Argentotetraedrit-(Cd) - Ein neues Mineral

A new mineral from the group of tetrahedrite-tennantite, was discovered and described in a collaboration between scientists from Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Germany. The new mineral is called argentotetrahedrite-(Cd) and has a simplified chemical formula Ag6[Cu4Cd2]Sb4S13. Cadmium is not a common element in natural ore mineralization and, therefore, its minerals are fairly rare. In this mineral, cadmium replaces much more common iron or zinc to that extent that it can be defined as a new, separate mineral species. The mineral was recognized by the International Mineralogical Association and we are preparing a publication presenting these results.

In the BSE-image below:

Heterogenous argentotetrahedrite-(Zn) (attr-Zn) and tetrahedrite-(Zn) (ttr-Zn) associated with argentotetrahedrite-(Cd) (attr-Cd) replaced by acanthite (aca) and galena (gn), Johan de Deo vein, Rudno nad Hronom.