Nukundamite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Nukundamite
Formula:
Cu3.33Fe0.66S4
Empirical formulae are:
Cu3.37Fe0.66S3.97 (type material); Cu3.39Fe0.61S4 (synthetic material).
Cu3.37Fe0.66S3.97 (type material); Cu3.39Fe0.61S4 (synthetic material).
Colour:
copper-red
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named after the type locality
Nukundamite is stable within a highly limited range of a(Fe2+)/a(H+) activity ratio, S2 and O2 fugacities, at temperatures between 501° and 224°C at very high sulfidation states (Seal et al., 2001; Esra Inan and Einaudi, 2002).
It may be replaced by chalcopyrite and bornite.
One of the Cu-Fe sulfides that has been referred to as the grandfathered but inadequately described idaite; type locality nukundamite was first called "idaite" (cf. Rice et al., 1979).
It may be replaced by chalcopyrite and bornite.
One of the Cu-Fe sulfides that has been referred to as the grandfathered but inadequately described idaite; type locality nukundamite was first called "idaite" (cf. Rice et al., 1979).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2942
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2942:7
IMA Classification of Nukundamite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Cu3.4Fe0.6S4
Approval year:
1978
First published:
1979
Classification of Nukundamite
2.CA.10
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
A : With Cu
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
A : With Cu
2.9.15.1
2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
3.1.30
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nuk | 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 Nukundamite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Copper-red
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=103 - 110 - Vickers
Cleavage:
Perfect
(0001) perfect
(0001) perfect
Optical Data of Nukundamite
Anisotropism:
Very strong, pale green-grey colors
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 15.4% | 23.8% |
| 420nm | 14.9% | 23.8% |
| 440nm | 14.3% | 23.8% |
| 460nm | 14.1% | 23.6% |
| 480nm | 14.0% | 23.7% |
| 500nm | 14.1% | 23.7% |
| 520nm | 14.7% | 23.7% |
| 540nm | 15.8% | 23.7% |
| 560nm | 17.1% | 23.8% |
| 580nm | 18.7% | 23.9% |
| 600nm | 20.4% | 24.0% |
| 620nm | 22.1% | 24.7% |
| 640nm | 24.0% | 26.1% |
| 660nm | 25.7% | 27.9% |
| 680nm | 27.3% | 30.0% |
| 700nm | 28.7% | 30.2% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 30.2%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Reddish-orange to pale grey
Chemistry of Nukundamite
Mindat Formula:
Cu3.33Fe0.66S4
Empirical formulae are:
Cu3.37Fe0.66S3.97 (type material); Cu3.39Fe0.61S4 (synthetic material).
Empirical formulae are:
Cu3.37Fe0.66S3.97 (type material); Cu3.39Fe0.61S4 (synthetic material).
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ag,As
Crystallography of Nukundamite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P3m1
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.782(4) Å, c = 11.187(8) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.958
Unit Cell V:
138.58 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
hexagonal plates, dendritic aggregates
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000828 | Nukundamite | Sugaki A, Shima H, Kitakaze A, Mizota T (1981) Hydrothermal synthesis of nukundamite and its crystal structure American Mineralogist 66 398-402 |  | 1981 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.143 Å | (100) |
| 2.826 Å | (70) |
| 1.891 Å | (60) |
| 1.847 Å | (55) |
| 2.796 Å | (45) |
| 3.273 Å | (30) |
| 1.568 Å | (25) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 12 : Hadean hydrothermal subsurface sulfide deposits (see also #33) |
Type Occurrence of Nukundamite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Masses, dendritic aggregates, lamellae in sphalerite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1974,5, E1455; National
Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 148128.
Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 148128.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Kuroko-type ore deposit. Cavity fills in pyrite breccia,alteration of chalcopyrite, lamellae in sphalerite.
Synonyms of Nukundamite
Other Language Names for Nukundamite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Nukundamite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 4 photos of Nukundamite associated with Stannoidite | Cu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12 |
| 4 photos of Nukundamite associated with Mawsonite | Cu6Fe2SnS8 |
| 4 photos of Nukundamite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 4 photos of Nukundamite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 3 photos of Nukundamite associated with Covellite | CuS |
| 2 photos of Nukundamite associated with Clausthalite | PbSe |
| 1 photo of Nukundamite associated with Idaite | Cu5FeS6 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.CA.05d | Yarrowite | Cu9S8 |
| 2.CA.05a | Covellite | CuS |
| 2.CA.05c | Spionkopite | Cu39S28 |
| 2.CA.05b | Klockmannite | CuSe |
| 2.CA.15 | Calvertite | Cu5Ge0.5S4 |
| 2.CA.20 | Erazoite | Cu4SnS6 |
| 2.CA.25 | Grokhovskyite | CuCrS2 |
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 Nukundamite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2942.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Nukundamite
Reference List:
Rice, C. M., Atkin, D., Bowles, J. F. W., Criddle, A. J. (1979) Nukundamite, a new mineral, and idaite. Mineralogical Magazine, 43 (326) 193-200 doi:10.1180/minmag.1979.043.326.01
Localities for Nukundamite
Showing 32 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.
Atlantic Ocean | |
| Proceedings of the 30th International ... |
Australia | |
| J F Carpenter specimen |
Austria | |
| Horner et al. (1997) |
| Horner et al. (1997) | |
| Paar et al. (1985) +1 other reference |
Brazil | |
| Santos et al. (2023) |
Europe | |
| Ferenc Š. & Rojkovič I. (2001) |
Fiji (TL) | |
| Rice et al. (1979) |
France | |
| Weigeli (1994) |
| Weigeli (1994) |
Germany | |
| XRD and SEM-EDX analysis (T. Witzke) |
Indonesia | |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
| Freeport-McMoRan |
| New (2006) | |
Iran | |
| DALIRAN et al. (2005) |
Japan | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data (2012) |
| Kaul et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
Malaysia | |
| Ariffin (2009) |
Mongolia | |
| Peretyazhko et al. (2024) |
New Zealand | |
| Weigeli (1994) |
| Weigeli (1994) |
Norway | |
| Segalstad et al. (2002) |
| Kvamsdal (1999) |
Papua New Guinea | |
| Bougainville Copper |
| BHP |
Peru | |
| Weigeli (1994) |
Romania | |
| M. Lupulescu et al. (1993) | |
Russia | |
| Savva et al. (2023) |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| May 2002 +3 other references |
| Esra Inan et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
| Economic Geology (2002) |
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Konjo mine, Miyahara, Mimasaka city, Okayama Prefecture, Japan