Tennantite
A variety of Tetrahedrite Group
What is Tennantite?
Tennantite is a usually dull, grey- or black-colored mineral that is a minor ore of copper, and evidence suggests that it has been smelted by humans to produce that useful metal since ancient times. First identified by geologists in Cornwall, England, tennantite is named after Smithson Tennant, an English chemist born in the 18th century.
Etymology & Origins
The mineral was first described for an occurrence in Cornwall, England in 1819, where it occurs as small crystals of cubic or dodecahedral form, and was named after the English chemist Smithson Tennant (1761–1815).
Uses & Applications
Tennantite is an important ore and has been used since before the Bronze Age. Smelting this mineral creates copper-arsenic components that were discovered to be harder than pure copper. Some specimens also have silver and can be used as silver ores.
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Key Characteristics
Characteristics of Tennantite
The arsenic component of tennantite causes the metal smelted from the ore to be harder than that of pure copper, because it is a copper-arsenic alloy.
Composition of Tennantite
It is gray-black, steel-gray, iron-gray or black in color. A closely related mineral, tetrahedrite has antimony substituting for arsenic and the two form a solid solution series. The two have very similar properties and is often difficult to distinguish between tennantite and tetrahedrite. Iron, zinc, and silver substitute up to about 15% for the copper site.
Health & Safety Information
- ⚠️Harm Reason: Tennantite dust is toxic because it contains heavy metals Arsenic, Zinc, Copper.
- ⚠️Heavy Metal: Arsenic, Zinc, Copper
- ⚠️How to prevent the risks of Tennantite?
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Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- Grey-black, steel-gray, iron-gray, black
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3 - 4.5
- Density
- 4.6 - 4.7 g/cm³
- Streak
- Reddish gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Crystal System
- Isometric
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Formula
- Cu6[Cu4(Fe, Zn)2]As4S13
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