Tennantite

Formula: (Cu,Fe)12As4S13

Origin of name: for Smithson Tennant, British chemist

 

Crystal system: cubic

Crystal class: -43m

Twinning: on {111} contact or penetration

Unit cell: a = 10.19 Å

 

Colour: steel-gray to iron-black

Diaphaneity: 

Luster: metallic, sometimes splendent

Habit: crystals tetrahedral, often modified, twinned, massive, coarse granular to compact

Hardness: 3 to 4.5

Specific gravity: 4.59 to 4.75

Cleavage: none

Tenacity: subconchoidal to uneven, brittle

Streak: black to brown

 

Synonyms/varieties: binnite, fahlerz, fahlore

 

Comments: series with tetrahedrite and with freibergite

 

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