Spanish:Murunskita

Varieties of MurunskiteHide

Thallium-bearing Murunskite

A variety of Murunskite containing up to 29% (w/w) of thallium.

Relationship of Murunskite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Bukovite Group

Other Members of Bukovite Group:

Bukovite	(Cu₃Fe)_Σ4Tl₂Se₄	Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
Sabatierite	TlCu₆Se₄	Orth.
Thalcusite	Tl₂Cu₃FeS₄	Tet.

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.BD.	Vrančiceite	Cu₁₀Hg₃S₈	Tric. 1 : P1
2.BD.	'UM2004-33-S:AgCuHgSe'	(Ag,Cu)₈Hg₃(S,Se)₇
2.BD.05	Imiterite	Ag₂HgS₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.BD.10	Gortdrumite	Cu₂₄Fe₂Hg₉S₂₃	Tric. 1 : P1
2.BD.15	Danielsite	(Cu,Ag)₁₄HgS₈	Orth.
2.BD.15	Balkanite	Cu₉Ag₅HgS₈	Mon. 2/m : P2/m
2.BD.20	Donharrisite	Ni₃HgS₃	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.BD.25	Carlinite	Tl₂S	Trig. 3 : R3
2.BD.30	Bukovite	(Cu₃Fe)_Σ4Tl₂Se₄	Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.BD.30	Thalcusite	Tl₂Cu₃FeS₄	Tet.
2.BD.35	Rohaite	(Tl,Pb,K)₂Cu_8.7Sb₂S₄	Orth.
2.BD.40	Chalcothallite	Tl₂(Cu,Fe)₆SbS₄	Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.BD.45	Sabatierite	TlCu₆Se₄	Orth.
2.BD.50	Crookesite	Cu₇(Tl, Ag)Se₄	Tet.
2.BD.55	Brodtkorbite	Cu₂HgSe₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m

RadioactivityHide

Radioactivity:

Element	% Content	Activity (Bq/kg)	Radiation Type
Uranium (U)	0.0000%	0	α, β, γ
Thorium (Th)	0.0000%	0	α, β, γ
Potassium (K)	16.9756%	5,262	β, γ

For comparison:

Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg

Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.

Interactive Simulator:

Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!

Mass of radioactive mineral:

Shielding material:

Activity: –

Distance	Dose rate	Risk
1 cm
10 cm
1 m

The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μ_shield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).

D = ((A_U × Γ_U) + (A_Th × Γ_Th) + (A_K × Γ_K)) / r² × μ_shield

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 MurunskiteHide

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https://www.mindat.org/min-2814.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

Buy from D. Joyce minerals

References for MurunskiteHide

Reference List:

Dobrovolskaya M G, Tsepin A I, Evstigneeva T L, Vyal'sov L N, Zaozerina A O (1981) Murunskite, K2Cu3FeS4 a new sulfide of potassium, copper, and iron. Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 110: 468-473.

Fleischer, M., Cabri, L.J., Chao, G.Y., Mandarino, J.A., Pabst, A. (1982) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 67: 621-624.p.624

Mujica, Carlos, Páez, Jaime, Llanos, Jaime (1994) Synthesis and crystal structure of layered chalcogenides [KCuFeS2 and KCuFeSe2]. Materials Research Bulletin, 29 (3). 263-268 doi:10.1016/0025-5408(94)90022-1

Pekov, I. V., Zubkova, N. V., Lisitsyn, D. V., Pushcharovsky, D. Yu. (2009) Crystal chemistry of murunskite. Doklady Earth Sciences, 424 (1) 139-141 doi:10.1134/s1028334x09010292

(2020) Murunskite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for MurunskiteHide

Showing 6 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.

Hide all sections | Show all sections

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.


Jordan
Amman Governorate Transjordan Plateau Daba-Siwaqa complex Hashem region Lisdan-Siwaga Fault Siwaga Tulul al Hammam ⓘ Unnamed marble quarries	Sokol +9 other references

Russia (TL)
Aldan Shield Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence ⓘ Murunskii Massif (TL)	Pekov (1998) +1 other reference
Murmansk Oblast Koashva Mt ⓘ Koashva Open Pit	Yakovenchuk et al. (2003) +1 other reference
ⓘ Kukisvumchorr Mt
Lovozersky District Karnasurt Mountain Karnasurt mine ⓘ Palitra pegmatite	[var: Thallium-bearing Murunskite] ZVMO 136 (4)

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Murunskite

About MurunskiteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

Similar NamesHide

IMA Classification of MurunskiteHide