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Zhengminghuaite

A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Cu6Fe3As4S12
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
4.77 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
In honor of Prof. Zheng Minghua (born October 23, 1934), a famous geologist and expert of gold deposits from the College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University Technology, China.
Nowackiite isotypic series.
Fe-dominant analogue at the divalent cations site of nowackiite (Cu6Zn3As4S12) and aktashite (Cu6Hg3As4S12).


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
470397
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:470397:2

IMA Classification of ZhengminghuaiteHide

Classification of ZhengminghuaiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.GA.30

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
ZmhIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of ZhengminghuaiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN10=219(28) kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
4.77(5) g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of ZhengminghuaiteHide

Anisotropism:
very weak
Bireflectance:
weak - whitish gray to pinkish tinted gray
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
470nm28.84% 22.11%
546nm29.00% 23.04%
589nm31.71% 26.31%
650nm34.38% 28.31%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 34.38%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
whitish gray
Internal Reflections:
none
Comments:
Anisotropy is very weak and only visible with slightly opened analyzer.

Chemistry of ZhengminghuaiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Cu6Fe3As4S12
Element Weights:
Element% weight
S31.200 %
Cu30.916 %
As24.300 %
Fe13.585 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
S
Cu
As
Fe
Elements listed:
As, Cu, Fe, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Chemical AnalysisHide

Crystallography of ZhengminghuaiteHide

Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
R3
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.5373(2) Å, c = 9.235(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.682
Unit Cell V:
1,465.65 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Type Occurrence of ZhengminghuaiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Zimudang Au Mine, Huijiabao gold field, Xingren County, Qianxinan, Guizhou, China
General Appearance of Type Material:
fractured grains of several to a few tens μm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Geological Museum of China, No. 16, Yangrou Hutong, Xisi, Beijing 100031, People’s Republic of China, catalogue number M16136
Geological Setting of Type Material:
late ore-stage mineral assemblage in Carlin type deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AktashiteArsenopyriteCalciteChalcopyriteChristite
OrpimentPyriteQuartzRealgar
Reference:
Gu, Xuexiang, Zhang, Yongmei, Fan, Guang, Li, Ting, Dong, Shuyi, Peng, Yiwei, Zhang, Yingshuai, Li, Ling, Ge, Zhanlin (2024) Zhengminghuaite, Cu6Fe3As4S12, a new sulfosalt mineral from the Zimudang Carlin-type gold deposit in southwestern Guizhou, China. American Mineralogist, 109 (7) 1220-1227 doi:10.2138/am-2023-9078

Synonyms of ZhengminghuaiteHide

Other Language Names for ZhengminghuaiteHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.GA.PyradoketositeAg3SbS3Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.GA.ArsiccioiteAgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6Tet. 42m : I42m
2.GA.EckeriteAg2CuAsS3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.GA.05ProustiteAg3AsS3Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
2.GA.05PyrargyriteAg3SbS3Trig. 3m : R3c
2.GA.10XanthoconiteAg3AsS3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.GA.10PyrostilpniteAg3SbS3Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.GA.15SamsoniteAg4MnSb2S6Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.GA.20BytíziteCu3SbSe3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.GA.20SkinneriteCu3SbS3Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.GA.20WitticheniteCu3BiS3Orth. 222 : P212121
2.GA.25LapieiteNiCuSbS3Orth. 222 : P212121
2.GA.25LisiguangitePtCuBiS3Orth. 222 : P212121
2.GA.25MalyshevitePdCuBiS3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmm
2.GA.25RoterbäritePdBiCuSe3Orth. 222 : P212121
2.GA.25MückeiteNiCu(Bi,Sb)S3Orth. 222 : P212121
2.GA.30AktashiteCu6Hg3As4S12Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.30NowackiiteCu6Zn3As4S12Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.30GruzdeviteCu6Hg3Sb4S12Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.35LaffittiteAgHgAsS3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.GA.40'Unnamed (Ag-Fe endmember of Routhierite Group)'AgFe2TlAs2S6
2.GA.40RouthieriteTl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6Tet. 42m : I42m
2.GA.40StalderiteTl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)2(As,Sb)2S6Tet. 42m : I42m
2.GA.40RalphcannoniteAgZn2TlAs2S6Tet. 42m : I42m
2.GA.40FerrostalderiteCuFe2TlAs2S6Tet. 42m : I42m
2.GA.45ErniggliiteTl2SnAs2S6Trig. 3 : P3
2.GA.50CerromojoniteCuPbBiSe3Orth.
2.GA.50SeligmannitePbCuAsS3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmn
2.GA.50SoučekiteCuPbBi(S,Se)3Orth. mm2
2.GA.50'Unnamed (Pb-Cu-Bi Selenide)'PbCuBiSe3
2.GA.50BournonitePbCuSbS3Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
2.GA.55EldragóniteCu6BiSe4(Se2) Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)

Fluorescence of ZhengminghuaiteHide

In UV light:
none observed

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for ZhengminghuaiteHide

References for ZhengminghuaiteHide

Localities for ZhengminghuaiteHide

Showing 1 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
China (TL)
 
  • Guizhou
    • Qianxinan
      • Xingren County
        • Huijiabao gold field
Miyawaki et al. (2022) +1 other reference
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