Sternbergite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Sternbergite
Kaspar Maria von Sternberg
Formula:
AgFe2S3
Colour:
Golden brown, tarnishes violet-blue
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
1 - 1½
Specific Gravity:
4.101 - 4.215
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named after Count Caspar Maria Sternberg (6 January 1761, Prague - 20 December 1838, Březina), botanist/entomologist/geologist/mineralogist/geognost and a founder of the National Museum of Prague (Czech Republic).
Dimorph of:
A rare mineral occurring in Pinchbeck brown (yellowish brown with metallic lustre), flexible(!), mm-sized tabular crystals. It and its dimorph argentopyrite are often pseudomorphed to iron oxides which collapse to dust when poked with a needle. On the way to the oxide replacements, partial pseudomorphs of pyrite or marcasite after either dimorph confused early workers.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3767
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3767:5
IMA Classification of Sternbergite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1827
Classification of Sternbergite
2.CB.65
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.
2.9.12.1
2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
3.2.16
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
2 : Sulphides etc. of Ag
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
2 : Sulphides etc. of Ag
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Srn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Sternbergite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Golden brown, tarnishes violet-blue
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
1 - 1½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN50=31 - 44 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {001}
on {001}
Density:
4.101 - 4.215 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.275 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Sternbergite
Anisotropism:
Strong, bluish and reddish to lilac, reddish brown to light green with p-urplish pink shades
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 18.2% | 30.1% |
| 420nm | 19.0% | 31.0% |
| 440nm | 19.8% | 32.0% |
| 460nm | 20.6% | 33.1% |
| 480nm | 21.6% | 34.0% |
| 500nm | 22.4% | 34.9% |
| 520nm | 23.2% | 35.7% |
| 540nm | 23.9% | 36.4% |
| 560nm | 24.5% | 37.0% |
| 580nm | 25.2% | 37.5% |
| 600nm | 26.0% | 38.0% |
| 620nm | 26.7% | 38.2% |
| 640nm | 27.3% | 38.3% |
| 660nm | 27.7% | 38.2% |
| 680nm | 28.0% | 38.1% |
| 700nm | 28.1% | 37.9% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 38.3%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Light brown
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
In browns
Chemistry of Sternbergite
Mindat Formula:
AgFe2S3
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Sternbergite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.615(2) Å, b = 11.639(4) Å, c = 12.693(4) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.568 : 1 : 1.091
Unit Cell V:
977.26 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Thin pseudohexagonal basal plates, rosettes and fan-like aggregates.
Twinning:
Lamellar on {130}
Comment:
Space group Ccmb (non-standard setting).
Crystallographic forms of Sternbergite
Crystal Atlas:
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Sternbergite - Contact twin on {130}
Sternbergite - Tabular {001}
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014818 | Sternbergite | Pertlik F (1987) Crystal structure of sternbergite, AgFe2S3 Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1987 458-464 | 1987 | Medenec, Krusne hory Mts, Czechoslovakia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.780 Å | (100) |
| 2.785 Å | (70) |
| 3.226 Å | (60) |
| 2.616 Å | (50) |
| 4.281 Å | (30) |
| 1.938 Å | (30) |
| 1.893 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Geological Setting:
Hydrothermal veins, Co-Ni-Ag assemblage
Type Occurrence of Sternbergite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Rose-like aggregates and globules with a drusy surface. Massive material has the habit of coarse grained mica.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic.
Synonyms of Sternbergite
Other Language Names for Sternbergite
Dutch:Sternbergiet
French:Argent sulfuré flexible
German:Sternbergit
Argyropyrrhotit
Argyropyrrhotit
Norwegian:Sølvkis
Russian:Штернбергит
Simplified Chinese:硫银铁矿
Spanish:Argyropyrrhotita
Sternbergita
Sternbergita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 28 photos of Sternbergite associated with Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 12 photos of Sternbergite associated with Native Silver | Ag |
| 10 photos of Sternbergite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 8 photos of Sternbergite associated with Xanthoconite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 5 photos of Sternbergite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 4 photos of Sternbergite associated with Argentopyrite | AgFe2S3 |
| 4 photos of Sternbergite associated with Acanthite | Ag2S |
| 4 photos of Sternbergite associated with Pyrargyrite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 3 photos of Sternbergite associated with Stephanite | Ag5SbS4 |
| 2 photos of Sternbergite associated with Native Arsenic | As |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.CB. | Richardsite | Zn2CuGaS4 |
| 2.CB. | Okruginite | Cu2SnSe3 |
| 2.CB. | Hanswilkeite | KFeS2 |
| 2.CB. | Auroselenide | AuSe |
| 2.CB. | Ruizhongite | (Ag2◻)Pb3Ge2S8 |
| 2.CB. | Agmantinite | Ag2MnSnS4 |
| 2.CB. | Tolstykhite | Au3S4Te6 |
| 2.CB. | Gachingite | Au(Te1-xSex) |
| 2.CB.05a | Hawleyite | CdS |
| 2.CB.05 | 'UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn' | Cu2Fe3Zn5S10 |
| 2.CB.05a | Coloradoite | HgTe |
| 2.CB.05a | Metacinnabar | HgS |
| 2.CB.05a | Tiemannite | HgSe |
| 2.CB.05a | Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 2.CB.05b | Sakuraiite | (Cu,Zn,Fe)3(In,Sn)S4 |
| 2.CB.05c | Polhemusite | (Zn,Hg)S |
| 2.CB.05a | Rudashevskyite | (Fe,Zn)S |
| 2.CB.05a | Stilleite | ZnSe |
| 2.CB.05a | Ishiharaite | (Cu,Ga,Fe,In,Zn)S |
| 2.CB.07a | 'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)' | Cu2MnSnS4 |
| 2.CB.07a | Shenzhuangite | NiFeS2 |
| 2.CB.10b | Talnakhite | Cu9(Fe,Ni)8S16 |
| 2.CB.10b | Haycockite | Cu4Fe5S8 |
| 2.CB.10a | Lenaite | AgFeS2 |
| 2.CB.10a | Gallite | CuGaS2 |
| 2.CB.10a | Roquesite | CuInS2 |
| 2.CB.10a | Eskebornite | CuFeSe2 |
| 2.CB.10a | 'UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn' | Cu2Fe2Sn3S7 |
| 2.CB.10c | Omariniite | Cu8Fe2ZnGe2S12 |
| 2.CB.10a | Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 2.CB.10a | 'Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)' | CuZn2InS4 |
| 2.CB.10b | Mooihoekite | Cu9Fe9S16 |
| 2.CB.10a | Laforêtite | AgInS2 |
| 2.CB.10b | Putoranite | Cu1.1Fe1.2S2 |
| 2.CB.15a | Velikite | Cu2HgSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15c | 'UM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn' | Cu8(Fe,Zn)3Ge2S12 (?) |
| 2.CB.15a | Hocartite | Ag2(Fe2+,Zn)SnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Kësterite | Cu2ZnSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Pirquitasite | Ag2ZnSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Stannite | Cu2FeSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15c | Stannoidite | Cu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12 |
| 2.CB.15b | Mohite | Cu2SnS3 |
| 2.CB.15a | Černýite | Cu2CdSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Idaite | Cu5FeS6 |
| 2.CB.15a | Ferrokësterite | Cu2FeSnS4 |
| 2.CB.15a | Kuramite | Cu3SnS4 |
| 2.CB.17a v | 'Arsenic-bearing Renierite' | Cu11GeAsFe4S16 |
| 2.CB.20 | Mawsonite | Cu6Fe2SnS8 |
| 2.CB.20 | Chatkalite | Cu6FeSn2S8 |
| 2.CB.30 | 'Frieseite' | Ag2Fe5S8 (?) |
| 2.CB.30 | Nekrasovite | Cu26V2(Sn,As,Sb)6S32 |
| 2.CB.30 | 'Argyropyrite' | near Ag2Fe7S11 |
| 2.CB.30 | Maikainite | Cu20(Fe,Cu)6Mo2Ge6S32 |
| 2.CB.30 | Colusite | Cu13VAs3S16 |
| 2.CB.30 | Germanite | Cu13Fe2Ge2S16 |
| 2.CB.30 | Germanocolusite | Cu26V2(Ge,As)6S32 |
| 2.CB.30 | Stibiocolusite | Cu13V(Sb,Sn,As)3S16 |
| 2.CB.30 | Ovamboite | Cu20(Fe,Cu,Zn)6W2Ge6S32 |
| 2.CB.35a | Morozeviczite | (Pb,Fe)3Ge1-xS4 |
| 2.CB.35a | Renierite | (Cu1+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16 |
| 2.CB.35a | Hemusite | Cu6SnMoS8 |
| 2.CB.35b | Catamarcaite | Cu6GeWS8 |
| 2.CB.35a | Vinciennite | Cu+7Cu2+3Fe2+2Fe3+2Sn(As,Sb)S16 |
| 2.CB.35a | Kiddcreekite | Cu6SnWS8 |
| 2.CB.35a | Polkovicite | (Fe,Pb)3(Ge,Fe)1-xS4 |
| 2.CB.40 | Lautite | CuAsS |
| 2.CB.42 | Lingbaoite | AgTe3 |
| 2.CB.45 | Cadmoselite | CdSe |
| 2.CB.45 | Rambergite | MnS |
| 2.CB.45 | Buseckite | (Fe,Zn,Mn)S |
| 2.CB.45 | Maletoyvayamite | Au3Se4Te6 |
| 2.CB.45 | Greenockite | CdS |
| 2.CB.45 | Wurtzite | (Zn,Fe)S |
| 2.CB.47 | Murchisite | Cr5S6 |
| 2.CB.50 | 'Zincselenide' | ZnSe |
| 2.CB.50 | Wassonite | TiS |
| 2.CB.52 | 'Dzhezkazganite' | ReMoCu2PbS6 ? |
| 2.CB.55b | Isocubanite | CuFe2S3 |
| 2.CB.55a | Cubanite | CuFe2S3 |
| 2.CB.60 | Raguinite | TlFeS2 |
| 2.CB.60 | Picotpaulite | TlFe2S3 |
| 2.CB.65 | Argentopyrite | AgFe2S3 |
| 2.CB.70 | Sulvanite | Cu3VS4 |
| 2.CB.75 | Vulcanite | CuTe |
| 2.CB.80 | Empressite | AgTe |
| 2.CB.85 | Muthmannite | AuAgTe2 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Sternbergite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3767.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Sternbergite
Reference List:
Haidinger, W. (1828) Description of Sternbergite, a New Mineral Species. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 11 (1). p.1-7. doi:10.1017/s0080456800021803
Buerger, Newton W. (1937) The unit cell and space group of sternbergite, AgFe2S3. American Mineralogist, 22 (7) 847-854
Czamanske, Gerald K. (1969) The stability of argentopyrite and sternbergite. Economic Geology, 64 (4) 459-461 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.64.4.459
Czamanske, Gerald K., Larson, Richard R. (1969) The chemical identity and formula of argentopyrite and sternbergite. American Mineralogist, 54 (7-8) 1198-1201
Localities for Sternbergite
Showing 101 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Alan Melbournes collection |
| Harris et al. (2003) |
| Singer et al. (2009) |
Austria | |
| Ucik et al. (1970) +1 other reference |
| Vavtar (1995) |
Azerbaijan | |
| Baba-zadeh et al. (2024) |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| Jurković et al. (1994) |
Canada | |
| Peatfield (n.d.) |
| Peatfield (n.d.) | |
| Ingelson et al. (1989) |
| Harris et al. (1984) |
| Ottawa Citizen +2 other references |
China | |
| Zuwei Wang and Yongzhang Zhou (2002) |
| Dong Zhensheng et al. (1996) |
| Dong Zhensheng et al. (1996) |
| Qinghua Xu et al. (2014) |
| Qingrong Zheng et al. (2012) |
| Jin Chen and Yuelin Tang (1993) +3 other references | |
Czech Republic | |
| C.Auer (2016) |
| Škácha P. et al. (2007) |
| Am Min 54 (1969) |
| www.mindat.org (n.d.) +4 other references | |
| www.jgeosci.org (n.d.) | |
| |
| Hyrsl et al. (2009) | |
| |
Finland | |
| Clark Alan H. & Taylor et al. (1) |
France | |
| www.micromineral.org (n.d.) |
| Hohl (1994) |
| Guy Bernadi collection & Georges ... |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1992) |
| web.archive.org (2001) +1 other reference |
| Belendorff (2021) |
| |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Baumann et al. (2000) |
| Wittern (2001) | |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Massanek et al. (2005) |
| Massanek et al. (2005) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Ramdohr (1969) |
| Naumann et al. (1898) |
| 90. +1 other reference |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll & Jánosi. Minerals of Hungary |
Japan | |
| - (n.d.) +1 other reference |
| Yamada (2004) |
| Matsukuma (1962) |
| T. Matsukuma (1958) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Глоба В.А. Месторождение Манка - новый геолого-промышленный тип месторождений золота. // Изв. НАН РК et al. (403) |
Mexico | |
| Panczner (1987) |
| Camprubi |
Morocco | |
| Samira et al. (2015) |
| Barral et al. (2008) | |
| Félix et al. (2015) |
| Maya Gold and Silver |
Nigeria | |
| Wolfgang Hampel |
Norway | |
| Brünnich (1777) +1 other reference |
| Brünnich (1777) +1 other reference | |
| Cronstedt (1758) +1 other reference |
| Johnsen (1986) | |
| Cook et al. (1998) |
| Nilsen et al. (1991) |
Peru | |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
Poland | |
| Mochnacka et al. (2015) |
Romania | |
| Papp et al. (2007) |
Russia | |
| Sejkora et al. (2023) |
| Damdinov et al. (2007) |
| Kolova et al. (2021) |
| Bortnikov et al. (2023) |
| [Der Aufschluss 1995:4 p163-180] +1 other reference |
| [Der Aufschluss 1995:4 p163-180] +1 other reference | |
| Kovalev et al. (2023) |
| Sorokhtina et al. (2019) |
| Volkov et al. (2015) |
| Makshakov +2 other references |
| Makshakov et al. (2024) | |
| Strujkov et al. (1996) |
| Kravtsova et al. (2017) | |
| Savva et al. (2007) | |
| Sorokhtina et al. (2021) |
| Grant et al. (2001) |
| ROGULINA et al. (2004) | |
| Dobrovol’skaya et al. (2008) | |
South Korea | |
| Choi et al. (2005) |
| Choi et al. (2005) | |
| Park et al. (1988) +1 other reference |
Spain | |
| Calvo et al. (1992) |
| Fabre (n.d.) +1 other reference | |
Sweden | |
| Burke et al. (1990) |
| Rincon (2022) |
| |
UK | |
| Ixer et al. (1987) |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Murdoch (1966) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| R&M 74:6 p380-390 |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
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Jáchymov, Karlovy Vary District, Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic