Sinnerite, Cu6As4S9, from the Lengenbach Quarry, Binn Valley, Switzerland: description and re-investigation of the crystal structure

Luca Bindi, Emil Makovicky, Fabrizio Nestola, Luca De Battisti

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Abstract

We have characterized the crystal structure of sinnerite, Cu6As4S9, a rare sulfosalt mineral from the ores of the Lengenbach quarry, Binn Valley, Canton Valais, Switzerland, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis. We found sinnerite to be structurally identical to synthetic Cu6As4S9. It is triclinic, space group P1, with cell parameters: a 9.103(2), b 9.860(3), c 9.111(2) Å, α 90.27(2), β 109.53(2), γ 107.58(2)°, V 729.6(4) Å3, and Z = 2. Semi-quantitative SEM-EDS analyses confirmed the Cu6As4S9 stoichiometry. The crystal structure of an untwinned crystal has been refined to R1 = 5.45%. It consists of a sphalerite substructure with 2/5 of the tetrahedra replaced by AsS3 pyramids; four pyramids form As4S12 clusters around the vacant anion positions of the sphalerite archetype. These pyramids are linked into twisted and branched chain-like structures with compositions As3S7 and As5S11. The chains are linked by CuS4 tetrahedra. Packing of these chains results in the OD (order-disorder) character of the sinnerite structure.
Original languageEnglish
JournalCanadian Mineralogist
Volume51
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)851-860
Number of pages10
ISSN0008-4476
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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