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Richardsite

A valid IMA mineral species
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07092020017657404781025.jpg
Richardsite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
09596730017271953739615.jpg
Richardsite, etc.

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
06261830017271953741964.jpg
Richardsite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
04455810017657125004766.jpg
Richardsite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
06952010017362102609707.jpg
Richardsite, etc.

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
05888820017369644654631.jpg
Richardsite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
07092020017657404781025.jpg
Richardsite

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
09596730017271953739615.jpg
Richardsite, etc.

Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
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About RichardsiteHide

09724200017271953741899.jpg
R. Peter Richards at Mont Saint-Hilaire

Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
Formula:
Zn2CuGaS4
Colour:
Dark grey
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
4.278 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Stannite Group
Name:
Richardsite is named in honor of Dr. R. Peter Richards in recognition of his extensive research and writing on topics related to understanding the genesis of the morphology of minerals.
Unique combination of (species-defining) elements.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
54602
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:54602:1

IMA Classification of RichardsiteHide

Classification of RichardsiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.CB.

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

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

Physical Properties of RichardsiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Dark grey
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
4.278 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of RichardsiteHide

Anisotropism:
Violet to light-blue rotation tints
Bireflectance:
Moderately bireflectant
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
471nm23.5%25.0%
548nm27.4%28.9%
586nm28.1%29.4%
652nm27.7%28.9%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 29.4%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Bluish gray in color
Internal Reflections:
None
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of RichardsiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Zn2CuGaS4
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Zn33.333 %
S32.695 %
Ga17.773 %
Cu16.199 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Zn
S
Ga
Cu
Elements listed:
Cu, Ga, S, Zn - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of RichardsiteHide

Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
42m - Scalenohedral
Space Group:
I42m
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.3626(2) Å, c = 10.5873(5) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.974
Unit Cell V:
304.46 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.084 Å(100)
1.882 Å(40)
1.989 Å(20)
1.614 Å(20)

Geological EnvironmentHide

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 RichardsiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small (50–400 ÎŒm) dark gray, disphenoidal crystals epitaxically oriented on wurtzite–sphalerite crystals pseudo-tetrahedral dispenoidal habit.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Museo di Storia Naturale, UniversitĂ  degli Studi di Firenze, Via La Pira 4, I-50121, Firenze, Italy, catalogue number 3555/I, and the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, 1404 E. Sharon Ave., Houghton, Michigan 49931-1659, USA, catalogue number DM 31876.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
DiopsideGraphiteWurtzite
Reference:
Bindi, Luca, Jaszczak, John A. (2020) Richardsite, Zn2CuGaS4, A New Gallium-Essential Member of the Stannite Group from the Gem Mines near Merelani, Tanzania. Minerals, 10 (5) 467 doi:10.3390/min10050467

Synonyms of RichardsiteHide

Other Language Names for RichardsiteHide

Relationship of Richardsite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Stannite Group
Other Members of Stannite Group:
BriartiteCu2FeGeS4Tet.
ČernĂœiteCu2CdSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
FamatiniteCu3SbS4Tet. 42m : I42m
FerrokësteriteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
HocartiteAg2(Fe2+,Zn)SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
KĂ«steriteCu2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
KeutschiteCu2AgAsS4Tet. 42m : I42m
KuramiteCu3SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
LuzoniteCu3AsS4Tet. 42m : I42m
OmariniiteCu8Fe2ZnGe2S12Orth. 222 : I222
PermingeatiteCu3SbSe4Tet. 42m : I42m
Petrukite(Cu,Fe,Zn,Ag)3(Sn,In)S4Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
PirquitasiteAg2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
StanniteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
StannoiditeCu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12Orth. 222 : I222
'UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn'Cu2Fe2Sn3S7
'Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)'CuZn2InS4
VelikiteCu2HgSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
ZincobriartiteCu2(Zn,Fe)(Ge,Ga)S4Tet. 42m : I42m

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Richardsite associated with SphaleriteZnS
1 photo of Richardsite associated with Wurtzite(Zn,Fe)S

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.CB.OkruginiteCu2SnSe3Mon. m : Bb
2.CB.HanswilkeiteKFeS2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.CB.AuroselenideAuSeMon. 2/m : B2/m
2.CB.Ruizhongite(Ag2◻)Pb3Ge2S8Iso. 43m : I43d
2.CB.AgmantiniteAg2MnSnS4Orth.
2.CB.TolstykhiteAu3S4Te6Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.GachingiteAu(Te1-xSex)Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.05aHawleyiteCdSIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05'UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn'Cu2Fe3Zn5S10
2.CB.05aColoradoiteHgTeIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aMetacinnabarHgSIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aTiemanniteHgSeIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aSphaleriteZnSIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05bSakuraiite(Cu,Zn,Fe)3(In,Sn)S4 Iso.
2.CB.05cPolhemusite(Zn,Hg)STet.
2.CB.05aRudashevskyite(Fe,Zn)SIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aStilleiteZnSeIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aIshiharaite(Cu,Ga,Fe,In,Zn)SIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.07a'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)'Cu2MnSnS4
2.CB.07aShenzhuangiteNiFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10bTalnakhiteCu9(Fe,Ni)8S16Iso. 43m : I43m
2.CB.10bHaycockiteCu4Fe5S8Orth. 222
2.CB.10aLenaiteAgFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10aGalliteCuGaS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10aRoquesiteCuInS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10aEskeborniteCuFeSe2Tet. 42m : P42c
2.CB.10a'UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn'Cu2Fe2Sn3S7
2.CB.10cOmariniiteCu8Fe2ZnGe2S12Orth. 222 : I222
2.CB.10aChalcopyriteCuFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10a'Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)'CuZn2InS4
2.CB.10bMooihoekiteCu9Fe9S16Tet. 42m : P42m
2.CB.10aLaforĂȘtiteAgInS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10bPutoraniteCu1.1Fe1.2S2Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pn3m
2.CB.15aVelikiteCu2HgSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15c'UM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn'Cu8(Fe,Zn)3Ge2S12 (?)
2.CB.15aHocartiteAg2(Fe2+,Zn)SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15aKĂ«steriteCu2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aPirquitasiteAg2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aStanniteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15cStannoiditeCu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12Orth. 222 : I222
2.CB.15bMohiteCu2SnS3Mon.
2.CB.15aČernĂœiteCu2CdSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15aIdaiteCu5FeS6Hex.
2.CB.15aFerrokësteriteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aKuramiteCu3SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.17a v'Arsenic-bearing Renierite'Cu11GeAsFe4S16
2.CB.20MawsoniteCu6Fe2SnS8Tet. 42m : P4m2
2.CB.20ChatkaliteCu6FeSn2S8Tet. 42m : P4m2
2.CB.30'Frieseite'Ag2Fe5S8 (?)
2.CB.30NekrasoviteCu26V2(Sn,As,Sb)6S32Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30'Argyropyrite'near Ag2Fe7S11
2.CB.30MaikainiteCu20(Fe,Cu)6Mo2Ge6S32Iso. m3m(4/m32/m)
2.CB.30ColusiteCu13VAs3S16Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30GermaniteCu13Fe2Ge2S16Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30GermanocolusiteCu26V2(Ge,As)6S32Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.30StibiocolusiteCu13V(Sb,Sn,As)3S16Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.30Ovamboite Cu20(Fe,Cu,Zn)6W2Ge6S32Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.35aMorozeviczite(Pb,Fe)3Ge1-xS4Iso.
2.CB.35aRenierite(Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16Tet. 42m : P42c
2.CB.35aHemusiteCu6SnMoS8Iso.
2.CB.35bCatamarcaiteCu6GeWS8Hex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.35aVincienniteCu+7Cu2+3Fe2+2Fe3+2Sn(As,Sb)S16Tet.
2.CB.35aKiddcreekiteCu6SnWS8Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.35aPolkovicite(Fe,Pb)3(Ge,Fe)1-xS4Iso.
2.CB.40LautiteCuAsSOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.CB.42LingbaoiteAgTe3Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.45CadmoseliteCdSeHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45RambergiteMnSHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45Buseckite(Fe,Zn,Mn)SHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45MaletoyvayamiteAu3Se4Te6Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.45GreenockiteCdSHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45Wurtzite(Zn,Fe)SHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.47MurchisiteCr5S6Trig. 3m(32/m) : P31c
2.CB.50'Zincselenide'ZnSe
2.CB.50WassoniteTiSTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
2.CB.52'Dzhezkazganite'ReMoCu2PbS6 ?Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.55bIsocubaniteCuFe2S3Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.CB.55aCubaniteCuFe2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.60RaguiniteTlFeS2Orth.
2.CB.60PicotpauliteTlFe2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
2.CB.65ArgentopyriteAgFe2S3Mon. 2/m
2.CB.65SternbergiteAgFe2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.70SulvaniteCu3VS4Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.75VulcaniteCuTeOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.80EmpressiteAgTeOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.85MuthmanniteAuAgTe2Mon. 2/m : P2/m

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 RichardsiteHide

References for RichardsiteHide

Localities for RichardsiteHide

Showing 2 localities.

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

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - 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.
Namibia
 
  • Oshikoto Region
    • Tsumeb
Desor (12/2020)
Tanzania (TL)
 
  • Manyara Region
    • Simanjiro District
      • Lelatema Mountains
Bindi +1 other reference
Quick NavTopAbout RichardsiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
 
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