Digenite Mineral Data

Digenite Mineral Data +

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General Digenite Information

Chemical Formula:

Cu9S5

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 732.24 gm

Copper 78.10 % Cu

Sulfur 21.90 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Cu₉S₅

Environment:

In hydrothermal copper deposits of primary and secondary origin. Formed under a wide range of conditions; reported from mafic intrusives, as an exhalation product, and in pegmatites .

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1844

Locality:

In the USA, at Butte, Silver Bow Co., Montana. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Greek for "two kinds" or "sexes," in reference to the presumed presence of both cuprous and cupric ions.

Digenite Image

Images:

Digenite

Comments: Bluish trigonal crystal of Digenite.
Location: Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana, USA. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Digenite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:12.24802

Cell Dimensions:

a = 3.919, c = 48, Z = 3; V = 638.44 Den(Calc)= 5.71

Crystal System:

Trigonal - Hexagonal ScalenohedralH-M Symbol (3 2/m) Space Group: R 3m

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 1.973(1), 2.79(0.4), 3.21(0.4),

Crystal Structure:

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drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
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Help on Above

Donnay G , Donnay J D H , Kullerud G , American Mineralogist , 43 (1958) p.228-242, Crystal and twin structure of digenite, Cu9S5

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Digenite
[1] [2] [3] [4]

Physical Properties of Digenite

Cleavage:

[???] Indistinct

Color:

Blue, Dark blue, Black.

Density:

5.6

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Fracture:

Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Habit:

Pseudo Cubic - Crystals show a cubic outline.

Hardness:

2.5-3 - Finger Nail-Calcite

Luster:

Sub Metallic

Streak:

grayish black

Optical Properties of Digenite

RL Anisotrophism:

Mostly isotropic.

RL Color:

Distinctly blue in polished section.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Digenite in Air**
λ	R	∑ R(λ)
400 nm	28.70
420 nm	27.70
440 nm	26.70
460 nm	25.60
480 nm	24.60
500 nm	23.60
520 nm	22.50
540 nm	21.60
560 nm	20.80
580 nm	20.20
600 nm	19.50
620 nm	19.00
640 nm	18.50
660 nm	18.00
680 nm	17.60
700 nm	17.20

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Digenite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	50%	100%	150%	200%	250%	300%	350%	400%	440%
R

Calculated Properties of Digenite

Electron Density:

r_electron=5.32 gm/cc
note: r_Digenite=5.71 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00164
Boson Index = 0.99836

Photoelectric:

PE_Digenite= 36.46 barns/electron
U=PE_Digenite x r_electron= 193.91 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Digenite is Not Radioactive

Digenite Classification

Dana Class:

2.4.7.3 (2)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(2.4)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=2:1

(2.4.7)Chalcocite Group ([Cu]2-x S] formulae)

2.4.7.1 Chalcocite Cu2S P 2₁/c 2/m

2.4.7.2 Djurleite Cu31S16 P 2₁/n 2/m

2.4.7.3 Digenite Cu9S5 R 3m 3 2/m

2.4.7.4 Roxbyite Cu1.78S C 2/m 2/m

2.4.7.5 Anilite Cu7S4 P nma 2/m 2/m 2/m

2.4.7.6 Geerite Cu8S5 R 3m, R 3m, or R 32 Trig

2.4.7.7 Spionkopite Cu1.4S P 3m1 ? 3m

Strunz Class:

II/B.01-30 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

II/B - Sulfides with metal: sulfur, selenium and tellurium > 1:1, Coppersulfides Chalcocite group

II/B.01 - Chalcocite - Yarrowite series

II/B.01-10 Chalcocite Cu2S P 2₁/c 2/m

II/B.01-20 Djurleite Cu31S16 P 2₁/n 2/m

II/B.01-30 Digenite Cu9S5 R 3m 3 2/m

II/B.01-40 Roxbyite Cu1.78S C 2/m 2/m

II/B.01-50 Anilite Cu7S4 P nma 2/m 2/m 2/m

II/B.01-60 Geerite Cu8S5 R 3m, R 3m, or R 32 Trig

II/B.01-70 Spionkopite Cu1.4S P 3m1 ? 3m

II/B.01-80 Yarrowite Cu9S8 P 3m1 ? 3m

Other Digenite Information

References:

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

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Digenite

Cu9S5
Dana No: 2.4.7.3 Strunz No: II/B.01-30
Locality:

Notes: