What is Xuwenyuanite?
Xuwenyuanite is a rare silver iron tellurium sulfide from a Chinese polymetallic deposit, a cubic mineral related to chenguodaite.
Mineralogy and structure
Reference formula: Ag9Fe3+Te2S4. Xuwenyuanite has the ideal formula Ag9Fe3+Te2S4 and an isometric structure; it is a dimorph of chenguodaite. No matching public COD coordinate entry was selected for this batch. Xuwenyuanite is classified with sulfosalts and has cubic crystal symmetry. Typical hardness is 2–3 on the Mohs scale and specific gravity is approximately 5.5–6.5.
Colour, lustre and habit
Typical colours include grey, black, steel grey, silver grey. The usual granular, massive, microscopic habit and metallic, sub-metallic lustre help describe a specimen, but colour alone is not diagnostic.
Formation and notable localities
Xuwenyuanite forms in or is associated with hydrothermal silver-lead-zinc deposits and complex telluride-sulfide ore veins. Important documented localities include the Bajiazi zinc-lead-silver deposit in Liaoning, China.
A rare silver tellurosulfide from a Chinese ore deposit
Xuwenyuanite is a specialist ore mineral where a tiny grain can document complex silver-tellurium chemistry. It should be presented as an authenticated reference, not a generic metallic fragment.
Collecting and care
Silver- and tellurium-bearing: keep enclosed, avoid dust, grinding and acids, and preserve the ore association and provenance.
