Tennantite
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TennantiteUSGOV.jpg
TennantiteUSGOV.jpg
Tennantite is a copper arsenic sulfide mineral. Its chemical formula is Cu12As4S13. It is found in hydrothermal veins and contact metamorphic deposits. A closely related mineral, tetrahedrite (Cu12Sb4S13) has antimony substituting for arsenic and the two form a solid solution series. The two have very similiar properties and is often difficult to distinguish between tennantite and tetrahedrite. Iron, zinc, and silver substitute up to about 15% for the copper site.
The mineral was named after the English chemist Smithson Tennant (1761-1815).
References
- Min. galleries (http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/tennanti/tennanti.htm)
- Mindat.org (http://www.mindat.org/min-3911.html)Template:Mineral-stub