Roquesite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Roquesite
Formula:
CuInS2
Colour:
Grey
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
4.78 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after Maurice Roques, (1911-1997), French geologist, University of Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3445
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3445:2
IMA Classification of Roquesite
Classification of Roquesite
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.
2.9.1.4
2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
3.5.19
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
Mineral Symbols
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.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ro | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Ro | The 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 Roquesite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Grey
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=259 - 274 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
4.78 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Roquesite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
Anisotropism:
Very weak
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 25.8% | 25.0% |
| 420nm | 25.3% | 24.8% |
| 440nm | 24.5% | 24.5% |
| 460nm | 23.8% | 23.9% |
| 480nm | 23.2% | 23.4% |
| 500nm | 22.7% | 22.9% |
| 520nm | 22.3% | 22.6% |
| 540nm | 22.1% | 22.4% |
| 560nm | 21.9% | 22.3% |
| 580nm | 21.8% | 22.2% |
| 600nm | 21.8% | 22.2% |
| 620nm | 21.8% | 22.2% |
| 640nm | 21.7% | 22.2% |
| 660nm | 21.8% | 22.2% |
| 680nm | 21.9% | 22.3% |
| 700nm | 22.1% | 22.5% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 25.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Gray with a slight bluish tint
Chemistry of Roquesite
Mindat Formula:
CuInS2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe
Crystallography of Roquesite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
42m - Scalenohedral
Space Group:
I42d
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.51 Å, c = 11.05 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.005
Unit Cell V:
335.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Inclusions in sulfides.
Twinning:
Polysynthetic
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0015450 | Roquesite | Brandt G, Rauber A, Schneider J (1973) ESR and X-ray analysis of the ternary semiconductors CuAlS2, CuInS2, and AgGaS2 Solid State Communications 12 481-483 | 1973 | Synthetic sample | 0 | 293 | |
| 0013005 | Roquesite | Abrahams S C, Bernstein J L (1973) Piezoelectric nonlinear optic CuGaS2 and CuInS2 crystal structure: Sublattice distortion in AIBIIIC2VI and AIIBIVC2V type chalcopyrites Journal of Chemical Physics 59 5415-5420 | 1973 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.19 Å | (vvs) |
| 1.95 Å | (vs) |
| 1.66 Å | (s) |
| 2.76 Å | (mw) |
| 1.268 Å | (vw) |
| 1.127 Å | (vvw) |
| 3.08 Å | (f) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Roquesite
General Appearance of Type Material:
As inclusions to 0.2 x 0.3 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1965,302.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1965,302.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Inclusions in bornite from a hydrothermal deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Roquesite
Other Language Names for Roquesite
Relationship of Roquesite 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 |
| Lenaite | AgFeS2 | Tet. 42m : I42d |
| Shenzhuangite | NiFeS2 | Tet. 42m : I42d |
| 'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)' | Cu2MnSnS4 |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 41 photos of Roquesite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 35 photos of Roquesite associated with Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| 16 photos of Roquesite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 9 photos of Roquesite associated with Stannoidite | Cu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12 |
| 5 photos of Roquesite associated with Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| 5 photos of Roquesite associated with Wittichenite | Cu3BiS3 |
| 5 photos of Roquesite associated with Digenite | Cu9S5 |
| 4 photos of Roquesite associated with Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| 4 photos of Roquesite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4 photos of Roquesite associated with Covellite | CuS |
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 | Lenaite | AgFeS2 |
| 2.CB.10a | Gallite | CuGaS2 |
| 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
Notes:
Readily etched by concentrated HNO3.
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 Roquesite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3445.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Roquesite
Reference List:
Picot, Paul, Pierrot, Roland (1963) La roquésite, premier minéral d'indium : CuInS2. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 86 (1) 7-14 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1963.5607
Sutherland, J. K., Boorman, R. S. (1969) A new occurrence of roquesite at Mount Pleasant, New Brunswick. American Mineralogist, 54 (7-8) 1202-1203
Abrahams, S. C., Bernstein, J. L. (1973) Piezoelectric nonlinear optic CuGaS2 and CuInS2 crystal structure: Sublattice distortion in AIBIIIC2VI and AIIBIVC2V type chalcopyrites. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 59 (10) 5415-5422 doi:10.1063/1.1679891
Brandt, G., Räuber, A., Schneider, J. (1973) ESR and x-ray analysis of the ternary semiconductors CuAlS2, CuInS2 and AgGaS2. Solid State Communications, 12 (6). 481-483 doi:10.1016/0038-1098(73)90638-8
Cantinolle, Patrice, Laforêt, Claude, Maurel, Colette, Picot, Paul, Grangeon, Jean (1985) Contribution à la minéralogie de l'indium : Découverte en France de deux nouveaux sulfures d'indium et de deux nouvelles occurrences de roquesite. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 108 (2) 245-248 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1985.7873
Localities for Roquesite
Showing 67 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.
Argentina | |
| Putz et al. (2009) |
| Yaciuk et al. (2021) | |
| Yaciuk et al. (2021) | |
| Dill et al. (2013) |
Austria | |
| Auer (2024) |
Bolivia | |
| Salomon Rivas y Federico Ahlfeld (1998) |
Brazil | |
| www.sbgeo.org.br (2004) +2 other references |
Bulgaria | |
| Cook et al. (2002) +2 other references |
| Cook et al. (2002) |
Canada | |
| Adex Mining |
| Kidd Operations |
China | |
| Long et al. (2025) |
| Liu et al. (2017) |
Czech Republic | |
| Litochleb J. |
| Ondruš et al. (2003) |
| Krátký et al. (2026) |
Europe | |
| Jansa et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
Finland | |
| Hietanen (2015) |
| Sundblad K.L. et al. (2014) +1 other reference |
| Cook et al. (2011) | |
| Cook et al. (2011) | |
Finland/Russia | |
| Al-Ani et al. (2018) |
France (TL) | |
| Picot et al. (1963) +2 other references |
| Cantinolle et al. (1985) +1 other reference |
| Cantinolle et al. (1985) +2 other references |
| R. Pierrot |
Greece | |
| Skarpelis (2007) |
| Uwe Kolitsch and Branko Rieck analyses (see also http://lavrion.gr/Minerals/Updates.html) | |
| Skarpelis (2007) | |
| Voudouris et al. (2022) +1 other reference |
India | |
| Seetharam (1986) +1 other reference |
| Tripathi et al. (2022) |
Japan | |
| Shimizu et al. (1987) |
| YAJIMA et al. (1991) |
| 田中崇裕・濱根大輔: ... | |
| Shimizu et al. (1987) +1 other reference |
| Mining Annual Review:1985:407. +5 other references |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data (2012) |
| Kato et al. (1986) +2 other references |
| Matsubara and Miyawaki (2006) +1 other reference |
Kazakhstan | |
| Baibatsha et al. (2015) +1 other reference |
Norway | |
| Neumann (1985) |
Portugal | |
| Lundin Mining |
Romania | |
| Cook et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
| Cook et al. (2003) |
Russia | |
| Excalibur Mineral Corp. - Mineral News |
| Ayupova et al. (2015) +2 other references |
| Kozlov et al. (n.d.) |
| Alekseev et al. (2015) |
| Semenyak BI et al. (1994) | |
| Ivashchenko et al. (2011, September) +1 other reference |
| Ivashchenko et al. (2011, September) | |
| Valkama et al. (2013) | |
| maurice.strahlen.org (2004) |
| Kovalenker et al. (2005) |
Slovakia | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
South Korea | |
| IMAI et al. (1984) +1 other reference |
Sweden | |
| Damman et al. (1990) |
| Kieft et al. (1990) +1 other reference | |
| Burke et al. (1980) +1 other reference |
| Lindeberg (2013) +1 other reference | |
UK | |
| Andersen et al. (2016) |
| Golley et al. (1995) +2 other references |
| Andersen et al. (2016) |
USA | |
| Schumer (2017) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Brodbeck et al. (2022) |
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Akenobe mine, Oya-cho, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan