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Spiridonovite

A valid IMA mineral species
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07471500017272473198089.jpg
Ernst M. Spiridonov
Formula:
(Cu1-xAgx)2Te
x ≈ 0.4
Colour:
Black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
4.6 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named in honour of Ernst Maksovich Spiridonov (Эрнст Максович Спиридонов) (b. 13 August 1938, Moscow, USSR), Professor at the Department of Mineralogy, Moscow State University, Russia. Prof. Spiridonov studied many gold deposits and discovered 20 new mineral species, most of them ore minerals.
Discovered in a fragment from the cameronite holotype material.


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
53405
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:53405:3

IMA Classification of SpiridonoviteHide

Classification of SpiridonoviteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.BA.47

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au

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

Physical Properties of SpiridonoviteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=158 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Parting:
None
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
4.6 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of SpiridonoviteHide

Anisotropism:
Very weak greyish to light-blue rotation tint
Bireflectance:
moderate bireflectance
Colour in reflected light:
dark bluish black
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
light grey to a slightly greenish grey

Chemistry of SpiridonoviteHide

Mindat Formula:
(Cu1-xAgx)2Te

x ≈ 0.4
Elements listed:
Ag, Cu, Te - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of SpiridonoviteHide

Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P3c1
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.630(2) Å, c = 22.551(9) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 4.871
Unit Cell V:
418.7 ų
Z:
6

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of SpiridonoviteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Good Hope Mine (Mammoth Good Hope Mine; Mammoth-Good Hope Mine; Mammoth Chimney Mine), Vulcan, Vulcan Mining District (Cebolla Mining District; Domingo Mining District), Gunnison County, Colorado, USA
General Appearance of Type Material:
Black, subhedral to anhedral grains up to 65 μm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
mineralogical collections of the Museo di Storia Naturale,
Università di Firenze, Via La Pira 4, I-50121, Firenze, Italy, catalogue number 3295/I
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
CameroniteRickarditeNative TelluriumVulcanite
Reference:
Morana, Marta, Bindi, Luca (2019) Spiridonovite, (Cu1-xAgx)2Te (x ≈ 0.4), a New Telluride from the Good Hope Mine, Vulcan, Colorado (U.S.A.) Minerals, 9 (3) 194 doi:10.3390/min9030194

Synonyms of SpiridonoviteHide

Other Language Names for SpiridonoviteHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.BA.MakotoiteAg12(Cu3Au)S8Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
2.BA.AlburniteAg8GeTe2S4Iso.
2.BA.DzierżanowskiteCaCu2S2Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.BA.XuwenyuaniteAg9Fe3+Te2S4Iso. 43m : F43m
2.BA.'Orileyite'(Fe,Cu)2As
2.BA.JuxingiteBi6Cu+138Cu2+2Fe3+30S125Iso. 43m : F43m
2.BA.LuoxianchangiteAg8SnS4Se2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.BA.05DjurleiteCu31S16Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.BA.05GeeriteCu8S5Trig. 3
2.BA.05RoxbyiteCu58S32Tric. 1 : P1
2.BA.05ChalcociteCu2SMon. 2/m : P21/c
2.BA.10DigeniteCu9S5Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
2.BA.10AniliteCu7S4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.BA.15BorniteCu5FeS4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
2.BA.20BellidoiteCu2SeTet. 4/m : P42/n
2.BA.20BerzelianiteCu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12)Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.BA.25AthabascaiteCu5Se4Orth.
2.BA.25UmangiteCu3Se2Tet. 42m : P421m
2.BA.30RickarditeCu7Te5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmn
2.BA.30WeissiteCu2-xTeHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mmm
2.BA.35AcanthiteAg2SMon. 2/m : P21/m
2.BA.35SpryiteAg8(As3+0.5As5+0.5)S6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
2.BA.40d'UM2003-13-S:AgAuCu'Ag6AuCu2S5
2.BA.40MckinstryiteAg5-xCu3+xS4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.BA.40StromeyeriteAgCuSOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.BA.42HoneaiteAu3TlTe2 Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcm
2.BA.45JalpaiteAg3CuS2Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
2.BA.45SelenojalpaiteAg3CuSe2Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
2.BA.45KuriliteAg8Te3SeTrig. 3 : R3
2.BA.50WuyanzhiiteCu2STet. 422 : P43212
2.BA.50EucairiteAgCuSeOrth.
2.BA.52'Argentite'Ag2SIso.
2.BA.55NaumanniteAg2SeOrth. 222 : P212121
2.BA.55AguilariteAg4SeSMon. 2/m : P21/c
2.BA.60ChenguodaiteAg9Fe3+Te2S4Orth.
2.BA.60HessiteAg2TeMon. 2/m : P21/c
2.BA.60CervelleiteAg4TeSMon. 2/m : P21/c
2.BA.65Henryite(Cu,Ag)3+xTe2 , with x ~ 0.40Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3c
2.BA.65StütziteAg5-xTe3, x = 0.24-0.36Hex. 6 : P6
2.BA.70ArgyroditeAg8GeS6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
2.BA.70Putzite(Cu4.7Ag3.3)GeS6Iso. 43m : F43m
2.BA.70CanfielditeAg8SnS6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
2.BA.75FischesseriteAg3AuSe2Iso. 432 : I4132
2.BA.75UytenbogaardtiteAg3AuS2Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
2.BA.75Penzhinite(Ag,Cu)4Au(S,Se)4Hex. 622 : P6322
2.BA.75PetrovskaiteAuAgSMon.
2.BA.75PetziteAg3AuTe2Iso. 432 : I4132
2.BA.80Bezsmertnovite(Au,Ag)4Cu(Te,Pb)Orth.
2.BA.80BilibinskitePbCu2Au3Te2Iso.
2.BA.80Bogdanovite(Au,Te,Pb)3(Cu,Fe)Iso.

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 SpiridonoviteHide

References for SpiridonoviteHide

Localities for SpiridonoviteHide

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.
USA (TL)
 
  • Colorado
    • Gunnison County
      • Vulcan Mining District (Cebolla Mining District; Domingo Mining District)
        • Vulcan
Morana et al. (2019)
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