Sinnerite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Sinnerite
Rudolf von Sinner (1890-1960)
Formula:
Cu6As4S9
Colour:
Bronze, steel-grey, silver
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
4 - 4½
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named after Rudolf von Sinner (1890-1960), President of the Commission of the Natural History Museum, Bern, Switzerland.
Known as a synthetic compound.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3675
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3675:3
Similar Names
| Cinerite | A synonym of 'Volcanic ash' | |
| Saneroite | A valid IMA mineral species | NaMn52+[Si5O14(OH)](VO3)(OH) |
| Skinnerite | A valid IMA mineral species | Cu3SbS3 |
| Synnyrite | A synonym of 'Kalsilite syenite' | |
| Zeunerite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 12H2O |
IMA Classification of Sinnerite
Classification of Sinnerite
2.GC.10
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
C : Poly-sulfarsenites
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
C : Poly-sulfarsenites
3.6.14.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
6 : 2 < ø < 2.49
3 : SULFOSALTS
6 : 2 < ø < 2.49
5.1.1
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
1 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Cu
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
1 : Sulpharsenites 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sin | 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 Sinnerite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Bronze, steel-grey, silver
Streak:
Grey-black
Hardness:
4 - 4½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Chemistry of Sinnerite
Mindat Formula:
Cu6As4S9
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Sinnerite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pedial
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.103(2) Å, b = 9.860(3) Å, c = 9.111(2) Å
α = 90.27(2)°, β = 109.53(2)°, γ = 107.58(2)°
α = 90.27(2)°, β = 109.53(2)°, γ = 107.58(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.923 : 1 : 0.924
Unit Cell V:
729.6 ų
Z:
2
Twinning:
Crystals are twinned complexly; principal laws are twin planes {010} and {110}.
Comment:
Small pseudo-orthorhombic subcell: a = 3.72, b = 3.70, c = 5.24 Å (Marumo & Nowacki, 1964).
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020208 | Sinnerite | Bindi L, Makovicky E, Nestola F, Battisti L D (2013) Sinnerite, Cu6As4S9, from the Lengenbach Quarry, Binn Valley, Switzerland: Description and re-investigation of the crystal structure The Canadian Mineralogist 51 851-860 | 2013 | Lengenbach Quarry, Binn Valley, Switzerland | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000475 | Sinnerite | Makovicky E, Skinner B J (1975) Studies of the sulfosalts of copper. IV. Structure and twinning of sinnerite, Cu6As4S9 American Mineralogist 60 998-1012 |  | 1975 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.34 Å | (20) |
| 3.02 Å | (100) |
| 1.852 Å | (80) |
| 1.581 Å | (70) |
| 1.556 Å | (20) |
| 1.312 Å | (20) |
| 1.205 Å | (30) |
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 Sinnerite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
A small crystal.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Naturhistorisches Museum, Bern, Switzerland, number L2120-62 (holotype).
Synonyms of Sinnerite
Other Language Names for Sinnerite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 6 photos of Sinnerite associated with Realgar | As4S4 |
| 5 photos of Sinnerite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 4 photos of Sinnerite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 4 photos of Sinnerite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 3 photos of Sinnerite associated with Pararealgar | As4S4 |
| 3 photos of Sinnerite associated with Sartorite Group | |
| 2 photos of Sinnerite associated with Liveingite | Pb20As24S56 |
| 2 photos of Sinnerite associated with Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
| 1 photo of Sinnerite associated with Sartorite | PbAs2S4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.GC.05 | Hatchite | AgTlPbAs2S5 |
| 2.GC.05 | Wallisite | (Cu,Ag)TlPbAs2S5 |
| 2.GC.15 | Watanabeite | Cu4(As,Sb)2S5 |
| 2.GC.20 | Simonite | TlHgAs3S6 |
| 2.GC.25 | Quadratite | Ag(Cd,Pb)AsS3 |
| 2.GC.25 | Manganoquadratite | AgMnAsS3 |
| 2.GC.30 | Smithite | AgAsS2 |
| 2.GC.35 | Trechmannite | AgAsS2 |
| 2.GC.35 | Debattistiite | Ag9Hg0.5As6S12Te2 |
| 2.GC.40a | Aleksite | PbBi2Te2S2 |
| 2.GC.40d | Saddlebackite | Pb2Bi2Te2S3 |
| 2.GC.40c | Rucklidgeite | PbBi2Te4 |
| 2.GC.40 | Clogauite | PbBi4Te4S3 |
| 2.GC.40e | Babkinite | Pb2Bi2(S,Se)3 |
| 2.GC.40b | Kochkarite | PbBi4Te7 |
| 2.GC.40c | Poubaite | PbBi2(Se,Te,S)4 |
| 2.GC.45 | Tvalchrelidzeite | Hg3SbAsS3 |
| 2.GC.50 | Mutnovskite | Pb4As2S6ICl |
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 Sinnerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3675.html
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References for Sinnerite
Reference List:
Nowacki, W., Marumo, F., Takeuchi, Y. (1964) Untersuchungen an Sulfiden aus dem Binnatal (Kt. Wallis, Schweiz). Schweizerische Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 44(1): 5-9.[with preliminary data]
Makovicky, Emil, Skinner, Brian J. (1972) Studies of the sulfosalts of copper. II The crystallography and composition of sinnerite, Cu6As4S9. American Mineralogist, 57 (5-6) 824-834
Makovicky, Emil, Skinner, Brian J. (1975) Studies of the sulfosalts of copper. IV. Structure and twinning of sinnerite, Cu6As4S9. American Mineralogist, 60 (11-12) 998-1012
Harlov, Daniel E. (1999) Thermochemistry of Ag-Cu exchange equilibria between proustite, sinnerite, and pearceite: Constraints on Ag-Cu and As-Sb mixing in pyrargyrite-proustite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 11 (4) 709-720 doi:10.1127/ejm/11/4/0709
Localities for Sinnerite
Showing 14 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.
China | |
| Chen et al. (2022) |
| Zheng et al. (2024) |
Finland | |
| Hangala Leake S. 1987 The early ... |
India | |
| Ahmed et al. (2018) |
| Ahmed et al. (2018) |
Italy | |
| Stara et al. (1993) |
Mexico | |
| Georg Gebhard |
Romania | |
| Săbău et al. (2016) |
Russia | |
| Berdnikov et al. (2023) |
| Ivanyuk et al. (2017) |
| Ivanyuk et al. (2017) | |
| Kasatkin et al. (2020) +1 other reference |
Switzerland (TL) | |
| Gagarin G. and Cuomo J.R. (1949) |
| Marumo et al. (1964) +1 other reference |
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Lengenbach Quarry, Fäld, Binn, Goms, Valais, Switzerland