Stannite

stannite

cylindrite

bismuthinite

semseyite

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Formula: Cu2FeSnS4
Sulphide, stannite group
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Specific gravity: 4.3 to 4.5 measured, 4.49 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: Black
Colour: Grey, black with an olive-green tint, tarnishes pale blue
Common impurities: Ag,Zn,Cd,In
Environments:

Hydrothermal environments

Stannite occurs widely in tin-bearing hydrothermal vein deposits, (Webmin, Dana, HOM) associated with chalcopyrite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, cassiterite and wolframite (material intermediate between hübnerite and ferberite) (HOM).

At the San Jose mine, Oruro, Bolivia, andorite crystals perched on stannite crystals are found as floaters anclosed in acicular boulangerite (MinRec 37.3.242).

At Llallagua, Potosi, Bolivia, stannite is not common, but it does form good cryatls. It is associated with sphalerite and sometimes replaces it, and also is commonly associated with franckeite and cylindrite (MinRec 27.2.152-153).

At Yaogangxian, Hunan, China, stannite sometimes occurs well crystallised on quartz, and is associated with all other sulphides in the deposit; these include arsenopyrite, berthierite, bismuthinite, bornite, boulangerite, bournonite, chalcopyrite, galena, jamesonite, marcasite, molybdenite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, semseyite, sphalerite, stibnite and tetrahedrite (R&M 80.1.56, MinRec 42.6.594-597).

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