Named in 1969 by C. Sorensen, Evgeny Ivanovich Semenov Semenov, Marianna Sergeevna Bezsmertnaya, and E. B. Khalezova from the Latin roots of the chemical composition, cupro- and stibium.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Mount Nakkaalaaq, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland

See also Unnamed (Cu Antimonide) (identical?).

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

1193

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:1193:4

IMA Classification of CuprostibiteHide

IMA status:

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

First published:

1969

Classification of CuprostibiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

2.AA.20

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
A : Alloys
A : Alloys of metalloids with Cu, Ag, Au

Dana 8th ed.:

2.4.11.1

2 : SULFIDES
4 : A_mB_nX_p, with (m+n):p = 2:1

Hey's CIM Ref.:

1.45

1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

Symbol	Source	Reference
Cusb	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of CuprostibiteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Steel grey to violet-rose on fresh fracture

Hardness:

4 on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₅₀=216 - 249 kg/mm² - Vickers

Cleavage:

Distinct/Good
In one direction

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Density:

8.42 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of CuprostibiteHide

Anisotropism:

strong

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁ (%)	R₂ (%)
400nm	51.1%	58.6%
420nm	52.5%	58.5%
440nm	52.2%	56.9%
460nm	50.0%	54.9%
480nm	47.4%	52.6%
500nm	45.5%	50.3%
520nm	42.2%	47.6%
540nm	37.8%	45.0%
560nm	35.4%	42.5%
580nm	35.7%	41.7%
600nm	39.6%	43.0%
620nm	45.4%	45.9%
640nm	50.7%	49.3%
660nm	55.9%	52.0%
680nm	59.7%	54.3%
700nm	62.6%	55.7%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 62.6%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in

Colour in reflected light:

Violet-rose

Pleochroism:

Visible

Comments:

Creamy white to dark rose-violet

Chemistry of CuprostibiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Cu₂(Sb,Tl)

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Cu	51.071 %
Sb	48.929 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Cu, Sb, Tl - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Zn,Ag,Pb,Fe,As,S

Crystallography of CuprostibiteHide

Crystal System:

Tetragonal

Class (H-M):

4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal

Space Group:

P4/nmm

Setting:

P4/nmm

Cell Parameters:

a = 3.990 Å, c = 6.09 Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 1.526

Unit Cell V:

96.95 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Fine grained aggregates

Twinning:

Platy

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0010875	Cuprostibite	Pearson W B (1985) The Cu2Sb and related structures Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 171 23-39	👁 Image	1985	0	293
0016974	Cuprostibite	Elander M, Haegg G, Westgren A (1935) The Crystal Structure of Cu2Sb and Fe2As _cod_database_code 1010038 Arkiv for Kemi, Mineralogi och Geologi B12 1-6	1935	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
2.07 Å	(100)
2.56 Å	(50)
2.82 Å	(40)
1.993 Å	(40)
1.167 Å	(40)
1.424 Å	(30)
3.33 Å	(20)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals	<10 Ka
56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55)

Type Occurrence of CuprostibiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Mount Nakkaalaaq, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Ussingite vein cutting sodalite syenite.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Chalcopyrite

Löllingite

Native Silver

Other Language Names for CuprostibiteHide

Dutch:Cuprostibiet

German:Cuprostibit

Simplified Chinese:锑铊铜矿

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

34 photos of Cuprostibite associated with Native Copper	Cu
16 photos of Cuprostibite associated with Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
14 photos of Cuprostibite associated with Malachite	Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
13 photos of Cuprostibite associated with Native Silver	Ag
6 photos of Cuprostibite associated with Ussingite	Na₂AlSi₃O₈OH
4 photos of Cuprostibite associated with Adamite	Zn₂(AsO₄)(OH)
4 photos of Cuprostibite associated with Domeykite	Cu₃As
3 photos of Cuprostibite associated with Chalcothallite	Tl₂(Cu,Fe)₆SbS₄
3 photos of Cuprostibite associated with Chrysocolla	Cu_2-xAl_x(H_2-xSi₂O₅)(OH)₄ · nH₂O, x < 1
3 photos of Cuprostibite associated with Aegirine	NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.AA.	Trigodomeykite	Cu_3-xAs	Trig. 3 : P3
2.AA.10b	Domeykite	Cu₃As	Iso. 43m : I43d
2.AA.10a	Algodonite	(Cu_1-xAs_x)	Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6₃/mmc
2.AA.10d	Koutekite	Cu₅As₂	Hex.
2.AA.15	Novákite	(Cu,Ag)₂₁As₁₀	Mon.
2.AA.25	Kutinaite	Ag₆Cu₁₄As₇	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m)
2.AA.30	Allargentum	(Ag_1-xSb_x)	Hex.
2.AA.35	Dyscrasite	Ag₃Sb	Orth. mm2 : Pmm2
2.AA.40	Maldonite	Au₂Bi	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
2.AA.45	Stistaite	SnSb	Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
2.AA.50	Zaccariniite	RhNiAs	Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P4/nmm
2.AA.55	Dienerite	Ni₃As	Iso. 43m : I43d

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 CuprostibiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-1193.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

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References for CuprostibiteHide

Reference List:

Arkiv för Kemi, Mineralogi och Geologi: 12B(1): 1-6.

Hålenius, U., Ålinder, C. (1982): Occurrence and formation of cuprostibite in a Zn-Pb-Ag mineralized siliceous dolomite at Långsjön, central Sweden. Neues Jahrb. Mineral., Monatsh. 1982 (5): 201-215.

Škácha P., Sejkora J., Litochleb J., Hofman P. (2009): Výskyt cuprostibitu v příbramském uran-polymetalickém revíru (šachta 16, Příbram - Háje), Česká republika [Cuprostibite occurrence in the Příbram uranium and base-metal district (shaft No. 16, Příbram–Háje), Czech Republic]. Bulletin Mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 17 (1), 73-78.

Sørensen, H., Semenov, E.I., Bezsmertnaya, M.S., Khalezova, E.B. (1969): Cuprostibite, a new natural compound of copper and antimony. Zapiski Vserossijskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva, 98, 716-724.

López-Soler, A., Bosch-Figueroa, J. M., Karup-Møller, S., Besteiro, J., Font-Altaba, M. (1975) Optical study of cuprostibite (Cu2Sb). Fortschritte der Mineralogie, 52, 557-565.

Karup-Møller, S., Løkkegaard, L., Semenov, E.I., Sørensen, H. (1978) The occurrence of cuprostibite. Karup-Møller, S., Løkkegaard, L., Semenov, EI & Sørensen, H.: Cuprostibite and associated minerals from the Ilímaussaq intrusion, South Greenland. Bulletin Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgelse, 126, 6-22.

Karup-Møller, S., Løkkegaard, L., Semenov, E.I., Sørensen, H. (1978) Cuprostibite and associated minerals from the Ilímaussaq intrusion, South Greenland. Bulletin Grønlands Geologiske Undersøgelse, 126, 1-47.

Burke, E.A.J. (1980) Cuprostibite, cuprian galena, altaite, cuprian massicot, wittichenite, and bismuthinite from Langban, Sweden. Neues Jahrb. Mineral., Monatsh., 6, 241-246.

Pearson, W. B. (1985) The Cu2Sb and related structures. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 171 (1-4). 23-39 doi:10.1524/zkri.1985.171.14.23

Burke, E.J., Dunn, P.J. (1988) Cuprostibite, domeykite, native copper and native lead from the Franklin Mine, New Jersey (USA). Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie Monatshefte, 4, 145-148.

Nuss, Jürgen, Jansen, Martin (2002) Zur Abgrenzung der PbFCl- und Cu2Sb-Strukturfamilien: Neubestimmung und Verfeinerung der Kristallstrukturen von CuMgSb, Cu2Sb und CuMgAs. Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 628. 1152-1157 doi:10.1002/1521-3749(200206)628:5<1152::aid-zaac1152>3.0.co;2-1

(2005) Cuprostibite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for CuprostibiteHide

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

Locality ListHide

👁 Image
- This locality has map coordinates listed. 👁 Image
- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 👁 Image
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 👁 Image
- 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.

Austria
Vorarlberg Bludenz District Silbertal ⓘ Schmelzhof slag locality	Bechter (2009) +1 other reference
Czech Republic
Central Bohemian Region Příbram District Háje ⓘ Uranium Mine No. 16	Škácha P. et al. (2009)
ⓘ Mine dump	- (Pavel Škácha coll.)
France
Brittany Finistère Châteaulin Poullaouen ⓘ La Fonderie slag locality	P Le Roch self collected
Occitanie Lozère Florac Vialas ⓘ Vialas smelter slag locality	Lheur et al. (1998)
Greenland
Kujalleq ⓘ Ilímaussaq complex	Petersen (2001)
ⓘ Kangerluarsuk Fjord	Knut Eldjarn Collection
ⓘ Kuannersuit Plateau (Kvanefjeld)	Karup-Møller et al. (2001)
ⓘ Rohaite occurrence	Fleischer et al. (1980) +1 other reference
ⓘ Mount Nakkaalaaq (TL)	Karup-Møller et al. (2001)
ⓘ Taseq Slope	Karup-Møller et al. (2001)
Kazakhstan
Akmola Region Stepnogorsk Stepnyak group ⓘ Bes-Tyube deposit	Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.)
Russia
Chelyabinsk Oblast Karabash Karabash ophiolite massif Soimon Valley ⓘ Zolotaya Gora Au deposit	Pekov (1998) +4 other references
Kamchatka Krai Koryak Okrug Penzhinsky district ⓘ Ametistovoe deposit (Amethyst Au deposit)	Bortnikov et al. (2023)
Ust-Kamchatsky District ⓘ Olkhovaya–1 River placer	Sandimirova et al. (2014)
Krasnoyarsk Krai Maimecha and Kotui Rivers Basin ⓘ Gulinskii massif (Guli)	Dvorani (2016)
Sakha Northern Yakutia Olenyok (Olenek) river basin West Ukukit kimberlite field ⓘ "Leningrad" kimberlite pipe	Koval'skii et al. (1985) +1 other reference
Sweden
Södermanland County Trosa Långsjön ⓘ Herrsättra	Hålenius et al. (1982)
Värmland County Filipstad Långban Ore District ⓘ Getberg mine
ⓘ Långban Mine	Holtstam et al. (1999)
UK
England County Durham Healeyfield ⓘ Castleside Smelting Mill slag locality	Norman Wilson collection +1 other reference
Scotland Dumfries and Galloway Wanlockhead ⓘ Meadowfoot Smelter slag locality	Rust (2022)
USA
New Jersey Sussex County Franklin ⓘ Franklin Mine	Burke et al. (1988) +1 other reference

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Cuprostibite

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