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Cupropolybasite

A valid IMA mineral species
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04548710017609787343335.jpg
Cupropolybasite

Le Rivet Quarry, Peyrebrune, Montredon-Labessonnié, Castres, Tarn, Occitanie, France
08015040017760040736628.jpg
Cupropolybasite, etc.

Silbak Premier Mine, Stewart, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada
00819510017760684966941.jpg
Cupropolybasite, etc.

Silbak Premier Mine, Stewart, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada
08333450017864942804566.jpg
Cupropolybasite

Le Rivet Quarry, Peyrebrune, Montredon-Labessonnié, Castres, Tarn, Occitanie, France
03118790017760039192834.jpg
Cupropolybasite, etc.

Silbak Premier Mine, Stewart, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada
06123140017760048604503.jpg
Cupropolybasite, etc.

Silbak Premier Mine, Stewart, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada
04548710017609787343335.jpg
Cupropolybasite

Le Rivet Quarry, Peyrebrune, Montredon-Labessonnié, Castres, Tarn, Occitanie, France
08015040017760040736628.jpg
Cupropolybasite, etc.

Silbak Premier Mine, Stewart, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada
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About CupropolybasiteHide

Formula:
[Cu6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Colour:
Black, dark gray
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3 - 3½
Specific Gravity:
6.310 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
For the mineral polybasite and its copper content.
Rare member of the pearceite-polybasite group.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
35952
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:35952:2

IMA Classification of CupropolybasiteHide

Classification of CupropolybasiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.GB.15

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
B : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. with additional S
Dana 8th ed.:
3.1.7.3

3 : SULFOSALTS
1 : ø > 4

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

Physical Properties of CupropolybasiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black, dark gray
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3 - 3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=121 - 137 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
None observed
Density:
6.310 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Density could not be measured due to the small grain-size.

Optical Data of CupropolybasiteHide

Anisotropism:
Without characteristic rotation-tints.
Bireflectance:
Moderately bireflectant.
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
471nm32.4%33.3%
548nm31.2%32.7%
586nm30.8%31.9%
652nm29.6%30.5%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 33.3%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Internal Reflections:
None
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Light-grey to a blue grey.

Chemistry of CupropolybasiteHide

Mindat Formula:
[Cu6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Ag48.254 %
Cu22.110 %
S17.532 %
Sb12.104 %

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

Crystallography of CupropolybasiteHide

Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
P31m
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.3277(3) Å, c = 11.7752(6) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.607
Unit Cell V:
547.56 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0014581CupropolybasiteBindi L, Evain M, Spry P G, Tait K T, Menchetti S (2007) Structural role of copper in the minerals of the pearceite-polybasite group: the case of the new minerals cupropearceite and cupropolybasite Mineralogical Magazine 71 641-6502007Premier mine, Stewart, British Columbia, Canada0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

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 CupropolybasiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Silbak Premier Mine, Stewart, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada
General Appearance of Type Material:
Subhedral to anhedral grains to ~350 µm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical Collection of the Royal Ontario Museum, Department of Natural History, Ontario, Canada, sample M12128.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Supergene ore from an epithermal silver-gold deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Native SilverQuartz
Reference:
Bindi, L., Evain, M., Spry, P. G., Tait, K. T., Menchetti, S. (2007) Structural role of copper in the minerals of the pearceite-polybasite group: the case of the new minerals cupropearceite and cupropolybasite. Mineralogical Magazine, 71 (6) 641-650 doi:10.1180/minmag.2007.071.6.641

Synonyms of CupropolybasiteHide

Other Language Names for CupropolybasiteHide

Relationship of Cupropolybasite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Pearceite-Polybasite Group
Other Members of Pearceite-Polybasite Group:
ArgentopearceiteAg16As2S11Trig. 32 : P321
Argentopolybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9AgS4]Trig. 32 : P321
'Argentopolybasite-T2ac'Ag16Sb2S11Trig. 32 : P321
Auropearceite [Ag9AuS4][Ag6As2S7]Trig. 32 : P321
Auropolybasite[Ag9AuS4][Ag6Sb2S7]Trig. 32 : P321
Benleonardite[Ag6(Sb,As)2S6Te][Ag9Cu(S,Te)2Te2]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
Cupropearceite[Cu6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
Fengruiite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS2Te2]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
Pearceite[Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]Mon. 2/m : B2/m
Selenopolybasite[(Ag,Cu)6(Sb,As)2(S,Se)7][Ag9Cu(S,Se)2Se2]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
8 photos of Cupropolybasite associated with ChalcociteCu2S
8 photos of Cupropolybasite associated with SphaleriteZnS
8 photos of Cupropolybasite associated with ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
8 photos of Cupropolybasite associated with PyriteFeS2
6 photos of Cupropolybasite associated with GalenaPbS
4 photos of Cupropolybasite associated with Native SilverAg
4 photos of Cupropolybasite associated with Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
2 photos of Cupropolybasite associated with 'Electrum'(Au,Ag)
2 photos of Cupropolybasite associated with Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S
2 photos of Cupropolybasite associated with FluoriteCaF2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.GB.'Polybasite-Tac'[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.Kenoargentotetrahedrite-(Zn)[Ag6]4+(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S12◻Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Argentotetrahedrite-(Hg)Ag6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Annivite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)Bi4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Pošepnýite(Cu+3◻3)(Hg2+4Cu+2)Sb4Se12(Se0.5◻0.5)Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(Cu)Cu6(Cu4Cu2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Argentopolybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9AgS4]Trig. 32 : P321
2.GB.Tennantite-(Mn)Cu6(Cu4Mn2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Argentotetrahedrite-(Cd)Ag6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Stibioústalečite(Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(Sb2Te2)Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Stibiogoldfieldite(Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(Sb2Te2)S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Argentotetrahedrite-(Zn)Ag6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tetrahedrite-(Cd)Cu6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Arsenogoldfieldite(Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(As2Te2)S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Arsenoústalečite(Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(As2Te2)Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(In)Cu6(Cu5In)As4S13Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Zvěstovite-(Fe)Ag6(Ag4Fe2+2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Hakite-(Fe)Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)Sb4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(Cd)Cu6(Cu4Cd2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.XKenorozhdestvenskayaite-(Fe)[Ag6]4+(Ag4Fe2+2)Sb4S12◻Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tetrahedrite-(Cu)Cu6(Cu4Cu2+2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Hakite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Zvěstovite-(Zn)Ag6(Ag4Zn2)As4S12SIso.
2.GB.Hakite-(Cd)Cu6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Kenoargentotennantite-(Fe)[Ag6]4+(Cu4Fe2)As4S12◻Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(Hg)Cu6(Cu4Hg2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tetrahedrite-(Mn)Cu6(Cu4Mn2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tennantite-(Ni)Cu6(Cu4Ni2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.Tetrahedrite-(Ni)Cu6(Cu4Ni2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Hakite-(Hg)Cu6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Rozhdestvenskayaite-(Zn)Ag6(Ag4Zn2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Argentotennantite-(Zn)Ag6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Argentotennantite-(Fe)Ag6(Cu4Fe2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tennantite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : F43m
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tennantite-(Fe)Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)As4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite-(Fe)Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite-(Hg)Cu6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Kenoargentotetrahedrite-(Fe)[Ag6]4+(Cu4Fe2+2)Sb4S12◻Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Giraudite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4Se12SeIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Argentotetrahedrite-(Fe)Ag6(Cu4Fe2)Sb4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05Goldfieldite(Cu4◻2)(Cu4Cu+2)Te4S12SIso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.05'UM1992-21-S:AgFeSb'Ag6(Ag4Fe2+2)Sb4S12SIso.
2.GB.10SelenostephaniteAg5SbSe4Orth. 222 : P212121
2.GB.10StephaniteAg5SbS4Orth. mm2 : Cmc21
2.GB.15'UM2003-14-S:AgBiFeTe'Ag16FeBiTe3S8
2.GB.15'UM1979-17-S:BiCuFe'~Cu18Fe4BiS16
2.GB.15Pearceite[Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.15ArgentopearceiteAg16As2S11Trig. 32 : P321
2.GB.15Fengruiite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS2Te2]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.15Auropearceite [Ag9AuS4][Ag6As2S7]Trig. 32 : P321
2.GB.15Selenopolybasite[(Ag,Cu)6(Sb,As)2(S,Se)7][Ag9Cu(S,Se)2Se2]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.15Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.GB.15Auropolybasite[Ag9AuS4][Ag6Sb2S7]Trig. 32 : P321
2.GB.15Cupropearceite[Cu6As2S7][Ag9CuS4]Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.GB.20Vorontsovite(Hg5Cu)Σ6TlAs4S12Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.20Ferrovorontsovite(Fe5Cu)Σ6TlAs4S12Iso. 43m : I43m
2.GB.20Galkhaite(Hg5Cu)CsAs4S12Iso. 43m : I43m

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 CupropolybasiteHide

References for CupropolybasiteHide

Localities for CupropolybasiteHide

Showing 13 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.
Argentina
 
  • Catamarca Province
    • Belén Department
      • Hualfín
Márquez-Zavalía et al. (2016)
Bulgaria
 
  • Sofia Province
    • Etropole Municipality
Mladenova et al. (2017)
Canada (TL)
 
  • British Columbia
    • Skeena Mining Division
      • Stewart
Bindi et al. (2007)
Czech Republic
 
  • Central Bohemian Region
    • Kutná Hora District
Pažout et al. (2026)
    • Příbram District
      • Vrančice
        • Alexander Mine
Sejkora et al. (2010)
France
 
  • Occitanie
    • Tarn
      • Castres
        • Montredon-Labessonnié
          • Peyrebrune
Robet Pecorini collection & Georges ...
Germany
 
  • Baden-Württemberg
    • Freiburg Region
      • Ortenaukreis
        • Oberwolfach
Kolitsch et al. (2019)
Indonesia
 
  • South Sulawesi Province
    • Gowa Regency
Nur et al. (2012)
Namibia
 
  • Oshikoto Region
    • Tsumeb
Bindi et al. (2015)
Russia
 
  • Altai Krai
    • Zmeinogorsky District
Sejkora et al. (2023)
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Serovsky District
      • Turya river
        • Tur'insk
Kasatkin et al. (2020) +1 other reference
Slovakia
 
  • Banská Bystrica Region
    • Žarnovica District
      • Rudno nad Hronom
Vlasáč et al. (2024)
Switzerland
 
  • Valais
    • Entremont
      • Orsières
Cuchet et al. (2012)
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