Stannite Mineral Data

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General Stannite Information

Chemical Formula:

Cu2FeSnS4

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 429.91 gm

Iron 12.99 % Fe

Copper 29.56 % Cu

Tin 27.61 % Sn

Sulfur 29.83 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Cu₂Fe²⁺SnS₄

Environment:

In tin-bearing, hydrothermal vein deposits

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1832

Locality:

Cornwall at Wheal Rock near St. Agnes. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Latin stannum - "tin."

Name Pronunciation:

Stannite

Synonym:

Bell metal ore

ICSD 200420

PDF 44-1476

Tin pyrites

Volfsonite

Stannite Image

Images:

Stannite Volfsonite

Comments: Stannite crystal cluster at the base of a quartz crystal. Volfsonite is now consideres stannite.
Location: Yaogangxian mine, Hunan, China. Scale: Crystal size 3 cm.
© John Attard

Images:

Stannite Zinkenite

Comments: Acicular crystals of zinkenite perched on a twinned, crystal of stannite.
Location: Mina San José, Oruro, Bolivia. Scale: 4 x 2.3 x 1.7 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Images:

Stannite Volfsonite

Comments: Bluish-black octahedron of stannite (also known as volfsonite).
Location: Yaogangxian Wolfram mine, Yizhang County, Hunan Province, China. Scale: See Image.
© Rruff Database

Stannite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:1.9708

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.4531, c = 10.747, Z = 2; V = 319.58 Den(Calc)= 4.47

Crystal System:

Tetragonal - ScalenohedralH-M Symbol (4 2m) Space Group: I 42m

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.134(1), 1.9145(0.3), 1.9288(0.25),

Forms:

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Forms: ( 1 1 2) ( 0 1 2) ( 1 1 0) ( 0 0 1)

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Crystal Structure:

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Hall S R , Szymanski J T , Stewart J M , The Canadian Mineralogist , 16 (1978) p.131-137, Kesterite, Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4, and stannite, Cu2(Fe,Zn)SnS4,, structurally similar but distinct minerals

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

Physical Properties of Stannite

Cleavage:

{110} Imperfect

Color:

Blue, Grayish black, Steel gray.

Density:

4.3 - 4.5, Average = 4.4

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Fracture:

Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.

Habit:

Crystalline - Fine - Occurs as well-formed fine sized crystals.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Hardness:

3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Metallic

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

black

Optical Properties of Stannite

RL Anisotrophism:

Distinct , in violet and slate-green.

RL Color:

Gray with olive-green tint.

RL Pleochroism:

Indistinct in air, distinct in oil.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Stannite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	18.50	20.40
420 nm	20.00	22.00
440 nm	21.50	23.60
460 nm	23.00	24.90
480 nm	24.30	26.00
500 nm	25.50	27.10
520 nm	26.50	28.00
540 nm	27.40	28.60
560 nm	28.00	29.00
580 nm	28.60	29.40
600 nm	28.80	29.50
620 nm	29.00	29.50
640 nm	28.80	29.20
660 nm	28.20	28.60
680 nm	27.60	27.80
700 nm	26.40	26.80

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Stannite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	50%	100%	150%	200%	250%	300%	350%	400%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Stannite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.12 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Stannite =4.47 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.05
Boson Index = 0.95

Photoelectric:

PE_Stannite= 101.81 barns/electron
U=PE_Stannite x rElectron Density= 419.18 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Stannite is Not Radioactive

Stannite Classification

Dana Class:

02.09.02.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

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

(02.09.02)Stannite Group (Tetragonal: I-42m) A2BCS type

02.09.02.01 Stannite Cu2FeSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.02 Cernyite Cu2CdSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.03 Briartite Cu2(Zn,Fe)GeS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.04 Kuramite Cu3SnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.05 Sakuraiite (Cu,Zn,Fe,In,Sn)4S4 P 4₃2, P 43m, or P m3m Cubic

02.09.02.06 Hocartite Ag2FeSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.07 Pirquitasite Ag2ZnSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.08 Velikite Cu2HgSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.09 Kesterite Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4 I 4 4

02.09.02.10 Ferrokesterite Cu2(Fe,Zn)SnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.11 Barquillite! Cu2CdGeS4 I 42m 4 2m

Strunz Class:

02.CB.15a 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.C - Metal Sulfides, M:S = 1:1 (and similar)

02.CB -With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, Au, etc

02.CB.15a Cernyite Cu2CdSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Ferrokesterite Cu2(Fe,Zn)SnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Kesterite Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4 I 4 4

02.CB.15a Hocartite Ag2FeSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Idaite Cu5FeS6 P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

02.CB.15a Kuramite Cu3SnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Pirquitasite Ag2ZnSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Stannite Cu2FeSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Velikite Cu2HgSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

Other Stannite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Stannite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - Google Images
6 - Google Scholar
7 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
9 - MinDAT
10 - MinMax(Deutsch)
11 - MinMax(English)
12 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
15 - WWW-MINCRYST

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

Stannite

Cu2FeSnS4
Dana No: 02.09.02.01 Strunz No: 02.CB.15a
Locality:

Notes: