Tennantite-(Zn)
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Tennantite-(Zn)
Formula:
Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12S
Lustre:
Metallic
Crystal System:
Isometric
Member of:
Name:
Named during a reclassification of the tetrahedrite group (IMA proposal 18-K, detailed in Biagioni et al. (2020)). The type material proposed by Biagioni et al. was previously named binnite.
Type Locality:
A new group member added due to the acceptance of the IMA 18-K proposal.
Less common than tennantite-(Fe) with which it forms a complete solid-solution series.
Compare, e.g., UM2001-13-S:AsCuSbZn.
Less common than tennantite-(Fe) with which it forms a complete solid-solution series.
Compare, e.g., UM2001-13-S:AsCuSbZn.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
53582
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:53582:1
IMA Classification of Tennantite-(Zn)
Classification of Tennantite-(Zn)
2.GB.05
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
B : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. with additional S
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
B : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. with additional S
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tnt-Zn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Tnt | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
| Tn | 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 Tennantite-(Zn)
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Chemistry of Tennantite-(Zn)
Mindat Formula:
Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12S
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Tennantite-(Zn)
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:
I4 3m
Comment:
By analogy with other members of Tetrahedrite group
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Tennantite-(Zn)
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
The Mineralogical Institute of the University of Bern, Switzerland, L2120.
Synonyms of Tennantite-(Zn)
Other Language Names for Tennantite-(Zn)
Dutch:Tennantiet-(Zn)
German:Tennantit-(Zn)
Varieties of Tennantite-(Zn)
| Binnite (of Des Cloizeaux) | Multi-faceted, rounded variety of tennantite-(Zn) from the Lengenbach deposit, Binn valley (Switzerland). Note: practically all "tennantite" from Lengenbach is tennantite-(Zn); tennantite-(Fe) is extremely rare. |
Relationship of Tennantite-(Zn) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Tennantite Subgroup:
| Tennantite-(Cd) | Cu6(Cu4Cd2)As4S12S | Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m |
| Tennantite-(Cu) | Cu6(Cu4Cu2)As4S12S | Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m |
| Tennantite-(Fe) | Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)As4S12S | Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m |
| Tennantite-(Hg) | Cu6(Cu4Hg2)As4S12S | Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m |
| Tennantite-(In) | Cu6(Cu4(In3+Cu+))As4S12S | Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m |
| Tennantite-(Mn) | Cu6(Cu4Mn2)As4S12S | Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m |
| Tennantite-(Ni) | Cu6(Cu4Ni2)As4S12S | Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 23 photos of Tennantite-(Zn) associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 20 photos of Tennantite-(Zn) associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 15 photos of Tennantite-(Zn) associated with Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| 14 photos of Tennantite-(Zn) associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 14 photos of Tennantite-(Zn) associated with Enargite | Cu3AsS4 |
| 12 photos of Tennantite-(Zn) associated with Renierite | (Cu1+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16 |
| 11 photos of Tennantite-(Zn) associated with Franklinite | Zn2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 11 photos of Tennantite-(Zn) associated with Galena | PbS |
| 11 photos of Tennantite-(Zn) associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 11 photos of Tennantite-(Zn) associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.GB. | Polybasite-Tac | [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| 2.GB. | Kenoargentotetrahedrite-(Zn) | [Ag6]4+(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S12◻ |
| 2.GB. | Argentotetrahedrite-(Hg) | Ag6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Annivite-(Zn) | Cu6(Cu4Zn2)Bi4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Pošepnýite | (Cu+3◻3)(Hg2+4Cu+2)Sb4Se12(Se0.5◻0.5) |
| 2.GB. | Tennantite-(Cu) | Cu6(Cu4Cu2)As4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Argentopolybasite | [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9AgS4] |
| 2.GB. | Tennantite-(Mn) | Cu6(Cu4Mn2)As4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Argentotetrahedrite-(Cd) | Ag6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Stibioústalečite | (Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(Sb2Te2)Se12Se |
| 2.GB. | Stibiogoldfieldite | (Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(Sb2Te2)S12S |
| 2.GB. | Argentotetrahedrite-(Zn) | Ag6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Tetrahedrite-(Cd) | Cu6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Arsenogoldfieldite | (Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(As2Te2)S12S |
| 2.GB. | Arsenoústalečite | (Cu4Cu2)(Cu4Cu+2)(As2Te2)Se12Se |
| 2.GB. | Tennantite-(In) | Cu6(Cu4(In3+Cu+))As4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Zvěstovite-(Fe) | Ag6(Ag4Fe2+2)As4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Hakite-(Fe) | Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)Sb4Se12Se |
| 2.GB. | Tennantite-(Cd) | Cu6(Cu4Cd2)As4S12S |
| 2.GB.X | Kenorozhdestvenskayaite-(Fe) | [Ag6]4+(Ag4Fe2+2)Sb4S12◻ |
| 2.GB. | Tetrahedrite-(Cu) | Cu6(Cu4Cu2+2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Hakite-(Zn) | Cu6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4Se12Se |
| 2.GB. | Zvěstovite-(Zn) | Ag6(Ag4Zn2)As4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Hakite-(Cd) | Cu6(Cu4Cd2)Sb4Se12Se |
| 2.GB. | Kenoargentotennantite-(Fe) | [Ag6]4+(Cu4Fe2)As4S12◻ |
| 2.GB. | Tennantite-(Hg) | Cu6(Cu4Hg2)As4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Tetrahedrite-(Mn) | Cu6(Cu4Mn2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Tennantite-(Ni) | Cu6(Cu4Ni2)As4S12S |
| 2.GB. | Tetrahedrite-(Ni) | Cu6(Cu4Ni2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB.05 | Hakite-(Hg) | Cu6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4Se12Se |
| 2.GB.05 | Rozhdestvenskayaite-(Zn) | Ag6(Ag4Zn2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB.05 | Argentotennantite-(Zn) | Ag6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12S |
| 2.GB.05 | Argentotennantite-(Fe) | Ag6(Cu4Fe2)As4S12S |
| 2.GB.05 | Freibergite Subgroup | (Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1 |
| 2.GB.05 | Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
| 2.GB.05 | Tetrahedrite-(Zn) | Cu6(Cu4Zn2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB.05 | Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB.05 | Tennantite-(Fe) | Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)As4S12S |
| 2.GB.05 | Tetrahedrite-(Fe) | Cu6(Cu4Fe2+2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB.05 | Tetrahedrite-(Hg) | Cu6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB.05 | Kenoargentotetrahedrite-(Fe) | [Ag6]4+(Cu4Fe2+2)Sb4S12◻ |
| 2.GB.05 | Giraudite-(Zn) | Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4Se12Se |
| 2.GB.05 | Argentotetrahedrite-(Fe) | Ag6(Cu4Fe2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB.05 | Goldfieldite | (Cu4◻2)(Cu4Cu+2)Te4S12S |
| 2.GB.05 | UM1992-21-S:AgFeSb | Ag6(Ag4Fe2+2)Sb4S12S |
| 2.GB.10 | Selenostephanite | Ag5SbSe4 |
| 2.GB.10 | Stephanite | Ag5SbS4 |
| 2.GB.15 | UM2003-14-S:AgBiFeTe | Ag16FeBiTe3S8 |
| 2.GB.15 | UM1979-17-S:BiCuFe | ~Cu18Fe4BiS16 |
| 2.GB.15 | Pearceite | [Ag6As2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| 2.GB.15 | Argentopearceite | Ag16As2S11 |
| 2.GB.15 | Cupropolybasite | [Cu6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| 2.GB.15 | Fengruiite | [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS2Te2] |
| 2.GB.15 | Auropearceite | [Ag9AuS4][Ag6As2S7] |
| 2.GB.15 | Selenopolybasite | [(Ag,Cu)6(Sb,As)2(S,Se)7][Ag9Cu(S,Se)2Se2] |
| 2.GB.15 | Polybasite | [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| 2.GB.15 | Auropolybasite | [Ag9AuS4][Ag6Sb2S7] |
| 2.GB.15 | Cupropearceite | [Cu6As2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| 2.GB.20 | Vorontsovite | (Hg5Cu)Σ6TlAs4S12 |
| 2.GB.20 | Ferrovorontsovite | (Fe5Cu)Σ6TlAs4S12 |
| 2.GB.20 | Galkhaite | (Hg5Cu)CsAs4S12 |
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 Tennantite-(Zn)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-53582.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
References for Tennantite-(Zn)
Reference List:
Wuensch, B. J.; Takéuchi, Y.; Nowacki, W. (1966) Refinement of the crystal structure of binnite, Cu12As4S13. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 123 (1). 1-20 doi:10.1524/zkri.1966.123.16.1 (as binnite)
Localities for Tennantite-(Zn)
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 | |
| Yaciuk et al. (2021) |
| Yaciuk et al. (2021) | |
| Márquez-Zavalía et al. (2020) | |
| Márquez-Zavalía et al. (2020) | |
| Honnorez-Guerstein (1971) |
Austria | |
| Taucher (1998) |
| Kolitsch (2017) |
| Kolitsch et al. (2018) |
| Kolitsch (2018) |
Bolivia | |
| Velebil et al. (2023) |
| Velebil et al. (2023) |
Bulgaria | |
| Nikolova et al. (2019) |
Canada | |
| Richard Gunter Collection. +1 other reference |
Chile | |
| SEM-EDS by Joy Desor |
| SEM-EDS by Joy Desor | |
China | |
| Wei +5 other references |
| Gu et al. (2025) |
| Shen (n.d.) |
| Sun et al. (2024) | |
| Li et al. (2020) |
Czech Republic | |
| Sejkora et al. (2021) |
| Sejkora et al. (2021) |
| Desor (04/2022) |
| Sejkora et al. (2025) |
| Pauliš et al. (2020) |
DR Congo | |
| Matthias Boehringer collection |
France | |
| Georges FAVREAU collection and EDX ... |
| Favreau et al. (2024) |
| Favreau et al. (2024) | |
| Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX ... +1 other reference | |
Germany | |
| SEM-EDS by Joy Desor +1 other reference |
| Staude +4 other references |
| SEM-EDS by Joy Desor |
| Hartmut Hensel Collection |
| Desor (05/2020) |
Greece | |
| Voudouris et al. (2008) |
| Melfos et al. (2025) |
Indonesia | |
| Jean-Francois Carpentier Collection |
Ireland | |
| Frenzel et al. (2025) |
Italy | |
| C. Balestra |
| Gentile et al. (2023) |
| Italo Campostrini collection |
| Niedermayr et al. (1983) +1 other reference |
| SEM-EDS Bologna University |
Kosovo | |
| Mederski et al. (2024) |
| Mederski et al. (2021) |
Mexico | |
| RUFF Database - RUFF I.D : R050438 |
Namibia | |
| SEM-EDS by Joy Desor |
Norway | |
| Husdal (2021) |
| Larsen et al. (2020) |
Peru | |
| Velebil et al. (2021) |
| rruff.info (n.d.) |
| Velebil et al. (2021) |
Poland | |
| Muszyński et al. (2023) |
| Muszyński et al. (2023) | |
Russia | |
| webmineral.ru (2020) |
| Kasatkin et al. (2025) | |
| Vikentyev et al. (2025) |
| Kozlov et al. (n.d.) |
| Nenasheva et al. (2011) |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Kasatkin et al. (2021) +1 other reference |
| Kuzhuget et al. (2020) |
| Kuzhuget et al. (2022) |
| Sejkora et al. (2021) |
| Kuzhuget et al. (2022) |
| R. V. Kuzhuget et al. (2017) | |
Switzerland | |
| Roth et al. (2025) |
| SEM-EDS |
| [var: Binnite (of Des Cloizeaux)] Des Cloizeaux (1855) +1 other reference |
| EDXS analyses |
UK | |
| Hubbard et al. (2020) |
USA | |
| Gnanou (2018) |
| White (2012) |
| P. J. Dunn (1995, 2004) |
| II et al. (1994) |
| Desor (03/21) |
| Chris Emproto Collection |
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The
Lengenbach Quarry, Fäld, Binn, Goms, Valais, Switzerland