Cubanite Mineral Data

Cubanite Mineral Data +

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General Cubanite Information

Chemical Formula:

CuFe2S3

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 271.44 gm

Iron 41.15 % Fe

Copper 23.41 % Cu

Sulfur 35.44 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

CuFe²⁺₂S₃

Environment:

High temperature hydrothermal veins.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1843

Locality:

Barracanao, Cuba. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after its locality.

Synonym:

Chalmersite

ICSD 67529

PDF 47-1749

Cubanite Image

Images:

Cubanite

Comments: Brassy, lustrous, cyclic-twinned cubanite on matrix.
Location: Henderson # 2 Mine, Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada. Scale: 10x6 mm.
© Tom Loomis / Dakota Matrix

Cubanite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.5814:1:0.561

Cell Dimensions:

a = 6.46, b = 11.11, c = 6.233, Z = 4; V = 447.35 Den(Calc)= 4.03

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - DipyramidalH-M Symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: Pcmn

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.213(1), 3.49(0.68), 3.23(0.48),

Forms:

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Forms: [ 1 3 0] [ 1 3 1] [ 0 1 0] [ 1 0 1] [ 1 1 0] [ 1 0 0] [ 0 0 1]

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Crystal Structure:

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Buerger M J , American Mineralogist , 32 (1947) p.415-425, The crystal structure of cubanite

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Cubanite
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Physical Properties of Cubanite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Brass yellow, Bronze yellow.

Density:

4.7

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Fracture:

Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).

Habit:

Striated - Parallel lines on crystal surface or cleavage face.

Hardness:

3.5 - Copper Penny

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Metallic

Magnetism:

Strongly magnetic

Streak:

black

Optical Properties of Cubanite

RL Anisotrophism:

Distinctive.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Cubanite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	20.60	23.80
420 nm	23.60	27.70
440 nm	26.60	31.60
460 nm	29.20	34.70
480 nm	31.40	37.10
500 nm	33.40	39.00
520 nm	35.00	40.20
540 nm	36.30	41.00
560 nm	37.30	41.60
580 nm	38.30	42.00
600 nm	39.00	42.40
620 nm	39.80	42.80
640 nm	40.70	43.30
660 nm	41.60	43.80
680 nm	42.40	44.30
700 nm	43.30	44.60

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Cubanite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	40%	80%	100%	120%	160%	200%	240%	280%	320%	330%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Cubanite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.83 gm/cc
note: r_Cubanite=4.03 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.01138
Boson Index = 0.98862

Photoelectric:

PE_Cubanite= 24.86 barns/electron
U=PE_Cubanite x r_electron= 95.22 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Cubanite is Not Radioactive

Cubanite Classification

Dana Class:

2.9.13.1 (2)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(2.9)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:1

(2.9.13)Dana Group

2.9.13.1 Cubanite CuFe2S3 Pcmn 2/m 2/m 2/m

2.9.13.2 Argentopyrite AgFe2S3 Pmmn 2/m 2/m 2/m

2.9.13.3 Isocubanite CuFe2S3 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

II/C.14-20 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

II/C - Sulfides with metal: sulfur, selenium and tellurium = 1:1

II/C.14 - Cubanite series

II/C.14-10 Enargite Cu3AsS4 Pnm21 mm2

II/C.14-15 Stibioenargite* Cu3(Sb,As)S4 Unk Ortho

II/C.14-20 Cubanite CuFe2S3 Pcmn 2/m 2/m 2/m

II/C.14-30 Sternbergite AgFe2S3 C mma 2/m 2/m 2/m

II/C.14-40 Argentopyrite AgFe2S3 Pmmn 2/m 2/m 2/m

Other Cubanite Information

References:

NAME( Ford32) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Cubanite Specimen Label here :

Cubanite

CuFe2S3
Dana No: 2.9.13.1 Strunz No: II/C.14-20
Locality:

Notes: