Berryite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Berryite
Formula:
Cu3Ag2Pb3Bi7S16
Formely considered to be Pb3(Ag,Cu)5Bi7S16.
Colour:
Bluish-grey, white, grey-white
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
6.7
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Leonard Gascoigne Berry (1914-1982), Canadian mineralogist, Professor of Mineralogy and Crystallography at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario (1945-1979), who first investigated the mineral from the Swedish type locality (TL2), in 1939. Berry was the founding editor of The Canadian Mineralogist (1957-1975).
An orthorhombic polytypic variant has been postulated (Topa et al., 2006).
Structurally related to litochlebite and watkinsonite.
Visually similar to emplectite and several other sulphosalts.
Structurally related to litochlebite and watkinsonite.
Visually similar to emplectite and several other sulphosalts.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
638
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:638:3
IMA Classification of Berryite
Approved
First published:
1966
Classification of Berryite
2.HB.20d
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
B : With Cu, Ag, Fe, Sn and Pb
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
B : With Cu, Ag, Fe, Sn and Pb
3.6.15.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
6 : 2 < ø < 2.49
3 : SULFOSALTS
6 : 2 < ø < 2.49
5.7.41
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
7 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb and other metals
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
7 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Pb and other metals
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Bry | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Ber | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Berryite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Bluish-grey, white, grey-white
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=131 - 152 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Density:
6.7 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.83 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Berryite
Anisotropism:
Distinct to strong; from gray-white to red-brown and green
Colour in reflected light:
White to gray white
Pleochroism:
Weak
Chemistry of Berryite
Mindat Formula:
Cu3Ag2Pb3Bi7S16
Formely considered to be Pb3(Ag,Cu)5Bi7S16.
Formely considered to be Pb3(Ag,Cu)5Bi7S16.
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Berryite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.703(3) Å, b = 4.0305(7) Å, c = 28.925(5) Å
β = 102.484(2)°
β = 102.484(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 3.152 : 1 : 7.177
Unit Cell V:
1,445.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Lath-like aggregates and crystals.
Twinning:
Repeated
Comment:
Formerly (Nuffield & Harris, 1966) the following unit cell was assumed: a = 12.72, b = 4.02, c = 58.07 Å, β = 102.6°.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0006086 | Berryite | Topa D, Makovicky E, Putz H, Mumme W G (2006) The crystal structure of berryite, Cu3Ag2Pb3Bi7S16 The Canadian Mineralogist 44 465-480 | ![]() | 2006 | Grube Clara, Black Forest, Germany | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.47 Å | (100) |
2.89 Å | (80) |
2.80 Å | (70) |
2.18 Å | (40) |
3.70 Å | (20) |
2.86 Å | (20) |
3.23 Å | (10) |
Comments:
Nordmark mines, Sweden. Data from Nuffield and Harris (1966).
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:
Hydrothermal veins
Type Occurrence of Berryite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
Very tiny prismatic bluish-grey crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 92902.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 92902.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Berryite
Other Language Names for Berryite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
9 photos of Berryite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
6 photos of Berryite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
2 photos of Berryite associated with Monazite-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) |
1 photo of Berryite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
1 photo of Berryite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
1 photo of Berryite associated with Tungstibite | Sb3+2WO6 |
1 photo of Berryite associated with Benjaminite | Ag3Bi7S12 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.HB. | Barikaite | Ag3Pb10(Sb8As11)S40 |
2.HB. | Carducciite | (Ag2Sb2)Pb12(As,Sb)16S40 |
2.HB. | Sardashtite | Ag9Cu2.5Pb41Sb36.5As7S112 |
2.HB. | Interliveingite | AgPb18As25S56 |
2.HB. | Reckibachite | Ag2Pb12As14Sb4S40 |
2.HB.05a | Salzburgite | Pb1.6Cu1.6Bi6.4S12 |
2.HB.05a | Hammarite | Pb2Cu2Bi4S9 |
2.HB.05c | Jaskólskiite | CuxPb2+x(Sb,Bi)2-xS5 (x ~ 0.15) |
2.HB.05 | UM1990-54-Se:BiCuPb | CuPb(Ni,Co)0.3Bi3Se6 |
2.HB.05a | Aikinite | PbCuBiS3 |
2.HB.05a | Pekoite | PbCuBi11S18 |
2.HB.05a | Friedrichite | Pb5Cu5Bi7S18 |
2.HB.05b | Meneghinite | Pb13CuSb7S24 |
2.HB.05a | Paarite | Pb1.7Cu1.7Bi6.3S12 |
2.HB.05a | Lindströmite | Pb3Cu3Bi7S15 |
2.HB.05a | Emilite | Pb2.7Cu2.7Bi5.3S12 |
2.HB.05a | Gladite | PbCuBi5S9 |
2.HB.05a | Krupkaite | PbCuBi3S6 |
2.HB.05 | UM2000-46-S:BiCuPb | Cu0.33Pb0.33Bi7.67S12 |
2.HB.10b | Izoklakeite | Pb27(Cu,Fe,Ag)2(Sb,Bi)19S57 |
2.HB.10c | Eclarite | (Cu,Fe)Pb9Bi12S28 |
2.HB.10a | Tintinaite | Pb22Cu4(Sb,Bi)30S69 |
2.HB.10b | Giessenite | Pb27Cu2(Bi,Sb)19S57 |
2.HB.10a | Kobellite | Pb22Cu4(Bi,Sb)30S69 |
2.HB.15 | Jamesonite | Pb4FeSb6S14 |
2.HB.15 | Benavidesite | Pb4MnSb6S14 |
2.HB.20a | Nagyágite | [Pb3(Pb,Sb)3S6](Au,Te)3 |
2.HB.20b | Buckhornite | AuPb2BiTe2S3 |
2.HB.20e | Luxembourgite | AgCuPbBi4Se8 |
2.HB.20b | Jaszczakite | [Bi3S3][AuS2] |
2.HB.20e | Watkinsonite | Cu2PbBi4(Se,S,Te)8 |
2.HB.20c | Museumite | [Pb2(Pb,Sb)2S8][(Te,Au)2] |
2.HB.20e | Litochlebite | Ag2PbBi4Se8 |
2.HB.25 | Meerschautite | (Ag,Cu)6Pb43-2xSb44+2xS112Ox (x ~0.5) |
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 Berryite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-638.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Berryite
Localities for Berryite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Putz et al. (2009) |
| Testa et al. (2018) |
| February 2009 +3 other references |
Bolivia | |
| |
Bulgaria | |
| Cook et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
| www.bgd.bg (n.d.) +1 other reference |
| Cook et al. (2002) |
Canada | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Hood et al. (1991) | |
| Péntek et al. (2013) |
China | |
| Wang et al. (2024) |
| Xiangping et al. (2001) |
| Yue et al. (2024) +1 other reference |
| Enkui Cao (1991) |
| Licheng Tang (1989) +1 other reference |
Czech Republic | |
| Sejkora et al. (2021) +1 other reference |
Egypt | |
| Helmy |
France | |
| Hartmut Hensel collection |
| Hartmut Hensel collection |
| Hartmut Hensel collection |
This mine worked the same vein as Gabe ... +2 other references | |
Germany | |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Walenta (1992) +4 other references |
| Staude et al. (2010) |
| Walenta (1989) +2 other references |
| Staude et al. (2010) |
J. Gröbner: Neufunde von der Grube Katharina im Wildschapbach (2/2004) | |
Greece | |
| Voudouris et al. (2018) |
| Korosidis et al. (2022, March) |
Greenland | |
| Karup-Møller (1966) +2 other references |
Iran | |
| Karimpour et al. (2005) |
Italy | |
| Deidda et al. (2022) |
Deidda et al. (2023) | |
Gian Claudio Lecca et al. (2024) | |
Norway | |
| Rune S. Selbekk (2010) |
Poland | |
| Gołębiowska et al. (2006) +2 other references |
Portugal | |
| Mercedes Fuertes-Fuente et al. (2016) |
Romania | |
| Cook et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
| Cook et al. (2003) |
| Cook +1 other reference |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
- (1998) | |
Russia | |
| Kasatkin et al. (2022) |
| Kasatkin AV |
| Rogov et al. (2023) |
Rogov et al. (2023) | |
| Gvozdev et al. (2014) |
| Murzin et al. (1999) |
Murzin et al. (1999) | |
| Kuzhuget et al. (2020) |
| Kovalenker et al. (2011) |
Slovakia | |
| Ďuďa R. et al. (1993) |
| Jeleň et al. (2012) |
| Kaličiak |
Sweden (TL) | |
| Gatedal (n.d.) +1 other reference |
Tajikistan | |
| Smirnov (ed.) +1 other reference |
| Bortnikov et al. (1985) +1 other reference |
Lur'ye et al. (1972) | |
UK | |
Tindle (2008) | |
| Lowry et al. (1994) |
Ukraine | |
| Biruk et al. (2012) |
USA | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Hagni (1984) +1 other reference |
| Cooper et al. (1991) |
Uzbekistan | |
| Kovalenker et al. (1997) |
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Clara Mine, Oberwolfach, Ortenaukreis, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany