Pirquitasite Mineral Data

General Pirquitasite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ag2ZnSnS4

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 528.10 gm

Zinc 12.38 % Zn

Silver 40.85 % Ag

Tin 22.48 % Sn

Sulfur 24.29 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Ag₂ZnSnS₄

Environment:

Hydrothermal mineralization in veins associated with subvolcanic environments, similer to the Bolivian tin and silver deposits.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1980

Locality:

Pirquitas deposit, Rinconada department, Jujuy province, Argentina Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the locality.

Name Pronunciation:

Pirquitasite + Pronunciation

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Pirquitasite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:1.87158

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.786, c = 10.829, Z = 2; V = 362.53 Den(Calc)= 4.84

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): 3.267(1), 1.735(0.8), 1.976(0.8),

Physical Properties of Pirquitasite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Gray.

Density:

4.822

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Habit:

Irregular Grains - Occurs as splotchy, anhedral crystals forming inclusions in other minerals or rocks.

Habit:

Twinning Common - Crystals are usually twinned.

Hardness:

4 - Fluorite

Luster:

Metallic

Streak:

brownish gray

Optical Properties of Pirquitasite

RL Anisotrophism:

Strong, from brick red to light green.

RL Color:

Brownish gray, with red internal reflections.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Pirquitasite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
420 nm	24.60	21.70
440 nm	24.20	21.80
460 nm	24.10	21.90
480 nm	23.90	21.90
500 nm	23.80	21.80
520 nm	23.90	21.90
540 nm	24.10	22.20
560 nm	24.30	22.50
580 nm	24.20	22.70
600 nm	24.10	22.40
620 nm	23.80	21.80
640 nm	23.20	21.30
660 nm	22.50	20.90
680 nm	22.20	20.50
700 nm	21.60	20.10

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Pirquitasite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	50%	100%	150%	200%	250%	300%	350%	400%	410%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Pirquitasite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.36 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Pirquitasite =4.84 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.04
Boson Index = 0.96

Photoelectric:

PE_Pirquitasite= 179.94 barns/electron
U=PE_Pirquitasite x rElectron Density= 784.97 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

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

Pirquitasite Classification

Dana Class:

02.09.02.07 (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 Pirquitasite Information

References:

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

See Also:

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

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

Pirquitasite

Ag2ZnSnS4
Dana No: 02.09.02.07 Strunz No: 02.CB.15a
Locality:

Notes: