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Briartite

A valid IMA mineral species
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01894470017271921679439.jpg
Briartite, etc.

Kipushi Mine, Kipushi, Kipushi Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
01826090017271921722703.jpg
Briartite

Kipushi Mine, Kipushi, Kipushi Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
08411490017271921745086.jpg
Briartite, etc.

Kipushi Mine, Kipushi, Kipushi Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
01894470017271921679439.jpg
Briartite, etc.

Kipushi Mine, Kipushi, Kipushi Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
01826090017271921722703.jpg
Briartite

Kipushi Mine, Kipushi, Kipushi Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
08411490017271921745086.jpg
Briartite, etc.

Kipushi Mine, Kipushi, Kipushi Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
01894470017271921679439.jpg
Briartite, etc.

Kipushi Mine, Kipushi, Kipushi Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
01826090017271921722703.jpg
Briartite

Kipushi Mine, Kipushi, Kipushi Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
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About BriartiteHide

Formula:
Cu2FeGeS4
Fe may be replaced by minor Zn.
Colour:
Gray to gray blue
Hardness:
3½ - 4½
Specific Gravity:
4.337 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Stannite Group
Name:
For Gaston Briart (October 26 1897 - Brussels, June 13 1962), Belgian geologist who studied the Kipushi deposit.
The Fe analogue of zincobriartite.

Often associated with members of the germanite group.

See also 'Ge-stannoidite'.



Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
773
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:773:5

IMA Classification of BriartiteHide

Classification of BriartiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.KA.10

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
K : Sulfarsenates, Sulfantimonates
A : Sulfarsenates with (As,Sb)S4 tetrahedra
Dana 8th ed.:
2.9.2.3

2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:
6.2.2

6 : Sulphosalts - Sulphostannates, Sulphogermanates,Sulpharsenates, Sulphantimonates, Sulphovanadates and Sulphohalides
2 : Sulphogermanates

Mineral SymbolsHide

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.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
BttIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
BttThe Canadian Mineralogist (2019)The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Pronunciation of BriartiteHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of BriartiteHide

Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Gray to gray blue
Hardness:
3½ - 4½ on Mohs scale
Density:
4.337 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of BriartiteHide

Anisotropism:
weak in air, distinct in oil
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)
400nm23.4%
420nm24.2%
440nm25.0%
460nm25.7%
480nm26.4%
500nm27.0%
520nm27.4%
540nm27.6%
560nm27.5%
580nm27.2%
600nm26.8%
620nm26.0%
640nm25.0%
660nm23.8%
680nm22.5%
700nm21.2%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 27.6%.
Colour in reflected light:
Gray to gray-blue

Chemistry of BriartiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Cu2FeGeS4

Fe may be replaced by minor Zn.
Element Weights:
Element% weight
S33.415 %
Cu33.111 %
Ge18.925 %
Fe14.549 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Cu, Fe, Ge, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
Ga,Sn

Crystallography of BriartiteHide

Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.32(1) Å, c = 10.51(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.976
Unit Cell V:
297.46 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Small grains
Twinning:
Polysynthetic
Comment:
Point Group: 4mm or 4m2.; Space Group: I41md or I4d2

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0014274BriartiteWintenberger M (1979) Etude de la structure cristallographique et magnetique de Cu2FeGeS4 et remarque sur la structure magnetique de Cu2MnSnS4 Materials Research Bulletin 14 1195-120219790293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.06 Å(FF)
1.888 Å(m)
1.871 Å(m)
1.608 Å(m)
1.591 Å(m)
2.67 Å(f)
1.533 Å(f)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere>4.45
12 : Hadean hydrothermal subsurface sulfide deposits (see also #33)

Type Occurrence of BriartiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Kipushi Mine, Kipushi, Kipushi Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
General Appearance of Type Material:
Grains, mostly 0.1-0.3 mm, up to a max of 2 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Musée de Minéralogie, Ecole des Mines de Paris, France.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1967,271.
Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, U309.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Inclusions in Ge bearing minerals
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
ChalcopyriteGalenaGermaniteRenieriteSphalerite
Tennantite Subgroup
Reference:
Francotte, J.; Moreau, Jules; Ottenburgs, Raoul; Lévy, Claude (1965) La briartite, Cu2(Fe,Zn)GeS4, une nouvelle espèce minérale. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Crystallographie, 88 (3). 432-437 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1965.5876

Synonyms of BriartiteHide

Other Language Names for BriartiteHide

Dutch:Briartiet
German:Briartit
Spanish:Briartita

Relationship of Briartite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Stannite Group
Other Members of Stannite Group:
ČernýiteCu2CdSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
FamatiniteCu3SbS4Tet. 42m : I42m
FerrokësteriteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
HocartiteAg2(Fe2+,Zn)SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
KësteriteCu2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
KeutschiteCu2AgAsS4Tet. 42m : I42m
KuramiteCu3SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
LuzoniteCu3AsS4Tet. 42m : I42m
OmariniiteCu8Fe2ZnGe2S12Orth. 222 : I222
PermingeatiteCu3SbSe4Tet. 42m : I42m
Petrukite(Cu,Fe,Zn,Ag)3(Sn,In)S4Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
PirquitasiteAg2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
RichardsiteZn2CuGaS4Tet. 42m : I42m
StanniteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
StannoiditeCu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12Orth. 222 : I222
'UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn'Cu2Fe2Sn3S7
'Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)'CuZn2InS4
VelikiteCu2HgSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
ZincobriartiteCu2(Zn,Fe)(Ge,Ga)S4Tet. 42m : I42m

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
19 photos of Briartite associated with Renierite(Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16
9 photos of Briartite associated with Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S
6 photos of Briartite associated with GermaniteCu13Fe2Ge2S16
5 photos of Briartite associated with ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
4 photos of Briartite associated with SphaleriteZnS
3 photos of Briartite associated with QuartzSiO2
2 photos of Briartite associated with BorniteCu5FeS4
1 photo of Briartite associated with GalliteCuGaS2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.KA.05EnargiteCu3AsS4Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
2.KA.05Petrukite(Cu,Fe,Zn,Ag)3(Sn,In)S4Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
2.KA.10KeutschiteCu2AgAsS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.KA.10PermingeatiteCu3SbSe4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.KA.10LuzoniteCu3AsS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.KA.10BarquilliteCu2CdGeS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.KA.10FamatiniteCu3SbS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.KA.10ZincobriartiteCu2(Zn,Fe)(Ge,Ga)S4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.KA.15FangiteTl3AsS4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma

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 BriartiteHide

References for BriartiteHide

Reference List:
Francotte, J.; Moreau, Jules; Ottenburgs, Raoul; Lévy, Claude (1965) La briartite, Cu2(Fe,Zn)GeS4, une nouvelle espèce minérale. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Crystallographie, 88 (3). 432-437 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1965.5876
Fleischer, Michael (1966) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 51 (11-12) 1815-1820 p.1816
Lévy, C. (1967) Contribution a la minéralogie des sulfures de cuivre du type Cu3XS4. Mémoires du Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières: 54: 1-178.
Viaene, W., Moreau, J. (1968) Contribution à l’étude de la germanite, de la renierite et de la briartite. Annales de la Société Géologique de Belgique: 91: 127-143.
Ramdohr, Paul (1969) The Ore Minerals and their Intergrowths. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1174pp. doi:10.1016/c2013-0-10027-x
Springer, G. (1969) Microanalytical investigations into germanite, renierite, briartite, and gallite. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1969: 435-441.
Ottenburgs, Raoul, Goethals, Herman (1972) Synthèse et polymorphisme de la briartite. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 95 (4) 458-463 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1972.6709
Imbert, P., Varret, F., Wintenberger, M. (1973) Etude par effet Mössbauer de la briartite (Cu2FeGeS4). Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 34. 1675-1682 doi:10.1016/s0022-3697(73)80133-7
Bente, Klaus (1974) Untersuchungen im pseudobinären System Stannin (Cu2FeSnS4) — Briartit (Cu2FeGeS4) [Investigations in the pseudobinary system stannite (Cu2FeSnS4) — briartite (Cu2FeGeS4)]. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Monatshefte, 1974 (1). 8-13 doi:10.1127/njmm/1974/1974/8
Wintenberger, M. (1979) Etude de la structure cristallographique et magnetique de Cu2FeGeS4 et remarque sur la structure magnetique de Cu2MnSnS4. Materials Research Bulletin, 14 (9). 1195-1202 doi:10.1016/0025-5408(79)90214-9
Kalinina, T. A. (1994): New data on briartite. Doklady Akademii Nauk 335(6), 780-783.
Jambor, John L., Pertsev, Nikolai N., Roberts, Andrew C. (1995) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 80 (7-8). 845-850
(2005) Briartite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for BriartiteHide

Showing 17 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.
Bulgaria
 
  • Pazardzhik Province
Sahlström et al. (2017)
      • Levski
Bogdanov et al. (2004)
DR Congo (TL)
 
  • Haut-Katanga
    • Kipushi Territory
      • Kipushi
Francotte et al. (1965) +3 other references
Finland
 
  • Pirkanmaa
    • Orivesi
      • Eräjärvi area
Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data (2019)
France
 
  • Occitanie
    • Ariège
      • Saint-Girons
        • Ustou
Lips (2006)
    • Haute-Garonne
      • Saint-Gaudens
        • Argut-Dessous
J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy (1997)
  • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
    • Alpes-Maritimes
      • Nice Arrondissement
        • Guillaumes
R. Pierrot
Greece
 
  • Attica
    • East Attica
      • Lavreotiki
        • Agios Konstantinos (Kamariza)
Rieck et al. (1999)
Greenland
 
  • Avannaata
    • Maarmorilik
Horn et al. (2019) +1 other reference
Namibia
 
  • Oshikoto Region
    • Tsumeb
Gramaccioli +5 other references
Romania
 
  • Harghita County
Hirtopanu (2006)
Spain
 
  • Andalusia
    • Granada
      • Motril
Morales Ruano et al. (1996)
  • Asturias
    • Riosa
A. Paniagua et al.
  • Castile and Leon
    • Salamanca
      • Villar de la Yegua
Murciego et al. (2000)
Pascua et al. (1997)
USA
 
  • Colorado
    • Boulder County
      • Jamestown Mining District
Eckel et al. (1997)
Zambia
 
  • Central Province
    • Kabwe District
      • Kabwe
Kamona et al. (1999) +2 other references
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