Skinnerite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Skinnerite
Brian John Skinner
Formula:
Cu3SbS3
Colour:
Gray
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
5.11 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in 1974 by S. Karup-Moller and E. Mackovicky in honor of Brian John Skinner (December 15, 1928 in Wallaroo, South Australia - August 21, 2019 New Haven, Connecticut), Professor of Economic Geology at Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
(Pseudo-orthorhombic) Sb analogue of wittichenite.
May be the Sb analogue of UM2001-13-S:AsCuSbZn (?).
Possibly polymorphous with UM2001-14-S:AsCuSbZn.
May be the Sb analogue of UM2001-13-S:AsCuSbZn (?).
Possibly polymorphous with UM2001-14-S:AsCuSbZn.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3679
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3679:1
Similar Names
| Sinnerite | A valid IMA mineral species | Cu6As4S9 |
IMA Classification of Skinnerite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Cu1+3Sb3+S2-3
Approval year:
1973
First published:
1974
Classification of Skinnerite
2.GA.20
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
3.4.8.2
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ski | 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 Skinnerite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Gray
Streak:
Gray black
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN50=148 - 166 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
5.11 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Skinnerite
Anisotropism:
Visible
Colour in reflected light:
Gray
Chemistry of Skinnerite
Mindat Formula:
Cu3SbS3
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ag
Crystallography of Skinnerite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.815 Å, b = 10.252 Å, c = 13.270 Å
β = 90.35°
β = 90.35°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.762 : 1 : 1.294
Unit Cell V:
1,063.16 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Granular, rarely bladed crystals.
Comment:
ICDD 26-1110 Synthetic
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005434 | Skinnerite | Makovicky E, Balic-Zunic T (1995) The crystal structure of skinnerite, P2_1/c-Cu3SbS3, from powder data The Canadian Mineralogist 33 655-663 |  | 1995 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.91 Å | (80) |
| 3.21 Å | (70) |
| 3.19 Å | (70) |
| 3.05 Å | (70) |
| 2.83 Å | (100) |
| 2.63 Å | (90) |
| 2.62 Å | (90) |
| 1.81 Å | (90) |
Comments:
26-1110 Synthetic
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 Skinnerite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small irregular grains, with an average size of 0.1 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1979.1121.
Mineralogical-Petrographical Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Mineralogical-Petrographical Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Fine-grained sulfide-oxide aggregates embedded in analcime-natrolite veins that cut naujaitic rock.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Skinnerite
Other Language Names for Skinnerite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Skinnerite associated with Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| 1 photo of Skinnerite associated with Magnesite | MgCO3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.GA. | Pyradoketosite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA. | Arsiccioite | AgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA. | Eckerite | Ag2CuAsS3 |
| 2.GA.05 | Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 2.GA.05 | Pyrargyrite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.10 | Xanthoconite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 2.GA.10 | Pyrostilpnite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.15 | Samsonite | Ag4MnSb2S6 |
| 2.GA.20 | Bytízite | Cu3SbSe3 |
| 2.GA.20 | Wittichenite | Cu3BiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Lapieite | NiCuSbS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Lisiguangite | PtCuBiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Malyshevite | PdCuBiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Roterbärite | PdBiCuSe3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Mückeite | NiCu(Bi,Sb)S3 |
| 2.GA.30 | Aktashite | Cu6Hg3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Nowackiite | Cu6Zn3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Zhengminghuaite | Cu6Fe3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Gruzdevite | Cu6Hg3Sb4S12 |
| 2.GA.35 | Laffittite | AgHgAsS3 |
| 2.GA.40 | 'Unnamed (Ag-Fe endmember of Routhierite Group)' | AgFe2TlAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Routhierite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Stalderite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Ralphcannonite | AgZn2TlAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Ferrostalderite | CuFe2TlAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.45 | Erniggliite | Tl2SnAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.50 | Cerromojonite | CuPbBiSe3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Seligmannite | PbCuAsS3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Součekite | CuPbBi(S,Se)3 |
| 2.GA.50 | 'Unnamed (Pb-Cu-Bi Selenide)' | PbCuBiSe3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
| 2.GA.55 | Eldragónite | Cu6BiSe4(Se2) |
Fluorescence of Skinnerite
Not fluorescent
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 Skinnerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3679.html
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References for Skinnerite
Reference List:
Skinner, Brian J., Luce, Frederick D., Makovicky, Emil (1972) Studies of the Sulfosalts of Copper III. Phases and Phase Relations in the System Cu-Sb-S. Economic Geology, 67 (7). 924-938 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.67.7.924
Karup-Møller, Sven, Makovicky, and Emil (1974) Skinnerite, Cu3SbS3 a new sulfosalt from the Ilimaussaq alkaline intrusion, South Greenland. American Mineralogist, 59 (9-10) 889-895
Pfitzner, Arno (1994) Cu3SbS3: Zur Kristallstruktur und Polymorphie. Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 620 (11). 1992-1997 doi:10.1002/zaac.19946201126
Harlov, D (1995) Ag-Cu exchange equilibria between pyrargyrite, high-skinnerite, and polybasite solutions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 59 (5) 867-874 doi:10.1016/00167-0379(50)00151-
Localities for Skinnerite
Showing 21 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.
Bulgaria | |
| Dobrev et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
China | |
| Zhong et al. (2017) |
| 张中俭 et al. (2017) |
| Li et al. (2026) |
| Xia et al. (2021) |
| Liu et al. (2025) |
| Wang Xiaochun (2000) |
| Yongbei Zhang et al. (2003) |
| Xinpei Jiang (1994) |
| Luo et al. (2019) |
France | |
| Ragu et al. (2025) |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1992) |
Greenland | |
| Petersen (2001) |
| Karup-Møller et al. (1974) +1 other reference |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll: Minerals of Rudabánya |
India | |
| Mukherjee et al. (1998) |
Romania | |
| Săbău et al. (2013) |
Russia | |
| Tolstykh et al. (2022) |
Slovakia | |
| Peterec D. et al. (Košice) |
| Sejkora et al. (2024) | |
USA | |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
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Andrássy III. Mine, Rudabánya, Kazincbarcika District, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hungary