Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Azurite vs. Smithsonite
It's carbonate-vs-carbonate to kick off Mineral Cup 2026 with copper-rich Azurite against zinc-rich Smithsonite.
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Tongxinite

Valid as an unnamed mineral
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
00199540017271928988684.jpg
Tongxinite

Didessa river, Adola belt, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
00199540017271928988684.jpg
Tongxinite

Didessa river, Adola belt, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
00199540017271928988684.jpg
Tongxinite

Didessa river, Adola belt, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Hide all sections | Show all sections

About TongxiniteHide

Formula:
Cu2Zn
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named for the composition (tong = copper, xin = zinc).
Originally reported from:
- Baxi Au deposit, Ruo'ergai (Zoigê) Co., Sichuan Province, China
- Malasongduo Cu-Mo deposit, Jomdo (Jiangda) Co., Qamdo (Changdu) Prefecture, Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet), China
- Yulong Cu-(Mo) deposit, Jomdo (Jiangda) Co., Qamdo (Changdu) Prefecture, Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet), China

Danbaite group


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
7340
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7340:6

IMA Classification of TongxiniteHide

IMA status notes:
Unnamed (probably valid)
Approval history:
Unnamed, but probably valid.

Classification of TongxiniteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
1.AB.10b

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
B : Zinc-brass family
Dana 8th ed.:
1.1.6.3

1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group

Optical Data of TongxiniteHide

Type:
Isotropic
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)
480nm41.12%
500nm46.60%
520nm49.02%
540nm56.63%
560nm58.00%
580nm61.45%
600nm65.10%
620nm68.80%
640nm73.53%
660nm77.50%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 77.50%.

Chemistry of TongxiniteHide

Mindat Formula:
Cu2Zn
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Cu66.031 %
Zn33.969 %

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

Crystallography of TongxiniteHide

Crystal System:
Isometric

Other Language Names for TongxiniteHide

German:Tongxinit
Simplified Chinese:铜锌矿
Spanish:Tongxinita

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Tongxinite associated with Native CopperCu

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

1.AB.'Native Magnesium'MgHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AB.05Native ZincZnHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AB.05'Native Rhenium'ReHex.
1.AB.05Native CadmiumCdHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AB.05Native TitaniumTiHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AB.10a'Zinccopperite'Cu7Zn4 (?)
1.AB.10aZhanghengiteCuZnIso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Im3m
1.AB.10'UM1980-01-E:CuZn'Cu3Zn
1.AB.10'UM1980-02-E:CuZn'Cu4.45Zn
1.AB.10'UM2003-03-E:AgAuCuZn'(Cu,Au,Ag)4Zn
1.AB.10a'α-Brass'Cu3ZnIso. m3m(4/m32/m)
1.AB.10bDanbaiteCuZn2Iso.

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 TongxiniteHide

References for TongxiniteHide

Localities for TongxiniteHide

Showing 15 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.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

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.
China
 
  • Qinghai
    • Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
      • Golmud City (Ge'ermu Co.)
Zhang Dequan et al. (2002)
  • Sichuan
    • Liangshan Yi
      • Dechang County
Xie Yuling et al. (2006)
      • Mianning County
Yuling Xie et al. (2005)
    • Ngawa Autonomous Prefecture (Aba Autonomous Prefecture)
      • Zoigê Co. (Ruo'ergai Co.)
Dequan Shuai et al. (1998) +1 other reference
  • Tibet
    • Lhasa
      • Maizhokunggar Co. (Mozhugongka Co.)
Suiliang Dong et al. (2010) +1 other reference
    • Qamdo Prefecture (Changdu Prefecture)
      • Jomdo Co. (Jiangda Co.)
Dequan Shuai et al. (1998) +1 other reference
      • Zhag'yab Co. (Chaya Co.)
Dequan Shuai et al. (1998) +1 other reference
  • Xinjiang
    • Hami Prefecture (Kumul Prefecture; Qumul Prefecture)
      • Yizhou District
Lang et al. (1990) +1 other reference
Ethiopia
 
  • Oromia Region
    • Adola belt (Adola gold field)
Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data 2019
Finland
 
  • Lapland
    • Inari
      • Lemmenjoki
Tuisku (2010)
Russia
 
  • Kamchatka Krai
    • Koryak Okrug
      • Olyutorsky district
        • Korf
Sidorov et al. (2009) +1 other reference
  • Orenburg Oblast
    • Yasnensky District
Liam Schofield specimen
Volokhin et al. (2016)
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Nevyansky District
Steffen Möckel EDS analysis (2005) +1 other reference
The Moon
 
  • Taurus-Littrow Valley
Mokhov et al. (2018)
Quick NavTopAbout TongxiniteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Other LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 1, 2026 07:16:24 Page updated: July 22, 2026 10:55:50
Go to top of page