GERMANITE

    Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
    Subclass : Sulfides
    Crystal system : Cubic
    Chemistry : Cu13Fe2Ge2S16
    Rarity : Very rare

Germanite is a complex sulfide of germanium, copper and iron. Although very rare, it is with renierite the most common of the germanium minerals, often accepting some zinc and gallium. Its name reflects its high germanium content. The crystals, cubic, are tiny and germanite usually appears in purplish masses tarnishing into purplish moir, with a strong metallic luster, reminiscent of bornite. It frequently crystallizes in intergrowth with renierite or in exsolution in sphalerite such as gallite. It is a germanium ore.

Main photo : Purplish germanite and chalcopyrite from Kipushi Mine, Katanga, DR Congo © Gerard van der Velt

Germanite in the World

The Tsumeb deposit (Namibia) is the only deposit in the world where this mineral exists in relative abundance, in polymineral clusters combining tennantite, chalcopyrite, renierite and enargite. Apart from Tsumeb, germanite is also known in around ten deposits around the world, notably Kipushi in Kantanga and M'Passa (Democratic Republic of Congo).

Germanite in France

In France, germanitis has been reported in Bancaïroun (Alpes-Maritimes).

Twinning

No twin known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 4
Density : 4.46 to 4.59
Fracture : Irregular
Streak : Gray to black

TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : None
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Nitric acid


Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None