Digenite

Digenite is a copper sulfide mineral with formula: Cu9S5. Digenite is a black to dark blue opaque mineral that crystallizes with a trigonal–hexagonal scalenohedral structure. In habit it is usually massive, but does often show pseudo-cubic forms. It has poor to indistinct cleavage and a brittle fracture. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 to 3 and a specific gravity of 5.6. It is found in copper sulfide deposits of both primary and supergene occurrences. It is typically associated with and often intergrown with chalcocite, covellite, djurleite, bornite, chalcopyrite and pyrite. The type locality is Sangerhausen, Thuringia, Germany, in copper slate deposits.

Digenite
Digenite from the East Colusa Mine, Butte, Montana, US. Specimen size = 4.3 cm
General
CategorySulfide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Cu9S5
IMA symbolDg
Strunz classification2.BA.05e
Dana classification02.04.07.03
Crystal systemTrigonal
Crystal classHexagonal scalenohedral (3m)
H-M symbol: (3 2/m)
Space groupR3m
Identification
Formula mass146.45 g/mol
ColorBlue to black
Crystal habitPseudocubic crystals are rare, usually as intergrowths with other copper sulfides
Cleavage{111} (observed in synthetic material)
FractureConchoidal
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness2.5 to 3
LusterSubmetallic to metallic
StreakBlack
DiaphaneityOpaque
Specific gravity5.5 to 5.7 observed, 5.628 calculated
Optical propertiesReflectivity: 21.6 at 540 nm
Other characteristicsDistinctly blue in polished sections
References
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