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Cupropearceite

A valid IMA mineral species
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00202260017609786069048.jpg
Cupropearceite, etc.

Sarbai Deposit, Rudny, Kostanay Region, Kazakhstan
00742900017271950225737.jpg
Cupropearceite, etc.

Sarbai Deposit, Rudny, Kostanay Region, Kazakhstan
05246870017271950229683.jpg
Cupropearceite

Sarbai Deposit, Rudny, Kostanay Region, Kazakhstan
05199410017430862948358.jpg
Cupropearceite, etc.

Sarbai Deposit, Rudny, Kostanay Region, Kazakhstan
00742900017271950225737.jpg
Cupropearceite, etc.

Sarbai Deposit, Rudny, Kostanay Region, Kazakhstan
05246870017271950229683.jpg
Cupropearceite

Sarbai Deposit, Rudny, Kostanay Region, Kazakhstan
00202260017609786069048.jpg
Cupropearceite, etc.

Sarbai Deposit, Rudny, Kostanay Region, Kazakhstan
00742900017271950225737.jpg
Cupropearceite, etc.

Sarbai Deposit, Rudny, Kostanay Region, Kazakhstan
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About CupropearceiteHide

Formula:
[Cu6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Colour:
Black, dark gray
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3 - 3½
Specific Gravity:
6.134 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
For its relationship to pearceite.
This page provides mineralogical data about Cupropearceite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
35576
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:35576:6

IMA Classification of CupropearceiteHide

IMA status:
Approved
IMA Formula:
[Cu1+6As3+2S2-7][Ag1+9Cu1+S2-4]
Approval year:
2007
First published:
2007

Classification of CupropearceiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.GB.15

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
B : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. with additional S

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

Physical Properties of CupropearceiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black, dark gray
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3 - 3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=112 - 128 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
None observed
Density:
6.134 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Could not be measured due to small grain size.

Optical Data of CupropearceiteHide

Anisotropism:
Without characteristic rotation-tints.
Bireflectance:
Moderate
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
471nm31.7% 32.8%
548nm29.1% 31.5%
586nm28.8% 30.8%
652nm28.5% 29.9%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 32.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Internal Reflections:
None
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Light-grey to a blue grey.

Chemistry of CupropearceiteHide

Mindat Formula:
[Cu6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Ag50.611 %
Cu23.190 %
S18.388 %
As7.812 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Ag, As, Cu, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of CupropearceiteHide

Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P3m1
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.3218 Å, c = 11.8877 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.624
Unit Cell V:
551.90 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0015712CupropearceiteBindi L, Pekov I V (2009) Crystal chemistry of extremely Cu-rich cupropearceite from the Sarbay mine, Northern Kazakhstan Location: Sarbay mine, Northern Kazakhstan Zapiski Rossiiskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchetstva 138 44-5020090293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
11.89 Å(54)
3.063 Å(38)
2.972 Å(100)
2.797 Å(44)
2.476 Å(45)
2.349 Å(45)
2.168 Å(42)
1.831 Å(50)
Locality:
Sarbai Deposit, Rudny, Kostanay Region, Kazakhstan

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of CupropearceiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Sarbai Deposit, Rudny, Kostanay Region, Kazakhstan
General Appearance of Type Material:
Subhedral to anhedral grains up to 300 µm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical Collection of the Museo di Storia Naturale, Universita di Firenze, Italy.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
CalcitePyriteQuartzTetrahedrite Subgroup

Synonyms of CupropearceiteHide

Other Language Names for CupropearceiteHide

Relationship of Cupropearceite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Pearceite-Polybasite Group
Other Members of Pearceite-Polybasite Group:
ArgentopearceiteAg16As2S11Trig. 32 : P321
Argentopolybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9AgS4]Trig. 32 : P321
'Argentopolybasite-T2ac'Ag16Sb2S11Trig. 32 : P321
Auropearceite [Ag9AuS4][Ag6As2S7]Trig. 32 : P321
Auropolybasite[Ag9AuS4][Ag6Sb2S7]Trig. 32 : P321
Benleonardite[Ag6(Sb,As)2S6Te][Ag9Cu(S,Te)2Te2]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
Cupropolybasite[Cu6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m : P31m
Fengruiite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS2Te2]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
Pearceite[Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]Mon. 2/m : B2/m
Selenopolybasite[(Ag,Cu)6(Sb,As)2(S,Se)7][Ag9Cu(S,Se)2Se2]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
5 photos of Cupropearceite associated with EnargiteCu3AsS4
5 photos of Cupropearceite associated with PyriteFeS2
4 photos of Cupropearceite associated with DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
3 photos of Cupropearceite associated with Pearceite[Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]
2 photos of Cupropearceite associated with Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S
2 photos of Cupropearceite associated with Tennantite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12S
1 photo of Cupropearceite associated with Stilbite SubgroupM6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O
1 photo of Cupropearceite associated with Cupropolybasite[Cu6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
1 photo of Cupropearceite associated with Native SilverAg
1 photo of Cupropearceite associated with CobaltiteCoAsS

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.GB.'Polybasite-Tac'[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.Kenoargentotetrahedrite-(Zn)[Ag6]4+(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S12◻Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Argentotetrahedrite-(Hg)Ag6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Annivite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)Bi4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Pošepnýite(Cu+3◻3)(Hg2+4Cu+2)Sb4Se12(Se0.5◻0.5)Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(Cu)Cu6(Cu4Cu2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Argentopolybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9AgS4]Trig. 32 : P321
2.GB.Tennantite-(Mn)Cu6(Cu4Mn2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Argentotetrahedrite-(Cd)Ag6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Stibioústalečite(Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(Sb2Te2)Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Stibiogoldfieldite(Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(Sb2Te2)S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Argentotetrahedrite-(Zn)Ag6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tetrahedrite-(Cd)Cu6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Arsenogoldfieldite(Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(As2Te2)S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Arsenoústalečite(Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(As2Te2)Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(In)Cu6(Cu5In)As4S13Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Zvěstovite-(Fe)Ag6(Ag4Fe2+2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Hakite-(Fe)Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)Sb4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(Cd)Cu6(Cu4Cd2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.XKenorozhdestvenskayaite-(Fe)[Ag6]4+(Ag4Fe2+2)Sb4S12◻Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tetrahedrite-(Cu)Cu6(Cu4Cu2+2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Hakite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Zvěstovite-(Zn)Ag6(Ag4Zn2)As4S12SIso.
2.GB.Hakite-(Cd)Cu6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Kenoargentotennantite-(Fe)[Ag6]4+(Cu4Fe2)As4S12◻Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(Hg)Cu6(Cu4Hg2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tetrahedrite-(Mn)Cu6(Cu4Mn2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(Ni)Cu6(Cu4Ni2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tetrahedrite-(Ni)Cu6(Cu4Ni2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Hakite-(Hg)Cu6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Rozhdestvenskayaite-(Zn)Ag6(Ag4Zn2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Argentotennantite-(Zn)Ag6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Argentotennantite-(Fe)Ag6(Cu4Fe2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tennantite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : F43m
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tennantite-(Fe)Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite-(Fe)Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite-(Hg)Cu6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Kenoargentotetrahedrite-(Fe)[Ag6]4+(Cu4Fe2+2)Sb4S12◻Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Giraudite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Argentotetrahedrite-(Fe)Ag6(Cu4Fe2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Goldfieldite(Cu4◻2)(Cu4Cu+2)Te4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05'UM1992-21-S:AgFeSb'Ag6(Ag4Fe2+2)Sb4S12SIso.
2.GB.10SelenostephaniteAg5SbSe4Orth. 222 : P212121
2.GB.10StephaniteAg5SbS4Orth. mm2 : Cmc21
2.GB.15'UM2003-14-S:AgBiFeTe'Ag16FeBiTe3S8
2.GB.15'UM1979-17-S:BiCuFe'~Cu18Fe4BiS16
2.GB.15Pearceite[Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.15ArgentopearceiteAg16As2S11Trig. 32 : P321
2.GB.15Cupropolybasite[Cu6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m : P31m
2.GB.15Fengruiite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS2Te2]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.15Auropearceite [Ag9AuS4][Ag6As2S7]Trig. 32 : P321
2.GB.15Selenopolybasite[(Ag,Cu)6(Sb,As)2(S,Se)7][Ag9Cu(S,Se)2Se2]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.15Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.GB.15Auropolybasite[Ag9AuS4][Ag6Sb2S7]Trig. 32 : P321
2.GB.20Vorontsovite(Hg5Cu)Σ6TlAs4S12Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.20Ferrovorontsovite(Fe5Cu)Σ6TlAs4S12Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.20Galkhaite(Hg5Cu)CsAs4S12Iso. 43m : I43m

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 CupropearceiteHide

References for CupropearceiteHide

Localities for CupropearceiteHide

Showing 16 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
 
  • Catamarca Province
    • Belén Department
      • Hualfín
Márquez-Zavalía et al. (2016)
Austria
 
  • Styria
    • Liezen District
      • Grundlsee
        • Wienern
Kolitsch et al. (2026)
  • Tyrol
    • Kufstein District
      • Reith im Alpbachtal
Kolitsch (2017)
Czech Republic
 
  • Central Bohemian Region
    • Kutná Hora District
Pažout et al. (2026)
    • Příbram District
      • Vrančice
        • Alexander Mine
Sejkora et al. (2010)
  • Ústí nad Labem Region
    • Teplice District
      • Dubí
Krátký et al. (2026)
France
 
  • Occitanie
    • Tarn
      • Castres
        • Montredon-Labessonnié
          • Peyrebrune
Georges FAVREAU collection + EDX ...
Germany
 
  • Baden-Württemberg
    • Freiburg Region
      • Ortenaukreis
        • Oberwolfach
Kolitsch et al. (2019)
  • Hesse
    • Darmstadt
      • Darmstadt-Dieburg
        • Mühltal
          • Nieder-Beerbach
Belendorff (2021)
Kazakhstan (TL)
 
  • Kostanay Region
    • Rudny
Bindi et al. (2007) +1 other reference
Kosovo
 
  • Pristina District
    • Graçanica
      • Gračanica (Graçanicë)
Mederski et al. (2023)
Morocco
 
  • Drâa-Tafilalet Region
    • Zagora Province
      • Agdz Cercle
        • Tansifte Caïdat
          • Aït Ahmane
Kolitsch et al. (2021)
Namibia
 
  • Oshikoto Region
    • Tsumeb
Bindi et al. (2015)
Poland
 
  • Lower Silesian Voivodeship
    • Lubin County
      • Lubin
Kozub-Budzyń et al. (2018)
Russia
 
  • Khabarovsk Krai
    • Verkhnebureinsky District
Alekseev et al. (2015)
Slovakia
 
  • Banská Bystrica Region
    • Žarnovica District
      • Rudno nad Hronom
Vlasáč et al. (2024)
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