Cameronite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Cameronite
Eugene N. Cameron
Formula:
Cu5-x(Cu,Ag)3+xTe10 (x = 0.43)
Originally assumed to be Cu7AgTe10.
Colour:
Gray
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
7.144 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Eugene N. Cameron (10 August 1910, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA - 21 April 1999, Madison, Wisconsin, USA), professor at the University of Wisconsin, USA who first recognized it. Early in his career he worked for the U.S. Geological Survey. He was an expert on pegmatites and studied lunar samples.
This page provides mineralogical data about Cameronite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
873
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:873:4
IMA Classification of Cameronite
Classification of Cameronite
2.DB.35
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
B : M:S = 2:3
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
B : M:S = 2:3
2.16.20.1
2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
3.2.14
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
2 : Sulphides etc. of Ag
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
2 : Sulphides etc. of Ag
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cme | 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 Cameronite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Gray
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=151 - 172 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
7.144 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Cameronite
Anisotropism:
Distinct, medium gray to slate-gray to brownish gray.
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 23.6% | 28.4% |
| 420nm | 25.6% | 30.1% |
| 440nm | 27.4% | 31.4% |
| 460nm | 28.9% | 32.5% |
| 480nm | 30.1% | 33.1% |
| 500nm | 31.0% | 33.6% |
| 520nm | 31.6% | 33.7% |
| 540nm | 32.1% | 33.8% |
| 560nm | 32.5% | 33.7% |
| 580nm | 32.8% | 33.6% |
| 600nm | 33.0% | 33.4% |
| 620nm | 33.1% | 33.2% |
| 640nm | 33.3% | 33.0% |
| 660nm | 33.4% | 32.7% |
| 680nm | 33.5% | 32.6% |
| 700nm | 33.6% | 32.3% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 33.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Pale gray to pale brownish gray.
Chemistry of Cameronite
Mindat Formula:
Cu5-x(Cu,Ag)3+xTe10 (x = 0.43)
Originally assumed to be Cu7AgTe10.
Originally assumed to be Cu7AgTe10.
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Cameronite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C12/c1
Cell Parameters:
a = 17.906(1) Å, b = 17.927(1) Å, c = 21.230(2) Å
β = 98.081(8)°
β = 98.081(8)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.999 : 1 : 1.184
Unit Cell V:
6747.2 ų
Z:
16
Morphology:
Anhedral grains to 200 microns.
Comment:
Originally assumed to be tetragonal, a = 12.695, c = 42.186 A.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020464 | Cameronite | Bindi L, Pinch W W (2014) Cameronite, Cu5-x(Cu,Ag)3+xTe10 (x = 0.43), from the Good Hope mine, Vulcan, Colorado: Crystal structure and revision of the chemical formula The Canadian Mineralogist 52 423-432 | 2014 | Good Hope mine, Vulcan, Colorado, USA | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.45 Å | (100) |
| 2.118 Å | (100) |
| 1.804 Å | (60) |
| 1.377 Å | (40) |
| 1.222 Å | (40) |
| 1.815 Å | (30) |
| 1.151 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Good Hope mine, Colorado, USA. Data from the type description.
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 Cameronite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
British Natural History Museum
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Hydrothermal tellurium bearing veins.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Cameronite
Other Language Names for Cameronite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 13 photos of Cameronite associated with Native Tellurium | Te |
| 13 photos of Cameronite associated with Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| 7 photos of Cameronite associated with Melonite | NiTe2 |
| 7 photos of Cameronite associated with Sylvanite | AgAuTe4 |
| 5 photos of Cameronite associated with Altaite | PbTe |
| 5 photos of Cameronite associated with 'Limonite' | |
| 2 photos of Cameronite associated with Vulcanite | CuTe |
| 1 photo of Cameronite associated with Chlorite Group |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.DB. | Stangersite | SnGeS3 |
| 2.DB.05 | Antimonselite | Sb2Se3 |
| 2.DB.05 | Metastibnite | Sb2S3 |
| 2.DB.05 | Pääkkönenite | Sb2AsS2 |
| 2.DB.05 | Bismuthinite | Bi2S3 |
| 2.DB.05 | Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
| 2.DB.05 | Guanajuatite | Bi2Se3 |
| 2.DB.10 | Suredaite | PbSnS3 |
| 2.DB.10 | Ottemannite | Sn2S3 |
| 2.DB.15 | Kashinite | Ir2S3 |
| 2.DB.15 | Bowieite | Rh2S3 |
| 2.DB.20 | Montbrayite | (Au,Ag,Sb,Bi,Pb)23(Te,Sb,Bi,Pb)38 |
| 2.DB.25 | Edgarite | FeNb3S6 |
| 2.DB.30 | Tarkianite | (Cu,Fe)(Re,Mo)4S8 |
| 2.DB.40 | 'Schreibersite (of Shephard)' | Cr2S3 |
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 Cameronite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-873.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Cameronite
Localities for Cameronite
Showing 1 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.
USA (TL) | |
| Roberts et al. (1986) +2 other references |
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Good Hope Mine, Vulcan, Vulcan Mining District, Gunnison County, Colorado, USA