Domeykite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Domeykite
Ignacy Domeyko
Formula:
Cu3As
Colour:
Tin-white, steel-grey
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3 - 3½
Specific Gravity:
7.2 - 7.9
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named by Wilhelm Haidinger in 1845 in honor of the Polish mineralogist Ignacy "Ignacio" Domeyko [July 31, 1802 Niedźwiadka Wielka, Russian partition of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (later part of Karelichy district, Belarus) - January 23, 1889 Santiago, Chile] who fled to Chile in the 1830s from France, after the invasion of his native country. Domeyko was professor of mineralogy at the Mining School at La Sarena, Coquimbo, Chile in 1838 and was professor at University of Chile in 1847. From 1867 to 1883, Domeyko was the head (rector) of the University of Chile.
Dimorph of:
Isostructural with:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1306
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1306:8
IMA Classification of Domeykite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1845
Classification of Domeykite
2.AA.10b
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
A : Alloys
A : Alloys of metalloids with Cu, Ag, Au
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
A : Alloys
A : Alloys of metalloids with Cu, Ag, Au
2.2.2.1
2 : SULFIDES
2 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:1
2 : SULFIDES
2 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:1
1.37
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Do | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Do | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Domeykite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Tin-white, steel-grey
Comment:
Tarnishes yellowish, then brownish, finally iridescent.
Hardness:
3 - 3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=213 - 235 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
7.2 - 7.9 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.86 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Domeykite
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) |
|---|---|
| 400nm | 41.1% |
| 420nm | 41.4% |
| 440nm | 41.7% |
| 460nm | 43.1% |
| 480nm | 45.2% |
| 500nm | 47.5% |
| 520nm | 49.3% |
| 540nm | 50.7% |
| 560nm | 52.2% |
| 580nm | 53.6% |
| 600nm | 54.5% |
| 620nm | 54.9% |
| 640nm | 54.8% |
| 660nm | 54.6% |
| 680nm | 54.4% |
| 700nm | 54.6% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 54.9%.
Chemistry of Domeykite
Mindat Formula:
Cu3As
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Sb,S
Crystallography of Domeykite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:
I4 3d
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.62 Å
Unit Cell V:
890.28 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
16
Morphology:
Reniform, botyroidal, massive.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010794 | Domeykite | Iglesias J E, Nowacki W (1977) Refinement of the crystal structure of alpha domeykite, a structure related to the A15 type Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 145 334-345 |  | 1977 | Mohawk No. 2 mine, Keweenaw County, Michigan, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0017892 | Domeykite | Steenberg B (1938) The crystal structure of Cu3As and Cu3P _cod_database_code 1010975 Arkiv for Kemi, Mineralogi och Geologi A12 1-15 | 1938 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017898 | Domeykite | Steenberg B (1938) The crystal structure of Cu3As and Cu3P _cod_database_code 1010982 Arkiv for Kemi, Mineralogi och Geologi A12 1-15 | 1938 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.05 Å | (100) |
| 1.888 Å | (70) |
| 1.965 Å | (50) |
| 1.308 Å | (50) |
| 3.95 Å | (40) |
| 3.05 Å | (40) |
| 2.15 Å | (40) |
Comments:
Keweenaw Co., Michigan, USA.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Geological Setting:
Hydrothermal veins
Type Occurrence of Domeykite
Synonyms of Domeykite
Other Language Names for Domeykite
Varieties of Domeykite
| Argentodomeykite | An artificial, Ag-bearing variety of domeykite. |
| Stibiodomeykite | An Sb-bearing variety of domeykite. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 51 photos of Domeykite associated with Cuprite | Cu2O |
| 44 photos of Domeykite associated with Nickeline | NiAs |
| 41 photos of Domeykite associated with Koutekite | Cu5As2 |
| 35 photos of Domeykite associated with Rammelsbergite | NiAs2 |
| 29 photos of Domeykite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 26 photos of Domeykite associated with Algodonite | (Cu1-xAsx) |
| 23 photos of Domeykite associated with Native Copper | Cu |
| 22 photos of Domeykite associated with Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| 20 photos of Domeykite associated with Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| 19 photos of Domeykite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.AA. | Trigodomeykite | Cu3-xAs |
| 2.AA.10a | Algodonite | (Cu1-xAsx) |
| 2.AA.10d | Koutekite | Cu5As2 |
| 2.AA.15 | Novákite | (Cu,Ag)21As10 |
| 2.AA.20 | Cuprostibite | Cu2(Sb,Tl) |
| 2.AA.25 | Kutinaite | Ag6Cu14As7 |
| 2.AA.30 | Allargentum | (Ag1-xSbx) |
| 2.AA.35 | Dyscrasite | Ag3Sb |
| 2.AA.40 | Maldonite | Au2Bi |
| 2.AA.45 | Stistaite | SnSb |
| 2.AA.50 | Zaccariniite | RhNiAs |
| 2.AA.55 | Dienerite | Ni3As |
Other Information
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 Domeykite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1306.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
References for Domeykite
Reference List:
König, G. A.; Wright, F. Ε. (1904) Ueber die künstliche Darstellung von Krystallen des Mohawkits, des Domeykits, des Argentodomeykits, des Stibiodomeykits, des Keweenawits und anderer Arsenide. Zeitschrift für Krystallographie, 38 (1). 529-554 doi:10.1524/zkri.1904.38.1.529
Heyding, R. D., Despault, G. J. G. (1960) The copper/arsenic system and the copper arsenide minerals. Canadian Journal of Chemistry, 38 (12). 2477-2481 doi:10.1139/v60-335
Berry, L. G., Thompson, R. M. (1962) X-Ray Powder Data for Ore Minerals: the Peacock Atlas. GSA Memoir 85. Geological Society of America doi:10.1130/mem85p.30
Skinner, Brian J., Luce, Frederick D. (1971) Stabilities and compositions of alpha-domeykite and algodonite. Economic Geology, 66 (1). 133-139 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.66.1.133
Localities for Domeykite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Brodtkorb (2002) |
Australia | |
| Habibi et al. (2025) |
Austria | |
| Leitner (2013) |
| Raith et al. (2015) | |
| Jarlowsky (1964) +2 other references | |
| Paar et al. (1979) | |
| Paar et al. (1979) | |
Bolivia | |
| J. T. Singewald Jr. & Edward Berry (1922) +2 other references |
| J. T. Singewald Jr. & Edward Berry (1922) | |
| Geology and Mineral Resources of the Altiplano and Cordillera Occidental (USGS Bulletin no. 1975) | |
Canada | |
| "Geology of New Brunswick: field guide ... |
| Sabina (1967) | |
| Harris et al. (1985) |
| - (1905) |
| Sessional papers (1908) +1 other reference |
Chile | |
| sample analysed by Tony Kampf |
| Handb.best.Mineral. (1845) |
| I. Domeyko collection Mineralogical ... +1 other reference |
| "Informe sobre las minas de plata ... +1 other reference | |
| "Informe sobre las minas de plata ... +1 other reference | |
| Samples analysed by Tony Kampf of LAC ... +1 other reference |
| W. Haidinger (1845) |
China | |
| Lina Peng et al. (2009) |
Czech Republic | |
| Černý |
France | |
| Périchaud (1968) |
| Dal Bo et al. (2018) |
| Pierrot et al. (1974) +6 other references |
| R. Pierrot |
Germany | |
| Lorenz (1998) +1 other reference |
| |
| Mineralienatlas |
| analysis by Dr. G. Müller +1 other reference |
| G. Müller |
| Markus Gerstmann - Collection +1 other reference |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll: Minerals of Rudabánya |
India | |
| Singh et al. (2002) |
Iran | |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Tarkian et al. (1983) +3 other references | |
Italy | |
| Balestra (2016) |
| Palenzona A. (1991) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Evseev (1995) |
| Satpaeva (2006) |
Mexico | |
| Natural History Museum Vienna collection (catalogued in 19th century) +1 other reference |
Namibia | |
| Ettler et al. (2009) |
New Zealand | |
| Railton et al. (1990) |
Poland | |
| Kozłowski et al. (2024) |
| Kozłowski et al. (2024) | |
| Kozłowski et al. (2024) | |
Russia | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data of ... |
| Grant et al. (2001) |
| Shadchin et al. (2024) |
Serbia | |
| Radosavljević-Mihajlović et al. (2017) |
Sweden | |
| Holtstam et al. (1999) |
| Gatedal et al. (2003) | |
| |
| Gatedal (n.d.) | |
| Nysten (1984) +1 other reference |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
UK | |
| Dana 6:44 +2 other references |
| Lapis 11 (2) |
| Phillips (1823) |
| from XRD and EPMA results - B. Smith |
| Ixer et al. (2005) |
USA | |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) |
| |
| Morris (1983) |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) |
| Dana 7:I:172. | |
| Morris (1983) |
| Morris (1983) |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) | |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) | |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) | |
| USGS PP144 | |
| USGS PP144 | |
| Dana 6:1086. | |
| Rocks & Min.: 21:664. |
| Morris (1983) |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) |
| |
| Norman King Collection | |
| USGS PP144 |
| R&M 74:3 p160-176 |
| Burke et al. (1988) +1 other reference |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) | |
| Northrop et al. (1996) | |
| Bullock (1981) |
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Franklin Mine, Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA