Aguilarite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Aguilarite
Formula:
Ag4SeS
Colour:
Bright lead-gray on fresh surfaces
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
7.40 - 7.53
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named after Señor P. Aguilar, Superintendent of the San Carlos Mine, Mexico, the type locality.
Isostructural with:
There appear to be two solid solution series in the system: a monoclinic ‘acanthite-like’ series (from Ag2S-Ag2S0.4Se0.6), and an orthorhombic ‘naumannite-like’ series (from Ag2S0.3Se0.7-Ag2Se) (Bindi & Pingitore, 2013; Seryotkin et al., 2015).
Compare 'UM1979-11-S:AgAsAuSe', 'UM1979-12-S:AgAsAuSe', and 'UM1979-13-S:AgAsAuSe'.
Compare 'UM1979-11-S:AgAsAuSe', 'UM1979-12-S:AgAsAuSe', and 'UM1979-13-S:AgAsAuSe'.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
59
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:59:4
IMA Classification of Aguilarite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1891
Classification of Aguilarite
2.BA.55
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au
2.4.1.3
2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1
3.2.4
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Agu | 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 Aguilarite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Bright lead-gray on fresh surfaces
Comment:
Dull iron black after exposure to air.
Streak:
Grey-black
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Hackly
Density:
7.40 - 7.53 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.65 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Aguilarite
Anisotropism:
very weak
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 34.8% | 35.1% |
| 420nm | 34.7% | 35.2% |
| 440nm | 34.6% | 35.2% |
| 460nm | 34.7% | 35.3% |
| 480nm | 34.8% | 35.3% |
| 500nm | 34.8% | 35.4% |
| 520nm | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| 540nm | 34.1% | 35.5% |
| 560nm | 33.5% | 35.2% |
| 580nm | 32.8% | 34.6% |
| 600nm | 32.1% | 33.8% |
| 620nm | 31.5% | 33.9% |
| 640nm | 31.0% | 32.4% |
| 660nm | 30.6% | 31.8% |
| 680nm | 30.2% | 31.4% |
| 700nm | 30.0% | 31.0% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 35.6%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Chemistry of Aguilarite
Mindat Formula:
Ag4SeS
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Cu
Crystallography of Aguilarite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.33 Å, b = 7.09 Å, c = 7.76 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.611 : 1 : 1.094
Unit Cell V:
0.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
In skeletal pseudododecahedral crystals, commonly elongated in the direction of a pseudocubic or pseudo-octahedral edge, to 3 cm; also massive and in intergrowths with acanthite or naumannite.
Comment:
Space group P21/n. Originally assumed to be orthorhombic, with a = 4.33, b = 7.09, c = 7.76 A.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019989 | Aguilarite | Bindi L, Pingitore N E (2013) On the symmetry and crystal structure of aguilarite, Ag4SeS Mineralogical Magazine 77 21-31 | 2013 | San Carlos mine, Guanajuato, Mexico | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.88 Å | (50) |
| 2.67 Å | (20) |
| 2.59 Å | (20) |
| 2.43 Å | (100) |
| 2.23 Å | (30) |
| 1.73 Å | (30) |
| 1.48 Å | (40) |
Comments:
Guanajuato, Mexico (ICDD 27-620).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Geological Setting:
An uncommon, relatively low-temperature, mineral in hydrothermal deposits rich in silver and selenium, but manifestly deficient in sulfur.
Type Occurrence of Aguilarite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Skeletal pseudo-dodecahedrons. Often lengthened along one of the crystallographic axes or in the direction of a pseudo-octahedral axis. Crystals to 6 x 10 mm and groups to 15 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Aguilarite
Dutch:Aguilariet
French:Aguilarite
German:Aguilarit
Italian:Aguilarite
Latvian:Agvilarīts
Norwegian:Aguilaritt
Simplified Chinese:辉硒银矿
Spanish:Aguilarita
Relationship of Aguilarite to other Species
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 21 photos of Aguilarite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 12 photos of Aguilarite associated with Naumannite | Ag2Se |
| 12 photos of Aguilarite associated with Electrum | (Au,Ag) |
| 7 photos of Aguilarite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 5 photos of Aguilarite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 5 photos of Aguilarite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 4 photos of Aguilarite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 2 photos of Aguilarite associated with Stephanite | Ag5SbS4 |
| 2 photos of Aguilarite associated with Polybasite | [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| 2 photos of Aguilarite associated with Native Gold | Au |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.BA. | Makotoite | Ag12(Cu3Au)S8 |
| 2.BA. | Alburnite | Ag8GeTe2S4 |
| 2.BA. | Dzierżanowskite | CaCu2S2 |
| 2.BA. | Xuwenyuanite | Ag9Fe3+Te2S4 |
| 2.BA. | Orileyite | (Fe,Cu)2As |
| 2.BA. | Juxingite | Bi6Cu140Fe30S125 |
| 2.BA.05 | Djurleite | Cu31S16 |
| 2.BA.05 | Geerite | Cu8S5 |
| 2.BA.05 | Roxbyite | Cu58S32 |
| 2.BA.05 | Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| 2.BA.10 | Digenite | Cu9S5 |
| 2.BA.10 | Anilite | Cu7S4 |
| 2.BA.15 | Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| 2.BA.20 | Bellidoite | Cu2Se |
| 2.BA.20 | Berzelianite | Cu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12) |
| 2.BA.25 | Athabascaite | Cu5Se4 |
| 2.BA.25 | Umangite | Cu3Se2 |
| 2.BA.30 | Rickardite | Cu7Te5 |
| 2.BA.30 | Weissite | Cu2-xTe |
| 2.BA.35 | Acanthite | Ag2S |
| 2.BA.35 | Spryite | Ag8(As3+0.5As5+0.5)S6 |
| 2.BA.40d | UM2003-13-S:AgAuCu | Ag6AuCu2S5 |
| 2.BA.40 | Mckinstryite | Ag5-xCu3+xS4 |
| 2.BA.40 | Stromeyerite | AgCuS |
| 2.BA.42 | Honeaite | Au3TlTe2 |
| 2.BA.45 | Jalpaite | Ag3CuS2 |
| 2.BA.45 | Selenojalpaite | Ag3CuSe2 |
| 2.BA.45 | Kurilite | Ag8Te3Se |
| 2.BA.47 | Spiridonovite | (Cu1-xAgx)2Te |
| 2.BA.50 | Wuyanzhiite | Cu2S |
| 2.BA.50 | Eucairite | AgCuSe |
| 2.BA.52 | Argentite | Ag2S |
| 2.BA.55 | Naumannite | Ag2Se |
| 2.BA.60 | Chenguodaite | Ag9Fe3+Te2S4 |
| 2.BA.60 | Hessite | Ag2Te |
| 2.BA.60 | Cervelleite | Ag4TeS |
| 2.BA.65 | Henryite | (Cu,Ag)3+xTe2 , with x ~ 0.40 |
| 2.BA.65 | Stützite | Ag5-xTe3, x = 0.24-0.36 |
| 2.BA.70 | Argyrodite | Ag8GeS6 |
| 2.BA.70 | Putzite | (Cu4.7Ag3.3)GeS6 |
| 2.BA.70 | Canfieldite | Ag8SnS6 |
| 2.BA.75 | Fischesserite | Ag3AuSe2 |
| 2.BA.75 | Uytenbogaardtite | Ag3AuS2 |
| 2.BA.75 | Penzhinite | (Ag,Cu)4Au(S,Se)4 |
| 2.BA.75 | Petrovskaite | AuAgS |
| 2.BA.75 | Petzite | Ag3AuTe2 |
| 2.BA.80 | Bezsmertnovite | (Au,Ag)4Cu(Te,Pb) |
| 2.BA.80 | Bilibinskite | PbCu2Au3Te2 |
| 2.BA.80 | Bogdanovite | (Au,Te,Pb)3(Cu,Fe) |
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.
Industrial Uses:
Minor silver ore
Internet Links for Aguilarite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-59.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Aguilarite
Reference List:
Ramdohr, Paul (1969) The Ore Minerals and their Intergrowths. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1174pp. doi:10.1016/c2013-0-10027-x
Števko, Martin, Sejkora, Jiří, Dolníček, Zdeněk, Škácha, Pavel (2018) Selenium-Rich Ag–Au Mineralization at the Kremnica Au–Ag Epithermal Deposit, Slovak Republic. Minerals, 8 (12) 572 doi:10.3390/min8120572
Kullerud, Kåre, Kotková, Jana, Šrein, Vladimír, Drábek, Milan, Škoda, Radek (2018) Solid solutions in the system acanthite (Ag2S)–naumannite (Ag2Se) and the relationships between Ag-sulfoselenides and Se-bearing polybasite from the Kongsberg silver district, Norway, with implications for sulfur–selenium fractionation. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 173 (9) 71 doi:10.1007/s00410-018-1500-3
Localities for Aguilarite
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.
Argentina | |
| Paar et al. (2004) |
Australia | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Simpson (1948) |
| Simpson (1948) | |
| Simpson (1948) | |
| Simpson (1948) | |
| Simpson (1948) |
Bulgaria | |
| Munkov (1968) |
| Cioacă et al. (2018) |
Canada | |
| British Columbia Ministry of Energy |
| Rhys (1993) |
| Junco Rojas (2022) |
| Péntek et al. (2013) |
Chile | |
| Arfè et al. (2016) |
China | |
| Chao Chen and Fapeng Xie (1986) +1 other reference |
| Yongsheng Kuang et al. (2014) +2 other references |
| Shi et al. (2024) | |
| Zhicheng Lü et al. (2002) +2 other references |
| Xia Ai and Zengyi Chen (1993) |
| Dong Zhensheng et al. (1996) |
Czech Republic | |
| Pažout et al. (2019) |
| Bindi et al. (2016) |
| Vavřín |
France | |
| Bernadi et al. (2014) |
Indonesia | |
| Yuningsih et al. (2014) |
| Angeles et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
| Simon et al. (1997) |
| Rivai +1 other reference |
| Clark et al. (2018) |
| Milési et al. (1999) +2 other references |
| Yuningsih et al. (2014) | |
| Yuningsih et al. (2014) |
| Yuningsih et al. (2014) |
Iran | |
| DALIRAN et al. (2005) |
Italy | |
| Stara et al. (1999) |
Japan | |
| Matsukuma (1962) |
| Shikazono (1985) |
| Yuningsih et al. (2018) |
| SUGAKI et al. (1985) +2 other references | |
| Sugaki et al. (1982) +1 other reference |
| Tharalson +5 other references |
| Zeeck (2018) |
| Zeeck (2018) | |
| Zeeck (2018) | |
| Yamada (2004) |
| Shikazono (1985) |
| FURUNO et al. (1992) |
| Morishita et al. (2008) +2 other references |
| Fulin Zhang et al. (1986) | |
| Econ Geol (1985) |
| TAKEUCHI et al. (1984) | |
| Shikazono (1985) |
| Shikazono (1985) |
Mexico | |
| Solana Espinosa +2 other references |
| Marko Burkhardt Collection | |
| Cook (1999) | |
| Solé et al. (2021) | |
| Can Min 12 (1974) +2 other references |
| Panczner (1987) | |
| Panczner (1987) |
| Panczner (1987) |
| Panczner (1987) |
| Cano et al. (2024) |
| Robertson +1 other reference |
| Stone +3 other references | |
New Zealand | |
| Railton et al. (1990) |
| Christie et al. (2007) | |
| Simon et al. (1997) | |
| Railton et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... | |
| Moore (1979) | |
| Fyfe (2014) | |
| Simpson et al. (2007) +1 other reference | |
| Simpson et al. (2011) | |
| Fitzgerald (2004) |
| Railton et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
Norway | |
| Larsen (2015) |
Panama | |
| Byington |
Poland | |
| Kozłowski et al. (2022) |
Russia | |
| Nokleberg (2005) |
| Sidorov et al. (1994) +1 other reference |
| Bortnikov et al. (2023) |
| Bortnikov et al. (2023) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
| Takahashi +5 other references |
| Takahashi et al. (2002) +2 other references | |
| - (2014) |
| Obushkov et al. (2010) |
| Volkov et al. (2023) |
| Priymenko et al. (2020) | |
| Savva et al. (2011) +1 other reference |
| Savva et al. (2007) | |
| Ivin et al. (2021) |
Slovakia | |
| Berkh et al. (2014) |
| Števko et al. (2018) |
South Korea | |
| Choi et al. (2005) |
| Choi et al. (2005) |
Sweden | |
| Nysten |
USA | |
| Adams (2016) +1 other reference |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) |
| Ream (1995) |
| Ream | |
| Allen (1990) | |
| Ream (1995) |
| Lasmanis et al. (1981) +2 other references | |
| Simon et al. (1997) | |
| Collins (2012) | |
| Collins (2012) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Leavitt et al. (2004) +1 other reference | |
| Tharalson +6 other references | |
| Cain et al. (2007) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Taksavasu et al. (2018) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Bart Cannon EDS of RWMW specimen |
| - (2005) |
| - (2005) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Simon et al. (1997) |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Derkey et al. (1990, November) |
| Cannon (1975) +1 other reference | |
| Cannon (1975) |
Uzbekistan | |
| Koneev et al. (2005) |
| Koneev et al. (2005) |
| Koneev et al. (2005) | |
| Rustam Koneev et al. (2005) |
Quick NavTopAbout AguilariteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
San Carlos Mine, La Luz, Guanajuato Municipality, Guanajuato, Mexico