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⇱ Roxbyite: Mineral information, data and localities.

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Roxbyite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About RoxbyiteHide

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Formula:
Cu58S32
Formula from crystal-structure determination (Mumme et al., 2012); previously given as Cu9S5. Note that iron is probably an essential component needed to stabilise the structure, with most electron microprobe analyses yielding 0.5-1 wt% Fe.
Colour:
Blue-black to black
Lustre:
Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named after its discovery locality: Olympic Dam deposit, Roxby Downs, South Australia, Australia.
A low-temperature alteration product of djurleite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

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Mindat ID:
3468
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3468:1

IMA Classification of RoxbyiteHide

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Approved
IMA Formula:
Cu9S5
Approval year:
1986
First published:
1988

Classification of RoxbyiteHide

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2.BA.05

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
2.4.7.4

2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
3.1.5

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
1 : Sulphides etc. of Cu

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

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

Physical Properties of RoxbyiteHide

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Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Blue-black to black
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
{100}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Step-Like
Comment:
Density not determined or calculated

Chemistry of RoxbyiteHide

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Mindat Formula:
Cu58S32

Formula from crystal-structure determination (Mumme et al., 2012); previously given as Cu9S5. Note that iron is probably an essential component needed to stabilise the structure, with most electron microprobe analyses yielding 0.5-1 wt% Fe.
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Cu78.223 %
S21.777 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Common Impurities:
Fe

Crystallography of RoxbyiteHide

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Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.4051(9) Å, b = 13.4090(8) Å, c = 15.4852(3) Å
α = 90.022(2)°, β = 90.021(2)°, γ = 90.020(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1 : 1 : 1.155
Unit Cell V:
2,783.45 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
As single crystals, to 0.01 mm, epitaxially intergrown with djurleite; in powdery mixtures with djurleite.
Comment:
Pseudo-monoclinic, with pseudo-space group C2/m, Cm or C2, and a = 53.79, b = 30.90, c = 13.36 Å, beta = 90°. Type material is complexly twinned in six sectors.

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0019199RoxbyiteMumme W G, Gable R W, Petricek V (2012) The crystal structure of roxbyite, Cu58S32 The Canadian Mineralogist 50 423-4302012Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs, Australia0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
4.82 Å(10)
4.24 Å(15)
3.90 Å(5)
3.35 Å(55)
3.16 Å(5)
3.00 Å(30)
2.862 Å(60)
2.628 Å(45)
2.532 Å(15)
2.451 Å(15)
2.372 Å(85)
2.299 Å(10)
2.239 Å(10)
2.174 Å(15)
2.121 Å(10)
1.934 Å(100)
1.894 Å(10)
1.859 Å(90)
1.794 Å(10)
1.675 Å(30)
1.652 Å(10)
1.628 Å(25)
1.581 Å(5)
Comments:
From Mumme et al. (2012).

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere>4.45
12 : Hadean hydrothermal subsurface sulfide deposits (see also #33)

Type Occurrence of RoxbyiteHide

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General Appearance of Type Material:
Mixture with djurleite. Small single crystals with dimensions up to 0.01 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
1) Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, M37924.
2) The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1988,28.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Stratabound bornite-chalcopyrite-pyrite mineralization and djurleite-bornite-roxbyite lenses and cross cutting veins.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of RoxbyiteHide

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Other Language Names for RoxbyiteHide

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Dutch:Roxbyiet
German:Roxbyit
Simplified Chinese:五硫铜矿
Spanish:Roxbyita

Relationship of Roxbyite to other SpeciesHide

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Other Members of Chalcocite-Digenite Group:
ChalcociteCu2SMon. 2/m : P21/b
DigeniteCu9S5Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
DjurleiteCu31S16Mon. 2/m
YarrowiteCu9S8Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
Structurally related to group(s):

Common AssociatesHide

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Associations Based on Photo Data:
11 photos of Roxbyite associated with AllactiteMn2+7(AsO4)2(OH)8
4 photos of Roxbyite associated with Native CopperCu
4 photos of Roxbyite associated with 'Sericite'KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
2 photos of Roxbyite associated with YarrowiteCu9S8
2 photos of Roxbyite associated with PyriteFeS2
2 photos of Roxbyite associated with FluoriteCaF2
2 photos of Roxbyite associated with DjurleiteCu31S16
1 photo of Roxbyite associated with SpionkopiteCu39S28
1 photo of Roxbyite associated with AniliteCu7S4
1 photo of Roxbyite associated with BorniteCu5FeS4

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

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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.05DjurleiteCu31S16Mon. 2/m
2.BA.05GeeriteCu8S5Trig. 3
2.BA.05ChalcociteCu2SMon. 2/m : P21/b
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.47Spiridonovite(Cu1-xAgx)2TeTrig. 3m(32/m) : P3c1
2.BA.50WuyanzhiiteCu2STet. 422 : P43212
2.BA.50EucairiteAgCuSeOrth.
2.BA.52'Argentite'Ag2SIso.
2.BA.55NaumanniteAg2SeOrth. 222 : P212121
2.BA.55AguilariteAg4SeSMon. 2/m
2.BA.60ChenguodaiteAg9Fe3+Te2S4Orth.
2.BA.60HessiteAg2TeMon. 2/m : P21/b
2.BA.60CervelleiteAg4TeSMon. 2/m
2.BA.65Henryite(Cu,Ag)3+xTe2 , with x ~ 0.40 Iso. 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.

Fluorescence of RoxbyiteHide

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Not fluorescent in UV

Other InformationHide

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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 RoxbyiteHide

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mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3468.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

References for RoxbyiteHide

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Localities for RoxbyiteHide

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Showing 44 localities.

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

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👁 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.
Atlantic Ocean
  • Mid-Atlantic Ridge complex
    • Ashadze hydrothermal area
Firstova et al. (2016)
Gablina et al. (2006)
Gablina et al. (2017)
Gablina et al. (2018)
    • Semenov region
Firstova et al. (2019)
Australia
  • New South Wales
    • Robinson Co.
      • Cobar
Chapman et al. (2005) +1 other reference
  • South Australia
    • Pastoral Unincorporated Area
      • Olympic Dam
MM 1988 +1 other reference
  • Tasmania
    • Break O'Day municipality
      • Scamander mining district
Bottrill et al. (2008)
Canada
  • Nova Scotia
    • Colchester Co.
Sabina (2015) +1 other reference
    • Lunenburg Co.
      • New Ross
Sabina (2015) +1 other reference
  • Québec
    • Montérégie
      • La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM
        • Mont Saint-Hilaire
Horváth et al. (2019)
Chile
  • O'Higgins
    • Cachapoal Province
      • Rancagua
        • El Teniente
Clarck (1972)
Czech Republic
  • Central Bohemian Region
    • Příbram District
      • Vrančice
Kohout et al. (1995)
  • Karlovy Vary Region
Ondruš et al. (2003)
  • Liberec Region
    • Semily District
      • Košťálov
Malec J. et al.: Jacutingait (podkrkonošská pánev)
  • Ústí nad Labem Region
    • Chomutov District
      • Měděnec
Hyrsl et al. (2009)
Sejkora et al. (2021)
Ecuador
  • Galápagos Province
Embley et al. (1988) +1 other reference
Europe
Svetla Atanassova
Finland
  • Lapland
    • Penikat complex
      • Sompujärvi Reef
Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 1663-1686.
Germany
  • Baden-Württemberg
    • Freiburg Region
      • Ortenaukreis
        • Oberwolfach
Schimak et al. (05/21)
  • Saxony
    • Görlitz District
      • Görlitz
        • Ludwigsdorf
Witzke et al. (2006)
Hungary
  • Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County
    • Kazincbarcika District
      • Rudabánya
GEODA 2010/1 +1 other reference
Iran
  • East Azerbaijan Province
    • Shabestar County
Sadati et al. (2016)
Italy
  • Sardinia
    • South Sardinia Province
      • Gonnesa
De Caro et al. (2023)
Japan
  • Niigata Prefecture
    • Higashikambara District
      • Aga
Yamada (2002)
Kazakhstan
  • Karaganda Region
In the collection of Brent Thorne. ...
  • Pavlodar Region
    • Bayanaul District
Pavel M. Kartashov XRD diagnostic
Namibia
  • Oshikoto Region
    • Tsumeb
Blaß et al. (2009)
Papua New Guinea
  • Central Province
    • Astrolabe mineral field
Noku et al. (2012)
Peru
  • Moquegua
    • Mariscal Nieto Province
      • Tala
Clark et al. (1990)
  • Tacna
    • Jorge Basadre Province
      • Ilabaya
Clark et al. (1990) +1 other reference
Poland
  • Lower Silesian Voivodeship
    • Kłodzko County
      • Gmina Nowa Ruda
        • Przygórze
Kruszewski et al. (2019)
    • Polkowice County
      • Gmina Radwanice
        • Sieroszowice
Chmielewski et al. (2022)
  • Lubusz Voivodeship
    • Nowa Sól County
Oszczepalski et al. (2017)
Russia
  • Magadan Oblast
    • Srednekansky District
Savva et al. (2023)
  • Sakha
    • Aldan
Nenasheva et al. (2011)
Slovakia
  • Prešov Region
    • Kozie Chrbty Mountains (Vikartovský ridge)
      • Spišská Teplica
Ferenc et al. (2020)
Spain
  • Asturias
    • Belmonte de Miranda
Mesa et al. (2002)
Switzerland
  • Valais
    • Sierre
      • Anniviers
        • Saint-Luc
Ansermet (2012)
Turkey
  • Antalya Province
    • Kaş District
Basciano et al. (1998)
UK
  • Scotland
    • Highland
      • Loch Kishorn
Faithfull et al. (2012)
  • Wales
    • Powys
      • Old Radnor
Cotterell et al. (2011)
USA
  • New Jersey
    • Sussex County
      • Ogdensburg
        • Sterling Hill
Modris Baum collection - Travis Olds ... +1 other reference
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