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Pirquitasite

A valid IMA mineral species
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02248500017271925882701.jpg
Pirquitasite

Oploca Vein System, San Miguel Open pit, Pirquitas Mine, Mina Pirquitas, Rinconada Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina
07391980017271925916599.jpg
Pirquitasite

Pirquitas Mine, Mina Pirquitas, Rinconada Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina
06799560017271925948777.jpg
Pirquitasite, etc.

Pirquitas Mine, Mina Pirquitas, Rinconada Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina
02248500017271925882701.jpg
Pirquitasite

Oploca Vein System, San Miguel Open pit, Pirquitas Mine, Mina Pirquitas, Rinconada Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina
07391980017271925916599.jpg
Pirquitasite

Pirquitas Mine, Mina Pirquitas, Rinconada Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina
06799560017271925948777.jpg
Pirquitasite, etc.

Pirquitas Mine, Mina Pirquitas, Rinconada Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina
01399980017271926025592.jpg
Pirquitasite

Oploca Vein System, San Miguel Open pit, Pirquitas Mine, Mina Pirquitas, Rinconada Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina
07391980017271925916599.jpg
Pirquitasite

Pirquitas Mine, Mina Pirquitas, Rinconada Department, Jujuy Province, Argentina
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About PirquitasiteHide

Formula:
Ag2ZnSnS4
Colour:
Black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
4.822 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Stannite Group
Name:
Named for the Pirquitas deposit; the type locality.
Stannite Group. Hocartite-Pirquitasite Series.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3219
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3219:9

IMA Classification of PirquitasiteHide

Classification of PirquitasiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.CB.15a

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.
Dana 8th ed.:
2.9.2.7

2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:
6.1.15

6 : Sulphosalts - Sulphostannates, Sulphogermanates,Sulpharsenates, Sulphantimonates, Sulphovanadates and Sulphohalides
1 : Sulphostannates and other sulfides containing Sn

Mineral SymbolsHide

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.

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

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=218 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
4.822 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of PirquitasiteHide

Anisotropism:
Strong, brick-red to light green
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
400nm23.9%24.4%
420nm23.4%24.0%
440nm22.9%23.6%
460nm22.6%23.4%
480nm22.4%23.2%
500nm22.3%23.0%
520nm22.2%23.0%
540nm22.2%23.0%
560nm22.2%23.0%
580nm22.3%23.2%
600nm22.5%23.3%
620nm22.6%23.3%
640nm22.8%22.8%
660nm22.6%22.2%
680nm22.0%21.7%
700nm21.5%21.4%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 24.4%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Brownish gray
Internal Reflections:
Red, frequent

Chemistry of PirquitasiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Ag2ZnSnS4
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Ag40.853 %
S24.288 %
Sn22.479 %
Zn12.381 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Ag, S, Sn, Zn - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
Cu,Fe

Crystallography of PirquitasiteHide

Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4 - Disphenoidal
Space Group:
I4
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.786 Å, c = 10.829 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.872
Unit Cell V:
362.5 ų
Z:
2
Twinning:
Polysynthetic
Comment:
Space group originally assumed to be I-42m.

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0019767PirquitasiteSchumer B N, Downs R T, Domanik K J, Andrade M B, Origlieri M J (2013) Pirquitasite, Ag2ZnSnS4 Acta Crystallographica E69 i8-i92013Pirquitas, Jujuy Province, Argentina0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.267 Å(100)
1.976 Å(80)
1.735 Å(80)
2.049 Å(60)
2.901 Å(40)
1.289 Å(40)
1.165 Å(40)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere>4.45
12 : Hadean hydrothermal subsurface sulfide deposits (see also #33)

Type Occurrence of PirquitasiteHide

Synonyms of PirquitasiteHide

Other Language Names for PirquitasiteHide

Simplified Chinese:硫锡锌银矿
Spanish:Pirquitasita

Relationship of Pirquitasite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Stannite Group
Other Members of Stannite Group:
BriartiteCu2FeGeS4Tet.
ČernýiteCu2CdSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
FamatiniteCu3SbS4Tet. 42m : I42m
FerrokësteriteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
HocartiteAg2(Fe2+,Zn)SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
KësteriteCu2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
KeutschiteCu2AgAsS4Tet. 42m : I42m
KuramiteCu3SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
LuzoniteCu3AsS4Tet. 42m : I42m
OmariniiteCu8Fe2ZnGe2S12Orth. 222 : I222
PermingeatiteCu3SbSe4Tet. 42m : I42m
Petrukite(Cu,Fe,Zn,Ag)3(Sn,In)S4Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
RichardsiteZn2CuGaS4Tet. 42m : I42m
StanniteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
StannoiditeCu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12Orth. 222 : I222
'UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn'Cu2Fe2Sn3S7
'Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)'CuZn2InS4
VelikiteCu2HgSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
ZincobriartiteCu2(Zn,Fe)(Ge,Ga)S4Tet. 42m : I42m
Forms a series with:
HocartiteHocartite-Pirquitasite Series

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
2 photos of Pirquitasite associated with Wurtzite(Zn,Fe)S
2 photos of Pirquitasite associated with ToyohaiteAg+(Fe2+0.5Sn4+1.5)S4

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.10aLenaiteAgFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
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.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 PirquitasiteHide

References for PirquitasiteHide

Localities for PirquitasiteHide

Showing 9 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.
Argentina (TL)
 
  • Jujuy Province
    • Rinconada Department
      • Mina Pirquitas
Silver Standard Resources Inc
Slater (2016)
          • San Miguel Open pit
Paar et al. (2000)
Paar (2013)
Bolivia
 
  • Oruro
    • Pantaleón Dalence Province
Franco (2018)
  • Potosí
    • Tomás Frías Province
      • Potosí (Potosí Municipality)
        • Cerro de Potosí (Cerro Rico)
Kempff et al. (La Paz, 2009)
Japan
 
  • Hokkaidō Prefecture
    • Ishikari Subprefecture
      • Sapporo City
        • Minami-ku
Min. Jour. (Japan) +1 other reference
Peru
 
  • Lima
    • Oyón Province
      • Oyón District
        • Uchucchacua area
EDS analysis Frank Keutsch
Romania
 
  • Alba County
    • Roșia Montană
Gheorghe C. POPESCU (2011)
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