Tennantite
A sample of tennantite
General
Category	Mineral: sulfosalt
Chemical formula	Cu12As4S13
Identification
Molar mass	1,471.40 gm
Color	Steel gray to iron-gray
Crystal habit	massive to well formed crystals
Crystal system	Cubic
Cleavage	None
Fracture	Hackly
Mohs scale hardness	3½ - 4
Luster	Metallic
Streak	reddish gray
Diaphaneity	Opaque
Density	4.65

Tennantite is a copper arsenic sulfosalt mineral. Its chemical formula is Cu₁₂As₄S₁₃. It is found in hydrothermal veins and contact metamorphic deposits. It is grey-black, steel-gray, iron-gray or black in color. A closely related mineral, tetrahedrite (Cu₁₂Sb₄S₁₃) has antimony substituting for arsenic and the two form a solid solution series. The two have very similar 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).

[edit] See also

• Bornite
• Cuprite
• Tetrahedrite
• List of minerals
• List of minerals named after people

[edit] References

• Min. galleries
• Mindat.org

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