Work

Growth twins in chalcopyrite

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In the three twins known in chalcopyrite, {110} occurs only as a mechanical penetration twin. In contrast, {112} and {204} both occur as mechanical and growth twins, respectively. In both cases, the twins are contact twins, and the composition plane is parallel to the twin plane. {204} has been reported as occurring much more frequently than {112} as growth twin. We show that the structure at the composition plane, obtained through the analysis of the pseudo-eigensymmetry of the crystallographic orbits, justifies this different occurrence frequency because the coordination of iron and copper atoms is severely affected by {112} twinning, whereas it is only slightly distorted by {204} twinning.

Source: American Mineralogist

DOI: 10.2138/am-2025-10123

Authors: Massimo Nespolo, Cheick Fanta Mady Diakite

Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire de Cristallographie, Résonance Magnétique et Modélisations, Université de Lorraine

Language: English

Topic: Crystal Structures and Properties

Subfield: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Université de Lorraine, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Universität Innsbruck

OpenAlex ID: W7127654277