Acta Cryst. (2008). E64, i22  [ doi:10.1107/S1600536808004492 ]

Reinvestigation of the crystal structure of lautite, CuAsS

L. Bindi, T. Catelani, L. Chelazzi and P. Bonazzi

Abstract: The crystal structure of the mineral lautite (copper arsenic sulfide), CuAsS, previously described as either centrosymmetric [Pnma; Marumo & Nowacki (1964). Schweiz. Miner. Petro. Mitt. 44, 439-454] or noncentrosymmetric [Pna2₁; Craig & Stephenson (1965). Acta Cryst. 19, 543-547], was reinvestigated by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The centrosymmetric structural model reported previously was confirmed, although with improved precision for the atomic coordinates and interatomic distances. Lautite shows a sphalerite-derivative structure with a linking of Cu[AsS₃], As[CuAs₂S] and S[Cu₃As] tetrahedra. All atoms lie on special positions (Wyckoff position 4c, site symmetry m).

Online 20 February 2008

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