Chalcostibite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Chalcostibite
Formula:
CuSbS2
Colour:
Lead-gray, iron gray
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3 - 4
Specific Gravity:
4.9 - 5
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
From the Greek χαλκός (chalkos), copper, and στίβι (stibi), antimony in allusion to the composition.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
983
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:983:0
IMA Classification of Chalcostibite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Cu1+Sb3+S2-2
First published:
1835
Classification of Chalcostibite
2.HA.05
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
A : With Cu, Ag, Fe (without Pb)
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
A : With Cu, Ag, Fe (without Pb)
3.7.5.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
5.1.4
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
1 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Cu
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
1 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Cu
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ccsb | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Chalcostibite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Chalcostibite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Lead-gray, iron gray
Comment:
Occasional blue or green tarnish.
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3 - 4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=226 - 279 - Vickers
Hardness Data:
Measured
Comment:
VHN on (010)
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{010} perfect; {001} and {100} less so.
{010} perfect; {001} and {100} less so.
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
4.9 - 5 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.011 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Chalcostibite
Anisotropism:
Observed
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 39.2% | 44.2% |
| 420nm | 39.3% | 45.3% |
| 440nm | 39.4% | 46.2% |
| 460nm | 39.4% | 47.0% |
| 480nm | 39.5% | 47.4% |
| 500nm | 39.5% | 47.0% |
| 520nm | 39.1% | 46.2% |
| 540nm | 38.2% | 44.4% |
| 560nm | 37.0% | 42.2% |
| 580nm | 36.1% | 40.7% |
| 600nm | 35.3% | 39.7% |
| 620nm | 34.7% | 38.9% |
| 640nm | 34.4% | 38.3% |
| 660nm | 34.2% | 38.0% |
| 680nm | 33.8% | 37.9% |
| 700nm | 33.4% | 37.9% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 47.4%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Feeble in air, somewhat stronger in oil.
Chemistry of Chalcostibite
Mindat Formula:
CuSbS2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Pb,Fe,Zn
Crystallography of Chalcostibite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.02 Å, b = 14.49 Å, c = 3.79 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.415 : 1 : 0.262
Unit Cell V:
330.60 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Blade-shaped crystals, flattened {010}. Often elongated and striated [001]. Also massive.
Twinning:
Twinning on {104}, with compositional plane {104}.
Comment:
Non-standard space-group setting Pnam.
Crystallographic forms of Chalcostibite
Crystal Atlas:
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Chalcostibite no.1 - {100} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Chalcostibite no.2 - {010} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Chalcostibite - Tabular {010}
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0003673 | Chalcostibite | Kyono A, Kimata M (2005) Crystal structures of chalcostibite (CuSbS2) and emplectite (CuBiS2): Structural relationship of stereochemical activity between chalcostibite and emplectite American Mineralogist 90 162-165 |  | 2005 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0014524 | Chalcostibite | Razmara M F, Henderson C M B, Pattrick R A D, Bell A M T, Charnock L M (1997) The crystal chemistry of the solid solution series between chalcostibite (CuSbS2) and emplectite (CuBiS2) Mineralogical Magazine 61 79-88 | | 1997 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0010509 | Chalcostibite | Hofmann W (1932) Strukturelle und morphologische zusammenhange bei erzen vom formeltyp ABC2 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 84 177-203 | | 1932 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.13 Å | (100) |
| 3.00 Å | (90) |
| 1.762 Å | (50) |
| 2.31 Å | (40) |
| 1.831 Å | (40) |
| 2.12 Å | (30) |
| 1.895 Å | (30) |
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]) |
Geological Setting:
Hydrothermal veins.
Type Occurrence of Chalcostibite
Synonyms of Chalcostibite
Other Language Names for Chalcostibite
Relationship of Chalcostibite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Chalcostibite Group:
| Emplectite | CuBiS2 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmna |
| Grundmannite | CuBiSe2 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Příbramite | CuSbSe2 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 94 photos of Chalcostibite associated with Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 83 photos of Chalcostibite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 71 photos of Chalcostibite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 55 photos of Chalcostibite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 54 photos of Chalcostibite associated with Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| 45 photos of Chalcostibite associated with Siderite | FeCO3 |
| 40 photos of Chalcostibite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 34 photos of Chalcostibite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 26 photos of Chalcostibite associated with Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
| 18 photos of Chalcostibite associated with 'Limonite' |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.HA.05 | Grundmannite | CuBiSe2 |
| 2.HA.05 | Emplectite | CuBiS2 |
| 2.HA.05 | Příbramite | CuSbSe2 |
| 2.HA.05 | Hansblockite | (Cu,Hg)(Bi,Pb)Se2 |
| 2.HA.10 | Miargyrite | AgSbS2 |
| 2.HA.20 | Sunshuite | FeBi2S4 |
| 2.HA.20 | Garavellite | FeSbBiS4 |
| 2.HA.20 | Berthierite | FeSb2S4 |
| 2.HA.20 | Graţianite | MnBi2S4 |
| 2.HA.20 | Clerite | MnSb2S4 |
| 2.HA.25 | Aramayoite | Ag3Sb2(Bi,Sb)S6 |
| 2.HA.25 | Baumstarkite | Ag3Sb3S6 |
| 2.HA.30 | Zhonghongite | Cu29(As,Sb)12S33 |
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 Chalcostibite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-983.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Chalcostibite
Reference List:
Zincken (1835) Ueber den Kupfer‐Antimonglanz, eine neue Mineralgattung. Aus einem Schreiben an den Prof. H. Rose in Berlin vom Oberbergrathe Zincken zu Mägdesprung. Annalen der Physik, 111 (6). 357-361 doi:10.1002/andp.18351110611
Glocker, Ernst Friedrich (1847) Generum et specierum mineralium, secundum ordines naturales digestorum synopsis, omnium, quotquot adhuc reperta sunt, mineralium nomina complectens [A synopsis of the genera and species of minerals, according to their natural orders, including the names of all the minerals that have yet been discovered.]. Eduardus Anton. 348 pp. pp.32-33
Ramdohr, Paul (1969) The Ore Minerals and their Intergrowths. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1174pp. doi:10.1016/c2013-0-10027-x
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
Tatsuka, Kiyoaki, Morimoto, Nobuo (1977) Tetrahedrite stability relations in the Cu-Fe-Sb-S system. American Mineralogist, 62 (11-12) 1101-1109
Razmara, M. F., Henderson, C. M. B., Pattrick, R. A. D., Bell, A. M. T., Charnock, J. M. (1997) The crystal chemistry of the solid solution series between chalcostibite (CuSbS2) and emplectite (CuBiS2) Mineralogical Magazine, 61 (404) 79-88 doi:10.1180/minmag.1997.061.404.08
Kyono, Atsushi, Kimata, Mitsuyoshi (2005) Crystal structures of chalcostibite (CuSbS2) and emplectite (CuBiS2): Structural relationship of stereochemical activity between chalcostibite and emplectite. American Mineralogist, 90 (1) 162-165 doi:10.2138/am.2005.1585
Whittles, Thomas J., Veal, Tim D., Savory, Christopher N., Welch, Adam W., de Souza Lucas, Francisco Willian, Gibbon, James T., Birkett, Max, Potter, Richard J., Scanlon, David O., Zakutayev, Andriy, Dhanak, Vinod R. (2017) Core Levels, Band Alignments, and Valence-Band States in CuSbS2 for Solar Cell Applications. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 9. 41916-41926 doi:10.1021/acsami.7b14208
Nespolo, Massimo (2018) Twinning in chalcostibite revisited. European Journal of Mineralogy, 30 (5) 967-973 doi:10.1127/ejm/2018/0030-2764
Localities for Chalcostibite
Showing 246 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.
Argentina | |
| Paar et al. (2005, January) +1 other reference |
Australia | |
| Ashley et al. (2000) |
| Lehrmann (2012) |
Austria | |
| Mali (1996) |
| Mali (1996) | |
| Mali (1996) |
| Mali (1996) | |
| Puttner (2002) +2 other references |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| J.Mörtl (1986) | |
| Pichler (2009) |
| Haditsch (1967) |
| Schreieck et al. (2026) |
| - (1994, July) |
| Putz et al. (2007) |
| - (1994, July) | |
| Exel (1993) |
| Exel (1993) | |
| Grundmann (1973) | |
| - (1994, July) |
| - (1994, July) | |
| Arlt et al. (1994) | |
Azerbaijan | |
| - (2005) |
Bolivia | |
| Federico Ahlfeld and Alejandro Schneider-Scherbina (1964) |
| Ahlfeld (1955) |
| Wilson (2001) | |
| Wilson (2001) | |
| Keutsch et al. (2008) | |
| Dana 7:I:435. |
| Dill (1998) |
| Gramaccioli +1 other reference |
| Wilson (2001) |
| Dana 7:I:435. |
Bulgaria | |
| Lips (2006) |
Canada | |
| - (n.d.) |
| Ingelson (1984) |
| Kaiman +3 other references |
| Conliffe et al. (2025) |
| Conliffe et al. (2025) | |
| Conliffe et al. (2025) | |
| Conliffe et al. (2025) | |
| Conliffe et al. (2025) | |
| Lang (1952) |
| Lang (1952) | |
| Lang (1952) | |
| Lang (1952) |
| Coleman (1953) | |
| RIDLAND (1941) | |
| Graham et al. (1952) | |
| RIDLAND (1941) | |
| Welt (2020) |
| Kontak et al. (1996) |
| Sabina (2007) |
| Harris et al. (1988) +1 other reference |
| Sabina (1991) | |
| Mineralogical Magazine 1988 52 : 691-697 +2 other references | |
| Agnico Eagle Mines Limited |
| Robinson et al. (1996) |
| University of Toronto Studies +2 other references |
China | |
| Liu Jiajun et al. (2008) +2 other references |
| Jin et al. (2026) |
| Zhang Guoxin (1996) |
| Yongke Chen et al. (2004) |
| Xie et al. (2025) |
| Zhang et al. (2019) +1 other reference |
| Zhou et al. (2024) |
| Zhang et al. (2022) +1 other reference |
| Mei Zhang et al. (2011) | |
| Hancheng Zhang et al. (2006) |
| Li et al. (2022) |
| Qingmin Jin et al. (1992) |
| Zheng et al. (2021) |
| Zheng et al. (2024) | |
| Bin Lin et al. (2013) |
| Wang et al. (2023) |
| Bo Zheng et al. (2013) |
| Xinpei Jiang (1994) |
Czech Republic | |
| Škácha et al. (2015) |
Dominican Republic | |
| Barrick Gold Corporation |
Finland | |
| Borodaev et al. (1983) |
France | |
| Pélisson (1989) |
| Pillard F. et al. (1985) +1 other reference |
| Y. Moëlo |
| Guitard (2010) |
| Cheval-Garabédian et al. (2023) |
| Cervelle et al. (1979) |
| Cervelle et al. (1979) |
| Cervelle et al. (1979) +2 other references | |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Schmeltzer (1993) +2 other references |
| Weiß (1990) |
| DILL (1983) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Manfred Gross find & collection |
| Schnorrer-Köhler (1989) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Heidtke (2001) |
| Dreyer (1973) +1 other reference | |
| Zincken (1835) +1 other reference |
Greece | |
| Rieck et al. (1999) |
| Kanellopoulos et al. (2024) |
| Voudouris (2006) +1 other reference |
| Melfos +13 other references |
Greenland | |
| Petersen (2001) |
| Karup-Møller et al. (1974) +1 other reference |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll: Minerals of Rudabánya |
| Szakáll: Minerals of Rudabánya | |
| Szakáll: Minerals of Rudabánya | |
| Szakáll: Minerals of Rudabánya | |
Iran | |
| Mehrabi et al. (2016) |
Italy | |
| Negretti +2 other references |
| I minerali del Museo Archeominerario "Klitsche de la Grange"Allumiere (2000) | |
| Gianoli Ermanno +1 other reference |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
| Maletto et al. (2013) | |
| Domenighini et al. (2026) |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
| - (n.d.) |
| Orlandi et al. (2004) |
| Brizzi G. et al. (1986) +1 other reference |
Japan | |
| Kinichi Sakurai collection |
| - (n.d.) |
| AKATSUKA (1961) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pekov (1998) +2 other references |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) |
Luxembourg | |
| Bakker et al. (2010) +4 other references |
Mexico | |
| Panczner (1987) |
Mongolia | |
| Borisenko et al. (1999) |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) |
Morocco | |
| Gramaccioli +1 other reference |
New Zealand | |
| Railton et al. (1990) |
Norway | |
| Ramdohr (1938) +1 other reference |
| Gjelle (1978) |
| Jøsang (1964) +1 other reference |
Peru | |
| Joan Rosell XRD. Ref. RM3900. +1 other reference |
| Lewis (1964) |
Poland | |
| Kozłowski et al. (2024) |
| Kozłowski et al. (2024) | |
| Kozłowski et al. (2024) | |
| Kozłowski et al. (2024) | |
Portugal | |
| Mateus et al. (2005) |
| Lundin Mining |
| Mateus |
| Pedro Alves analytical data |
Romania | |
| Huber et al. (1996) +1 other reference |
| Hyrsl (2001) |
| Huber et al. (1996) | |
| Hyrsl (2001) |
| Huber et al. (1996) | |
Russia | |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) | |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) |
| Borisenko et al. (1999) |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) | |
| Borisenko et al. (1999) +1 other reference | |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) |
| Bortnikov et al. (2004) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Sidorov et al. (2009) |
| Sazonov et al. (2020) |
| Nozhkin et al. (2011) | |
| Zhuravkova et al. (2015) +1 other reference |
| Fridovsky et al. (2014) |
| Gamyanin G.N. et al. (2001) |
| Bortnikov et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
| Gamyanin et al. (2015) |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) |
| American Mineralogist +4 other references |
| Borisenko et al. (1999) |
| Gvozdev et al. (2020) |
Senegal | |
| Randgold Resources |
Serbia | |
| Drovenik (1958) |
Slovakia | |
| Majzlan et al. (2015) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Hoppanová et al. (2023) | |
| Majzlan (1996) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Čík Š. et al. (2020) |
| Maťo et al. (stredné Slovensko) |
| Bálintová T. (2006) +1 other reference |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Sejkora et al. (2011) |
| Martin Števko-unpublished |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Klimko et al. (2009) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) | |
| Pauliš et al. (2002) | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) | |
| Peterec D. et al. (Košice) |
| Sejkora et al. (2024) | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) +1 other reference |
| Peterec et al. (2003) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) | |
| Andrusovová-Vlčeková G. & Chovan M. (chalkostibit-emplektit) | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) | |
| Grecula (1995) | |
| Mikuš et al. (2018) +1 other reference |
| Števko M. (2022) | |
| Števko M. (2022) | |
| Števko M. (2022) | |
| Duda et. all. |
| Ďuďa R. (2001) | |
| Hak et al. (1959) +2 other references |
| Števko M. (2021) |
| Sejkora et al. (2021) |
| Bakoš | |
| |
| Koděra et al. (1986) | |
Slovenia | |
| Symposium OS05 (2001) |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
Spain | |
| Rewitzer et al. (2019) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2003) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2003) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2003) |
| Joan Abella i Creus (2008) |
| ... |
Switzerland | |
| Ansermet et al. (2026) |
Tajikistan | |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) |
Tunisia | |
| Slim-Shimi et al. (1990) |
Turkey | |
| Tunc et al. (2025) |
Ukraine | |
| [World of Stones 12:20] |
| Artemenko et al. (2000) |
USA | |
| Raymond (2018) |
| Schumer (2017) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Ream (2004) +1 other reference |
| Leonard et al. (1987) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Newmont Mining Corporation |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Bart Cannon |
| Cannon | |
Uzbekistan | |
| Kovalenker (2003) +1 other reference |
| Anthony et al. (1990) +2 other references | |
Vietnam | |
| Nevolko et al. (2019) |
| Nevolko et al. (2019) | |
Zimbabwe | |
| Bartholomew (1990) |
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Saint-Pons outcrops, Barcelonnette, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France