{{About|a mineral|the ion|Stannite (ion)}} {{Short description|Mineral}} {{infobox mineral | name = Stannite | category = Sulfide mineral | boxwidth = | boxbgcolor = | image = Stannite-Chalcopyrite-Quartz-168837.jpg | imagesize = 260px | alt = | caption = | formula = Cu<sub>2</sub>FeSnS<sub>4</sub> | IMAsymbol = Stn<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3 |pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |s2cid=235729616 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W }}</ref> | molweight = | strunz = 2.CB.15a | dana = | system = Tetragonal | class = Scalenohedral ({{overline|4}}2m) <br/>H-M symbol: ({{overline|4}} 2m) | symmetry = ''I''{{overline|4}}2m | unit cell = a = 5.4432, c = 10.7299&nbsp;[Å]; Z&nbsp;=&nbsp;2 | color = Steel-gray to iron-black, may tarnish blue | colour = | habit = Rarely as pseudo-octahedral crystals also massive, granular, and disseminated | twinning = Penetration twins on {102} | cleavage = Indistinct on {110} and {001} | fracture = Uneven | tenacity = | mohs = 4 | luster = Metallic | streak = Black | diaphaneity = Opaque | gravity = 4.3 – 4.5 | density = | polish = | opticalprop = | refractive = | birefringence = | pleochroism = | 2V = | dispersion = | extinction = | length fast/slow = | fluorescence= | absorption = | melt = | fusibility = | diagnostic = | solubility = | other = | alteration = | references = <ref name="Handbook">{{Cite web |title=Stannite |url=http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/stannite.pdf |website=Handbook of Mineralogy}}</ref><ref name="Webmin">{{Cite web |title=Stannite |url=http://webmineral.com/data/Stannite.shtml |website=Webmineral data}}</ref><ref name="Mindat">{{Cite web |title=Stannite |url=http://www.mindat.org/min-3747.html |website=Mindat.org}}</ref> }} '''Stannite''' is a mineral, a sulfide of copper, iron, and tin, in the category of thiostannates.

==Background== The chemical formula is Cu<sub>2</sub>FeSnS<sub>4</sub>. Zinc commonly occurs with the iron and trace germanium may be present.<ref name=Mindat/> Stannite is used as an ore of tin, consisting of approximately 28% tin, 13% iron, 30% copper, 30% sulfur by mass. It is found in tin-bearing, hydrothermal vein deposits occurring with chalcopyrite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, cassiterite, and wolframite.<ref name=Handbook/>

It is also known as ''bell metal ore'' as tin is an important constituent of bell metal. It is thought the exploitation of tin deposits in Cornwall led to an expansion in bell founding.

The name comes from the Latin for tin: ''stannum''. It was first described in 1797 for an occurrence in Wheal Rock, St. Agnes, Cornwall, England.<ref name=Mindat/>

== See also == * Kesterite

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Copper minerals Category:Iron minerals Category:Tin minerals Category:Sulfide minerals Category:Tetragonal minerals Category:Minerals in space group 121 Category:Glances

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