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MINERAL CLASSIFICATION / SYSTEMATIK der MINERALE

           based on E.H. Nickel & M.C. Nichols (2009), H. Strunz & E.H. Nickel (2001),
           revised by Thomas Witzke (2022)



2. SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS
(Sulfides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides, Antimonides, Bismuthides, Sulfarsenites, Sulfantimonites, Sulfbismuthites, etc.)


2.A: Metal / Metalloid alloys


2.AA. Metalloid alloys with Cu, Ag, Au, Sn
 
2.AA.005. Algodonite group
 
Algodonite Cu1-xAsx    (x ca. 0.15) hex., P63/mmc G
Allargentum Ag1-xSbx hex., P63/mmc FOTO Rd


 
2.AA.010. Domeykite group
 
Domeykite Cu3As cub., I43d FOTO G
Dienerite Ni3As cub., I43d Rd

From a chemical point, dienerite belongs to the subdivision "2.AB. Ni-Metalloid alloys", but is placed here because the mineral is isotypic with domeykite.


 
2.AA.015. Trigodomeykite
 
Trigodomeykite Cu3As trig., P3c1 G, Rn

Trigodomeykite, originally described as Domeykite-β, renamed.


 
2.AA.020. Dyscrasite
 
Dyscrasite Ag3Sb orth., Pm2m FOTO G


 
2.AA.025. Koutekite
 
Koutekite Cu5As2 orth., Ibam G


 
2.AA.030. Kutinaite
 
Kutinaite Cu14Ag6As7 tetr., P4/mmm FOTO IMA 1969-034

Kutinaite: originally reported as cubic, Cu14Ag6As7. Structure determination of a natural crystal showed tetragonal, pseudo-cubic, P4/mmm symmetry and the composition (K,Tl)0.25Cu14Ag6As6.75 for Z = 4. (K,Tl) are situated on a special position, but it is not known, if these elements are essential (Bindi & Makovicky, 2015, Min. Mag. 79, 1099-1109).


 
2.AA.035. Novákite
 
Novákite (Cu,Ag)21As10 mon. FOTO A


 
2.AA.040. Cuprostibite
 
Cuprostibite Cu2Sb tetr., P4/nmm FOTO G


 
2.AA.045. Maldonite
 
Maldonite Au2Bi cub., Fd3m G


 
2.AA.050. Stistaite
 
Stistaite SnSb trig., R3m FOTO IMA 1969-039

Stistaite shows a rhombohedrally distorted NaCl structure type. Investigation of synthetic material showed an incommensurate ordering in the arrangement of Sb and Sn atoms (Lidin et al., 2009, Inorg. Chemistry 48, 5497-5503).



 
 
2.AB. Ni-Metalloid alloys
 
2.AB.005. Orcelite
 
Orcelite Ni5-xAs2    (x = 0.23) hex., P63cm A


 
2.AB.010. Maucherite
 
Maucherite Ni11As8 tetr., P41212 FOTO G


 
2.AB.015. Oregonite
 
Oregonite Ni2FeAs2 trig. A



 
 
2.AC. PGE-Metalloid alloys
 
2.AC.005. Viteite
 
Viteite Pd5InAs tetr., P4/mmm IMA 2019-040


 
2.AC.010. Vincentite
 
Vincentite Pd3As mon., P2/m IMA 1973-051


 
2.AC.015. Marathonite
 
Marathonite Pd25Ge9 trig., P3 IMA 2016-080


 
2.AC.020. Isomertieite group
 
Isomertieite Pd11Sb2As2 cub., Fd3m FOTO IMA 1973-057
Miessiite Pd11Te2Se2 cub., Fd3m IMA 2006-013
Törnroosite Pd11Te2As2 cub., Fd3m IMA 2010-043


 
2.AC.025. Nipalarsite
 
Nipalarsite Ni8Pd3As4 cub., Fm3m IMA 2018-075


 
2.AC.030. Stillwaterite
 
Stillwaterite Pd8As3 trig., P3 IMA 1974-029


 
2.AC.035. Arsenopalladinite group
 
Arsenopalladinite Pd8As2.5Sb0.5 tric., P1 FOTO Rd
Mertieite Pd8Sb2.5As0.5 trig., R3c G, Rn
Vadlazarenkovite Pd8Bi1.5Te1.0(Te0.25As0.25) trig., R3c IMA 2023-040

Mertieite, originally described as Mertieite-II, renamed.
Arsenopalladinite and Mertieite are not isostructural, but the structures are closely related. Both minerals contain layers of nets of Pd atoms and layers of As and Sb with triangular topology. The layers are stacked along c. The layers have the same topology in Arsenopalladinite and Mertieite, but the stacking sequence is different. Structure determination showed an ordered distribution of Sb and As (Karimova et al., 2020, 746-752).
Vadlazarenkovite is isostructural with Mertieite.


 
2.AC.040. Pseudomertieite
 
Pseudomertieite Pd5+x(Sb,As)2-x      (x = 0.1-0.2) mon., ps.-hex. IMA 1971-016, Rd

Pseudomertieite, originally described as Mertieite-I, renamed.


 
2.AC.045. Stibiopalladinite
 
Stibiopalladinite Pd5+xSb2-x hex., P63cm A


 
2.AC.050. Palarstanide
 
Palarstanide Pd5(Sn,As)2 trig. FOTO IMA 1976-058


 
2.AC.055. Menshikovite
 
Menshikovite Pd3Ni2As3 hex., P62m IMA 1993-057


 
2.AC.060. Palladoarsenide
 
Palladoarsenide Pd2As mon., P2/m IMA 1973-005


 
2.AC.065. Rhodarsenide group
 
Rhodarsenide Rh2As orth., Pnma IMA 1996-030
Palladodymite Pd2As orth., Pnma FOTO IMA 1997-028


 
2.AC.070. Palladobismutharsenide
 
Palladobismutharsenide Pd2As0.8Bi0.2 orth., Pmcn or P21cn IMA 1975-017


 
2.AC.075. Atheneite
 
Atheneite Pd2(As0.75Hg0.25) hex., P62m IMA 1973-050


 
2.AC.080. Majakite group
 
Majakite PdNiAs hex., P62m IMA 1974-038
Palladogermanide Pd2Ge hex., P62m IMA 2016-086

Majakite belongs to the Fe2P (Barringerite) structure type (Evstigneeva et al., 2000, Materials Science Forum, 321-324). Due to ordering of Pd and Ni in the structure the c parameter is doubled compared to Barringerite group minerals (see in 1.BF.), Palladosilicide, Pd2Si (see in 1.BD.) and Palladogermanide.


 
2.AC.085. Zaccariniite
 
Zaccariniite RhNiAs tetr., P4/nmm IMA 2011-086


 
2.AC.090. Naldrettite
 
Naldrettite Pd2Sb orth., Cmc21 IMA 2004-007


 
2.AC.095. Fleetite
 
Fleetite Cu2RhIrSb2 cub., Fd3m IMA 2018-073b


 
2.AC.100. Polkanovite
 
Polkanovite Rh12As7 hex., P63/m IMA 1997-030


 
2.AC.105. Genkinite group
 
Genkinite Pt4Sb3 tetr., P41212 IMA 1976-051
Ungavaite Pd4Sb3 tetr., P41212, P43212 or P4122 IMA 2004-020


 
2.AC.110. Polarite
 
Polarite Pd(Bi,Pb) orth., Ccm21 FOTO IMA 1969-032

Borishanskiite, assumed Pd(As,Pb)2, IMA 1974-010, was found to be identical to polarite and was discredited (2022).


 
2.AC.115. Froodite
 
Froodite PdBi2 mon., C2/m FOTO G


 
2.AC.120. Iridarsenite
 
Iridarsenite IrAs2 mon., P21/c IMA 1973-021






 
 

G = Grandfathered minerals: original description preceded the establishment of the CNMNC in 1959, and generally regarded as a valid species
A or IMA No. = Minerals approved by the CNMNC
Rd = Redefinition of the mineral approved by the CNMNC
Rn = Renamed with approval by the CNMNC
Q = Questionable mineral



Classification principles:
Subdivision of the Sulfide etc. subclass "2.A: Metal-Metalloid alloys" is based first mainly on chemical principles. Chemical subdivision into 2.AA. Metalloid alloys with Cu, Ag, Au, Sn; 2.AB. Ni-Metalloid alloys; 2.AC. PGE-Metalloid alloys.

Further classification:
2.AA. Metalloid alloys with Cu, Ag, Au, Sn: Groups/single minerals arranged from higher to lower Metal:Metalloid ratio. The Ni-Metalloid alloy dienerite placed here as an exception, because it is isostructural with domeykite.
2.AB. Ni-Metalloid alloys: From higher to lower Ni:Metalloid ratio.
2.AC. PGE-Metalloid alloys: From higher to lower PGE:Metalloid ratio.


To distinguish from classical Strunz numbering, on hierarchical "group" level, a numbering with 3 digits is used, like "2.AA.005. Algodonite group", instead of 2 digits (like "2.AA.05.") in the Strunz system.


© Thomas Witzke (2023)


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