THE
MINERAL DIGENITE
- Chemistry: Cu9S5, Copper Sulfide.
- Class: Sulfides
- Uses: As an important ore of copper and as mineral specimens.
Specimens
Digenite is an important ore of copper, although it is not very well known even by mineral collectors. The reasons for this lack of appreciation for digenite could be due to the fact that it does not generally form good crystals, lacks brilliant colors and is easily confused with other copper sulfides. But as is the case for any mineral that rarely forms good crystals, the specimens that do show good crystal habit are in exceptional demand.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Color is blue or black.
- Luster is submetallic.
- Transparency crystals are opaque.
- Crystal System is isometric.
- Crystal Habits are limited to mostly massive and granular components of massive sulfide rocks, but a few localities have produced good crystals.
- Hardness is 2.5 - 3
- Specific Gravity is approximately 5.6 (above average for metallic minerals)
- Associated Minerals include pyrite, chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite.
- Notable Occurrences include many mines around the world that contain copper sulfides such as in Sweden; Australia; South-West Africa and several copper mines in Arizona, Butte Montana and Kennecott, Alaska, USA.
- Best Field Indicators are color, associations, softness and density.
 Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery MINERALS |
DIGENITE specimen dig-1$ 110.00
Dims: 0.7 x 0.7 x 0.5" (1.7 x 1.7 x 1.3 cm)
Wt: 7 g
Butte, Montana, U.S.A.
An aggregate of several heavily-intergrown Digenite crystals makes up this thumbnail piece. The aggregate is in excellent condition, showing no damage, and shows some good, though incomplete, isometric form. The mineral has a dark gray color and a very dull, almost submetallic luster, and is completely opaque. It is interspersed through a bit of white calcite matrix, and some coppery-red color and brighter metallic luster are visible on the piece. It is affixed inside a plastic thumbnail box with a removable putty.
dig-1 ($110.00)Butte, Montana, U.S.A.
DIGENITE specimen dig-2
$ 25.00
$ 25.00
Dims: 1.6 x 0.9 x 0.7" (4.1 x 2.3 x 1.7 cm)
Wt: 1.6 oz. (45 g)
Leonard Mine, Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana, U.S.A.
This small hand specimen consists of a chunk of massive Digenite. It shows no crystal form whatsoever and almost looks like a piece of furnace slag. However, its density betrays its metallic content and its blue-black color and submetallic luster are characteristic of the specie, as is its locality. There is no host rock present.
dig-2 ($ 25.00)
Leonard Mine, Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana, U.S.A.
DIGENITE specimen dig-3
$ 60.00
$ 60.00
Dims: 1.1 x 0.9 x 0.3" (2.9 x 2.3 x 0.9 cm)
Wt: 13 g
Butte, Montana, U.S.A.
This thumbnail piece consists of a piece of misshapen Digenite in which are imbedded several warped or broken pyrite crystals. The Digenite shows no appreciable crystal form and has the standard dark gray color and submetallic luster. There is no host rock present.
dig-3 ($ 60.00)
Butte, Montana, U.S.A.