Mineralogy Database

Idaite Mineral Data

Search Webmineral :
  

General Idaite Information

Help on Chemical Formula: Chemical Formula: Cu5FeS6
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 565.97 gm
   Iron     9.87 %  Fe
   Copper  56.14 %  Cu
   Sulfur  33.99 %  S
          ______ 
          100.00 % 
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: Cu5Fe2+S6
Help on Environment: Environment: A lamellar decomposition product of bornite, commonly associated with fine spindles of chalcopyrite, apparently of secondary origin as the first product of enrichment.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1958
Help on Locality: Locality: Ida mine, Khan, and Tsumeb, Namibia. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: Named for the locality.
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Idaite Say IDAITE
Help on Synonym: Synonym: ICSD 16552 ?
  PDF 13-161
 

Idaite Image

Click Here for Larger Image in a New Browser Window Images:
Click Here for Larger Image

  Idaite

Comments: Deep blue metallic idaite in milky quartz.
Location: Winston, Sierra County, New Mexico, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Idaite Crystallography
Help on Axial Ratios: Axial Ratios: a:c = 1:4.34615
Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 3.9, c = 16.95, Z = 1; V = 223.27 Den(Calc)= 4.21
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Hexagonal - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal H-M Symbol (6/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: P 63/mmc
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 3.134(1), 2.818(0.8), 1.887(0.65),
 

Physical Properties of Idaite

Help on Color: Color: Brown, Copper red, Red.
Help on Density: Density: 4.2
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Opaque
Help on Habit: Habit: Inclusions - Generally found as inclusions in other minerals.
Help on Habit: Habit: Microscopic Crystals - Crystals visible only with microscopes.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 2.5-3.5 - Finger Nail-Copper Penny
Help on Luster: Luster: Metallic
 

Optical Properties of Idaite

Help on RL Anisotrophism: RL Anisotrophism: Strong, reddish orange to reddish brown.
Help on RL Color: RL Color: Coppery red to pinchbeck brown.
Help on Reflectivity Reflectivity
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Idaite in Air
λ R1 R2  ∑ R1(λ)   ∑ R2(λ) 
 400 nm   13.90   17.70 
   
 420 nm   14.80   18.50 
 440 nm   15.70   19.30 
 460 nm   16.90   21.00 
 480 nm   18.40   23.20 
 500 nm   20.50   25.50 
 520 nm   23.20   27.80 
 540 nm   26.10   29.40 
 560 nm   28.90   30.60 
 580 nm   30.60   31.40 
 600 nm   31.90   31.60 
 620 nm   32.80   31.90 
 640 nm   33.50   32.20 
 660 nm   34.10   32.80 
 680 nm   34.70   33.20 
 700 nm   35.20   33.70 
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Idaite in Air
Relative
Intensity		    0%   60% 100% 120% 180% 240% 300% 360% 420% 480% 530%
R1                      
R2                      
 

Calculated Properties of Idaite

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.97 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Idaite =4.21 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.0046414341
Boson Index = 0.9953585659
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PEIdaite = 29.94 barns/electron
U=PEIdaite x rElectron Density= 118.91 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Idaite is Not Radioactive
 

Idaite Classification
Help on Dana Class: Dana Class: 02.09.14.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides
  (02.09)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:1
  (02.09.14)Dana Group
 
02.09.14.01 Idaite Cu5FeS6 P 63/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m
 
02.09.14.02 Catamarcaite! Cu6GeWS8 P 63mc 6/m 2/m 2/m
Help on Strunz Class: 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 Idaite Information
Help on References: References: NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Dana8) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)
Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Idaite :
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

Search for Idaite using:

Google
 
Web webmineral.com
[AOL] [Bing] [Dog Pile] [GeoScienceWorld] [HotBot] [Ixquick] [Lycos] [MAMMA] [Scirus] [Teoma] [WebCrawler] [Wikipedia] [YAHOO]

Visit our Advertisers for Idaite :

Ask about Idaite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
Original Rockhounds Discussion Group
Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Espaņol

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

Idaite

Cu5FeS6
Dana No: 02.09.14.01 Strunz No: 02.CB.15a
Locality:

 

Notes:

 
 
   
 

Dakota Matrix
Excalibur Minerals
Exceptional Minerals
Hudson Insitute
John Betts Fine Minerals
Mc Dougall Minerals
Mineral News
Rock and Mineral Shows
Weinrich Minerals, Inc.