Mineralogy Database

Pirquitasite Mineral Data

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General Pirquitasite Information

Help on Chemical Formula: Chemical Formula: Ag2ZnSnS4
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 528.10 gm
   Zinc    12.38 %  Zn
   Silver  40.85 %  Ag
   Tin     22.48 %  Sn
   Sulfur  24.29 %  S
          ______ 
          100.00 % 
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: Ag2ZnSnS4
Help on Environment: Environment: Hydrothermal mineralization in veins associated with subvolcanic environments, similer to the Bolivian tin and silver deposits.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Approved IMA 1980
Help on Locality: Locality: Pirquitas deposit, Rinconada department, Jujuy province, Argentina Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: Named for the locality.
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Pirquitasite + Pronunciation Say PIRQUITASITE
 

Pirquitasite Crystallography
Help on Axial Ratios: Axial Ratios: a:c = 1:1.87158
Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 5.786, c = 10.829, Z = 2; V = 362.53 Den(Calc)= 4.84
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Tetragonal - Scalenohedral H-M Symbol (4 2m) Space Group: I 42m
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 3.267(1), 1.735(0.8), 1.976(0.8),
 

Physical Properties of Pirquitasite

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: None
Help on Color: Color: Gray.
Help on Density: Density: 4.822
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Opaque
Help on Habit: Habit: Irregular Grains - Occurs as splotchy, anhedral crystals forming inclusions in other minerals or rocks.
Help on Habit: Habit: Twinning Common - Crystals are usually twinned.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 4 - Fluorite
Help on Luster: Luster: Metallic
Help on Streak: Streak: brownish gray
 

Optical Properties of Pirquitasite

Help on RL Anisotrophism: RL Anisotrophism: Strong, from brick red to light green.
Help on RL Color: RL Color: Brownish gray, with red internal reflections.
Help on Reflectivity 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

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.36 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Pirquitasite =4.84 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.04
Boson Index = 0.96
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PEPirquitasite = 179.94 barns/electron
U=PEPirquitasite x rElectron Density= 784.97 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Pirquitasite is Not Radioactive
 

Pirquitasite Classification
Help on Dana Class: 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
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 Pirquitasite Information
Help on References: References: NAME( AntBidBlaNic1) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)
Help on See Also: 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:

 
 
   
 

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