Mineral description : Digenite

Mineral class Sulphides : Chalcocite group

Chemical formula Cu₉S₅

Crystal system Hexagonal, pseudocubic.

Habitus Often intergrown with other copper minerals, sometimes as pseudocubic crystals up to 3 cm size.

Cleavage {111} indistinct, fracture conchoidal, brittle.

Hardness 2.5-3

Density 5.546

Color Blue to black, blue when polished.

Streak Grayish black.

Luster Metallic to submetallic, opaque.

Description

Occurance In hydrothermal copper deposits, pegmatites and mafic intrusions.

Associates Chalcosite, djurleite, bornite, chalcopyrite, other copper minerals, pyrite

Notes Easily mistaken for chalcosite, but more dull luster and more brittle than chalcosite.
The name is from Greek, meaning two sexes, since it contains both cupric and cuprous ions.
Approved by IMA in 1960.

Localities A not so common mineral but probably more common than it seems.
Sweden :

Kopparåsen, Torneträsk, Lappland. Microscopic in copper ore.
Sunnerskog, Vetlanda, Jönköping.
Digerberg, Leksand, Dalarna.
Getbergsgruvan, Filipstad, Värmland.
Långban, Värmland.
Harstigen, Värmland.
Intakan, Årjäng, Värmland.
Solstad mine, Oskarshamn, Kalmar.
Dammgruvan, Tunaberg, Nyköping, Södermanland.
Norway :

Ulveryggen copper mineralisation, 40km south-east Hammerfest. Impregnations in an arkose sandstone with chalcopyrite and bornite. Bornite is transformed into digenite from the rim and inwards.
Raipas mineralisation, Alta, Finnmark. In minor quantities.
Borras coppermineralisation, Raipas-vinduet, Alta, Finnmark.
Telemark : Björguvstöl skjerp, Kroksmyr mine, Åbo skjerp, Bygland. In Bygland mine it occurs as a major part of the copper ore.
In quartz veins in West-Telemark.
store Sletter, Oslo.
Finland :

Coming soon.

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Last changed : 2000-10-17

Mineral class	Sulphides : Chalcocite group
Chemical formula	Cu₉S₅
Crystal system	Hexagonal, pseudocubic.
Habitus	Often intergrown with other copper minerals, sometimes as pseudocubic crystals up to 3 cm size.
Cleavage	{111} indistinct, fracture conchoidal, brittle.
Hardness	2.5-3
Density	5.546
Color	Blue to black, blue when polished.
Streak	Grayish black.
Luster	Metallic to submetallic, opaque.
Description
Occurance	In hydrothermal copper deposits, pegmatites and mafic intrusions.
Associates	Chalcosite, djurleite, bornite, chalcopyrite, other copper minerals, pyrite
Notes	Easily mistaken for chalcosite, but more dull luster and more brittle than chalcosite. The name is from Greek, meaning two sexes, since it contains both cupric and cuprous ions. Approved by IMA in 1960.
Localities	A not so common mineral but probably more common than it seems. Sweden : Kopparåsen, Torneträsk, Lappland. Microscopic in copper ore. Sunnerskog, Vetlanda, Jönköping. Digerberg, Leksand, Dalarna. Getbergsgruvan, Filipstad, Värmland. Långban, Värmland. Harstigen, Värmland. Intakan, Årjäng, Värmland. Solstad mine, Oskarshamn, Kalmar. Dammgruvan, Tunaberg, Nyköping, Södermanland. Norway : Ulveryggen copper mineralisation, 40km south-east Hammerfest. Impregnations in an arkose sandstone with chalcopyrite and bornite. Bornite is transformed into digenite from the rim and inwards. Raipas mineralisation, Alta, Finnmark. In minor quantities. Borras coppermineralisation, Raipas-vinduet, Alta, Finnmark. Telemark : Björguvstöl skjerp, Kroksmyr mine, Åbo skjerp, Bygland. In Bygland mine it occurs as a major part of the copper ore. In quartz veins in West-Telemark. store Sletter, Oslo. Finland : Coming soon.