Uytenbogaardtite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Uytenbogaardtite
Formula:
Ag3AuS2
Colour:
Greyish-white
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
8.40 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named in 1978 by M. D. Barton, C. Kieft, E. A. J. Burke, and I. D. Oen in honor of Willem Uytenbogaardt (July 18, 1918 Amsterdam, The Netherlands - May 25, 2012 Aalsmeer, The Netherlands), professor of geology, Technical University of Delft (The Netherlands).
May form as exsolutions in (originally Au-bearing) acanthite. Structurally different from (stoichiometrically similar) petzite and fischesserite, although forming a series with the latter. Often found in 0.1mm grains, in clusters.
Analogous to Cu-bearing Cu-Au-ordered makotoite.
Chemically similar to petrovskaite; compare UM2002-13-S:AgAuSe.
The structure is based on S-atoms sublattice in distorted bcc arrangement. There are (1) tri-atomic linear S-Au-S groups and (2) Ag atoms bonded to four S atoms (from four different linear groups), in distorted tetrahedral set.
Analogous to Cu-bearing Cu-Au-ordered makotoite.
Chemically similar to petrovskaite; compare UM2002-13-S:AgAuSe.
The structure is based on S-atoms sublattice in distorted bcc arrangement. There are (1) tri-atomic linear S-Au-S groups and (2) Ag atoms bonded to four S atoms (from four different linear groups), in distorted tetrahedral set.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4127
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4127:6
IMA Classification of Uytenbogaardtite
Approved
Approval year:
1977
First published:
1978
Classification of Uytenbogaardtite
2.BA.75
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
2.4.3.1
2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
3.3.4
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
3 : Sulphides etc. of Au
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
3 : Sulphides etc. of Au
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Uyt | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Uyt | 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 Uytenbogaardtite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Comment:
Usually grains are so tiny they are invisible without a microscope
Colour:
Greyish-white
Comment:
Uytenbogaardtite is commonly gray-white metallic, but it tarnishes very easily in bright light. Polished sections, in particular, may show rapid color changes within minutes. Various references report differing iridescence. Tan is commonly observed, but shades of pink to brassy are also observed.
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN15=20 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Malleable
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
None
None
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Comment:
Considerably more brittle than acanthite
Density:
8.40(5) g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Uytenbogaardtite
Anisotropism:
Strong; without distinct colors.
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 470nm | 33.2% | 34.6% |
| 546nm | 30.3% | 34.6% |
| 589nm | 31.1% | 35.2% |
| 650nm | 30.5% | 33.3% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 35.2%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
gray-white
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Weak to distinct; pale gray to pale gray with a brownish tint.
Comments:
surface changes rapidly on exposure to light
Chemistry of Uytenbogaardtite
Mindat Formula:
Ag3AuS2
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Cu,Se,Te
Crystallography of Uytenbogaardtite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3c
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.6952(5) Å, c = 17.0912(8) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.248
Unit Cell V:
2776.1 ų
Z:
8
Morphology:
Not observed in crystals to date. Grains of uytenbogaardtite are rarely larger than 100 microns and magnification is necessary to observe the mineral.
Comment:
Given as P4122 or P1, a= 9.75, c =m9.85, Z=9 by Bideaux (1990). Previously given space group: R-3; originally thought to be tetragonal.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012143 | Uytenbogaardtite | Messien P, Baiwir M, Tavernier B (1966) Structure cristalline du sulfure mixte d'argent et d'or Bulletin de la Societe Royal des Sciences de Liege 35 727-733 | 1966 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.98 Å | (80) |
| 4.38 Å | (60) |
| 3.99 Å | (10) |
| 3.46 Å | (20) |
| 3.25 Å | (30) |
| 3.09 Å | (60) |
| 2.943 Å | (30) |
| 2.809 Å | (60) |
| 2.731 Å | (100) |
| 2.609 Å | (90) |
| 2.371 Å | (30) |
| 2.319 Å | (20) |
| 2.297 Å | (10) |
| 2.236 Å | (30) |
| 2.147 Å | (50) |
| 2.124 Å | (80) |
| 2.011 Å | (10) |
| 1.992 Å | (50) |
| 1.925 Å | (40) |
| 1.885 Å | (20) |
| 1.907 Å | (50) |
| 1.780 Å | (40) |
| 1.735 Å | (10) |
| 1.669 Å | (10) |
| 1.536 Å | (20) |
| 1.470 Å | (30) |
| 1.406 Å | (30) |
Comments:
ICDD 33-587 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 Uytenbogaardtite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
Gray-white metallic to tannish gray-white metallic grains. Frequently changes color, especially in polished sections. Iridescence noted varying from metallic tan, to brassy and "metallic pink". The mineral rarely is larger than 100 microns and crystals ar
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
1) Institute of Earth Sciences, Free University of Amsterdam.
2) University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3) National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 105328, B239.
2) University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3) National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 105328, B239.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Uytenbogaardtite
Other Language Names for Uytenbogaardtite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 31 photos of Uytenbogaardtite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 24 photos of Uytenbogaardtite associated with 'Electrum' | (Au,Ag) |
| 13 photos of Uytenbogaardtite associated with Native Gold | Au |
| 10 photos of Uytenbogaardtite associated with Acanthite | Ag2S |
| 4 photos of Uytenbogaardtite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 3 photos of Uytenbogaardtite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 3 photos of Uytenbogaardtite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Uytenbogaardtite associated with Native Silver | Ag |
| 2 photos of Uytenbogaardtite associated with Stephanite | Ag5SbS4 |
| 2 photos of Uytenbogaardtite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.BA. | Makotoite | Ag12(Cu3Au)S8 |
| 2.BA. | Alburnite | Ag8GeTe2S4 |
| 2.BA. | Dzierżanowskite | CaCu2S2 |
| 2.BA. | Xuwenyuanite | Ag9Fe3+Te2S4 |
| 2.BA. | 'Orileyite' | (Fe,Cu)2As |
| 2.BA. | Juxingite | Bi6Cu+138Cu2+2Fe3+30S125 |
| 2.BA.05 | Djurleite | Cu31S16 |
| 2.BA.05 | Geerite | Cu8S5 |
| 2.BA.05 | Roxbyite | Cu58S32 |
| 2.BA.05 | Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| 2.BA.10 | Digenite | Cu9S5 |
| 2.BA.10 | Anilite | Cu7S4 |
| 2.BA.15 | Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| 2.BA.20 | Bellidoite | Cu2Se |
| 2.BA.20 | Berzelianite | Cu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12) |
| 2.BA.25 | Athabascaite | Cu5Se4 |
| 2.BA.25 | Umangite | Cu3Se2 |
| 2.BA.30 | Rickardite | Cu7Te5 |
| 2.BA.30 | Weissite | Cu2-xTe |
| 2.BA.35 | Acanthite | Ag2S |
| 2.BA.35 | Spryite | Ag8(As3+0.5As5+0.5)S6 |
| 2.BA.40d | 'UM2003-13-S:AgAuCu' | Ag6AuCu2S5 |
| 2.BA.40 | Mckinstryite | Ag5-xCu3+xS4 |
| 2.BA.40 | Stromeyerite | AgCuS |
| 2.BA.42 | Honeaite | Au3TlTe2 |
| 2.BA.45 | Jalpaite | Ag3CuS2 |
| 2.BA.45 | Selenojalpaite | Ag3CuSe2 |
| 2.BA.45 | Kurilite | Ag8Te3Se |
| 2.BA.47 | Spiridonovite | (Cu1-xAgx)2Te |
| 2.BA.50 | Wuyanzhiite | Cu2S |
| 2.BA.50 | Eucairite | AgCuSe |
| 2.BA.52 | 'Argentite' | Ag2S |
| 2.BA.55 | Naumannite | Ag2Se |
| 2.BA.55 | Aguilarite | Ag4SeS |
| 2.BA.60 | Chenguodaite | Ag9Fe3+Te2S4 |
| 2.BA.60 | Hessite | Ag2Te |
| 2.BA.60 | Cervelleite | Ag4TeS |
| 2.BA.65 | Henryite | (Cu,Ag)3+xTe2 , with x ~ 0.40 |
| 2.BA.65 | Stützite | Ag5-xTe3, x = 0.24-0.36 |
| 2.BA.70 | Argyrodite | Ag8GeS6 |
| 2.BA.70 | Putzite | (Cu4.7Ag3.3)GeS6 |
| 2.BA.70 | Canfieldite | Ag8SnS6 |
| 2.BA.75 | Fischesserite | Ag3AuSe2 |
| 2.BA.75 | Penzhinite | (Ag,Cu)4Au(S,Se)4 |
| 2.BA.75 | Petrovskaite | AuAgS |
| 2.BA.75 | Petzite | Ag3AuTe2 |
| 2.BA.80 | Bezsmertnovite | (Au,Ag)4Cu(Te,Pb) |
| 2.BA.80 | Bilibinskite | PbCu2Au3Te2 |
| 2.BA.80 | Bogdanovite | (Au,Te,Pb)3(Cu,Fe) |
Fluorescence of Uytenbogaardtite
Not fluorescent in UV
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 Uytenbogaardtite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4127.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Uytenbogaardtite
Reference List:
Barton, M. D., Kieft, C., Burke, E. A. J., Oen, I. S. (1978) Uytenbogaardtite, a new silver-gold sulfide. The Canadian Mineralogist, 16 (4) 651-657
Fleischer, M.; Mandarino, J.A.; Pabst, A. (1980) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 65 (1-2). 205-210
Bindi, Luca, Stanley, Christopher J., Seryotkin, Yurii V., Bakakin, Vladimir V., Pal'yanova, Galina A., Kokh, Konstantin A. (2016) The crystal structure of uytenbogaardtite, Ag3AuS2, and its relationships with gold and silver sulfides-selenides. Mineralogical Magazine, 80 (6) 1031-1040 doi:10.1180/minmag.2016.080.041
Localities for Uytenbogaardtite
Showing 120 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 | |
| Márquez-Zavalía et al. (2016) |
| Brotkorb (2002) |
| Mugas Lobos et al. (2011) +1 other reference |
| Paar et al. (2005, January) +1 other reference |
| Smith (2009) |
| FERNANDEZ +1 other reference |
| FERNANDEZ +1 other reference | |
Bolivia | |
| Dill (1998) |
Bulgaria | |
| Marchev et al. (2005) |
Canada | |
| Junco Rojas (2022) |
China | |
| Zhiguo Zhang et al. (2008) |
| Ren et al. (2026) |
| Yue et al. (2024) +1 other reference |
| Wang et al. (2019) |
Czech Republic | |
| Pažout et al. (2019) |
Dominican Republic | |
| Barrick Gold Corporation |
Egypt | |
| Sallam et al. (2014) |
Indonesia | |
| Marcoux et al. (1993) +2 other references |
| Barton et al. (1978) +2 other references |
| Warmada et al. (2003) +1 other reference |
Japan | |
| Zeeck et al. (2021) |
| Hamada et al. (2022) |
Malaysia | |
| Wolfram Dieter Schuh (1993) |
Mexico | |
| Almaden Minerals |
New Zealand | |
| Fyfe (2014) |
| Cocker et al. (2013) |
Nicaragua | |
| English et al. (2024) |
Papua New Guinea | |
| Petromin |
Peru | |
| Gibson (1992) |
| Greffié et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
| Chauvet et al. (2006) | |
| Gamarra-Urrunaga et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
Romania | |
| IATAN et al. (2016) |
| Udubaªa et al. (2006) +1 other reference |
Russia (TL) | |
| Barton et al. (1978) +2 other references |
| Vikentyev (2015) +1 other reference |
| Savva et al. (2012) |
| Zhuravkova et al. (2019) | |
| Сереткин et al. (2013) |
| Kolova et al. (2021) |
| Bortnikov et al. (2023) |
| Tolstykh et al. (2021) +1 other reference |
| Bortnikov et al. (2023) |
| Zhegunov et al. (2022) +2 other references |
| Zhegunov et al. (2025) | |
| Zhegunov et al. (2025) | |
| Tolstykh et al. (2023) +1 other reference |
| Kostin (2021) +1 other reference |
| Tolstykh et al. (2022) +1 other reference | |
| Левочская et al. (2021) |
| Pal'yanova et al. (2015) |
| Proskurnin et al. (2011, December) |
| Proskurnin et al. (2011, December) | |
| Volkov et al. (2015) |
| Пальянова et al. (2016) |
| Palyanova et al. (2016) +1 other reference | |
| Volkov et al. (2016) | |
| Savva et al. (2019) |
| Volkov et al. (2018) | |
| Litvinenko Ivan Stepanovych (2020) | |
| Volkov et al. (2023) |
| Volkov et al. (2021) | |
| Tauson et al. (2017) | |
| Priymenko et al. (2020) +1 other reference | |
| Сереткин et al. (2013) |
| Savva et al. (2014) |
| Сереткин et al. (2013) | |
| Savva et al. (2007) | |
| Pal’yanova et al. (2009) | |
| A. A. Kalinin et al. (2016) |
| Sergeyev N.B. et al. (1996) |
| Лавров (2021) |
| Kondratieva et al. (2021) |
| Kondratieva et al. (2021) | |
| Kondratieva et al. (2023) |
| Safina |
| Gas’kov et al. (2006) |
| R. V. Kuzhuget et al. (2017) |
| Kuzhuget et al. (2025) +1 other reference |
| Юргенсон (2022) |
| Эпова et al. (2025) |
Slovakia | |
| Berkh et al. (2014) |
| Majzlan (2009) +1 other reference |
| Vlasáč et al. (2021) | |
| Berkh et al. (2014) | |
| Majzlan (2009) | |
| Chovan et al. (2016) +2 other references | |
| Majzlan et al. (2018) +1 other reference |
| Vlasáč et al. (2025) +1 other reference | |
| Vlasáč et al. (2021) +1 other reference |
| Števko et al. (2018) |
| Vlasáč et al. (2021) | |
| Mikuš et al. (2026) |
South Korea | |
| 고영진 (2021) +1 other reference |
Tajikistan | |
| Yatimov et al. (2022) |
Turkey | |
| Blanks et al. (2014) |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Ronald Wynn Sheets et al. (1995) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Foley +4 other references | |
| Leonard et al. (1987) |
| Szarkowski (2019) |
| Tiffany Ostenburg (2022) |
| Cain et al. (2007) |
| Smith et al. (2013) |
| Bowell et al. (1999) +1 other reference |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Baldwin (2014) |
| Castor et al. (1993) |
| Castor et al. (1993) | |
| Castor et al. (2004) | |
| Robinson et al. (1992) +1 other reference | |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| DeMouthe (1985) |
| Forrest Cureton |
| Basciano et al. (2010) | |
| Cannon (1991) |
Uzbekistan | |
| Eleonora A. Dunin-Barkovskaya et al. (2005) |
| GEOCHMISTRY +1 other reference |
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New Bullfrog Mine, Bullfrog Mining District, Bullfrog Hills, Nye County, Nevada, USA