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Click on a
letter above to view the list of gems. |
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| Chemistry:
CuFe2S3
[Copper
Iron Sulfide] | Discovered
in 1843;
IMA
status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered). Cubanite
is named for its discovery in Cuba. |
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Classification
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Mineral
Classification: |
Sulfides |
Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
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2/C.14-20
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Nickel-Strunz 10th
Ed. ID:
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2.CB.55a |
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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.
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Related
to: |
Cubanite
Series. Dimorph of Isocubanite.
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Crystal
Data
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Crystallography:
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Orthorhombic
- Dipyramidal
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Crystal
Habit:
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Crystals
thick tabular; striated, to 3 cm; also massive.
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Twinning:
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Common
with twin plane [110], in pairs, also as fourlings and
sixlings; then pseudohexagonal.
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Physical
Properties
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Cleavage: |
None;
Parting on [110] and [130]
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Fracture: |
Conchoidal
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Tenacity:
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Brittle
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Hardness
(Mohs): |
3.5
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Density:
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4.03
- 4.18 (g/cm3)
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Luminescence:
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None |
Radioactivity:
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Not
Radioactive
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Other: |
Strongly
magnetic
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Optical
Properties
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Color: |
Brass
Yellow, Bronze Yellow
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Transparency: |
Opaque |
Luster: |
Metallic |
Refractive
Index: |
n/a
(Opaque)
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Birefringence: |
n/a
(Opaque)
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Dispersion: |
n/a
(Opaque)
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Pleochroism: |
n/a
(Opaque)
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Anisotrophism: |
Distinctive
on polished surfaces
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Occurances
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Geological
Setting: |
In
hydrothermal deposits formed at relatively high temperature,
in pyrrhotite–pentlandite ores in which it commonly
occurs as intimate oriented intergrowths with chalcopyrite.
Cubanite may exsolve from chalcopyrite below about 200°
C – 210° C. A rare constituent of some carbonaceous
chondrite meteorites. |
Common
Associations: |
Chalcopyrite,
Gold, Pentlandite, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite |
Type
Locality: |
Barracanao, Cuba |
Year
Discovered: |
1843
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View
mineral photos: |
Cubanite
Mineral Photos and Locations |
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More
Information
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|
Mindat.org Webmineral.com |
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Cubanite
(also known as "Chalmersite") is a rare copper mineral and
a very rare gem. It is opaque with a bright metallic
luster and very striking brassy to bronzey color. It
is a minor ore of copper and often associated with
other copper ores such as Chalcopyrite and also associated
with Gold in some Gold mines.
Notable occurrences of
Cubanite include Barracanao, Cuba; Morro Velho gold mine,
Minas Gerais, Brazil; Harz Mountains, Germany and the Henderson Mine, Chibougamau,
Quebec, Canada.
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Cubanite
gems for sale:
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Gem:
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Cubanite |
Stock
#:
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CUBAN-001 |
Weight:
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0.1785
ct |
Size: |
3.50 x 1.89 mm |
Shape: |
Round |
Color: |
Brass
Yellow |
Clarity: |
Opaque |
Origin: |
Chibougamau,
Quebec, Canada |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
SOLD
(but we have others) |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
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|
This
rare gem is a very bright, brassy yellow and is from
the Henderson Mine, Chibougamau, Quebec,
Canada.
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