Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Weishanite

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.



Formula:
(Au,Ag)
 
3
Hg
 
2
System:HexagonalColour:Light yellow
Lustre:MetallicHardness:2½
Name:For the type locality in the Weishancheng ore field, Tongbai Co., Henan Province, China.


A gold amalgam.

Classification of Weishanite

IMA status:Approved 1982
Strunz 8th edition ID:1/A.02-70
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:1.AD.20a

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
D : Mercury-amalgam family
Dana 7th edition ID:1.1.12.3
Dana 8th edition ID:1.1.8.6

1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
Hey's CIM Ref.:1.19

1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-4261.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Weishanite

Type Locality:Poshan Mine, Weishancheng ore field, Tongbai Co., Nanyang Prefecture, Henan Province, China
Place of Conservation of Type Material:National Geological Museum, Beijing
Year of Discovery:1984
Geological Setting of type material:Silicified zone of a gold-silver deposit in biotite granulite.

Physical Properties of Weishanite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Light yellow
Streak:Light yellow
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=50.5
Tenacity:Malleable
Density (calculated):18.17 g/cm3

Crystallography of Weishanite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P63/mmc {P63/m 2/m 2/c}
Cell Parameters:a = 2.9265Å, c = 4.8178Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.646
Unit Cell Volume:V 35.73 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Grains to 30 microns.

Optical Data of Weishanite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Weak
Reflectivity:
480nmR=63.75%
530nmR=75.5%
590nmR=81.03%
660nmR=68.6%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 81.03%.
Pleochroism:Weak

Chemical Properties of Weishanite

Formula:
(Au,Ag)
 
3
Hg
 
2
Essential elements:Au, Hg
All elements listed in formula:Ag, Au, Hg

Relationship of Weishanite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
1.AD.05Mercury
Hg
1.AD.10Belendorffite
Cu
 
7
Hg
 
6
1.AD.10Kolymite
Cu
 
7
Hg
 
6
1.AD.15cEugenite
Ag
 
11
Hg
 
2
1.AD.15bLuanheite
Ag
 
3
Hg
1.AD.15dMoschellandsbergite
Ag
 
2
Hg
 
3
1.AD.15aParaschachnerite
Ag
 
3
Hg
 
2
1.AD.15aSchachnerite
Ag
 
1.1
Hg
 
0.9
1.AD.20bGoldamalgam (of Chen et al.)
(Au,Ag)Hg
1.AD.25Potarite
PdHg
1.AD.30Leadamalgam
HgPb
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
1.1Copper
Cu
1.2Silver
Ag
1.5Gold
Au
1.6Auricupride
Cu
 
3
Au
1.7Tetra-auricupride
AuCu
1.8Zinc
Zn
1.9Cadmium
Cd
1.10Danbaite
CuZn
 
2
1.11Zhanghengite
CuZn
1.12Mercury
Hg
1.13Kolymite
Cu
 
7
Hg
 
6
1.14Moschellandsbergite
Ag
 
2
Hg
 
3
1.15Eugenite
Ag
 
11
Hg
 
2
1.16Schachnerite
Ag
 
1.1
Hg
 
0.9
1.17Paraschachnerite
Ag
 
3
Hg
 
2
1.18Luanheite
Ag
 
3
Hg
1.20Indium
In
1.21Aluminium
Al
1.22Khatyrkite
(Cu,Zn)Al
 
2
1.23Cupalite
(Cu,Zn)Al
1.24Diamond
C
1.25Graphite
C
1.26Chaoite
C
1.27Lonsdaleite
C
1.28Silicon
Si
1.29Tin
Sn
1.30Lead
Pb
1.31Anyuiite
Au(Pb,Sb)
 
2
1.31Novodneprite
AuPb
 
3
1.32Leadamalgam
HgPb
 
2
1.33Arsenic
As
1.34Arsenolamprite
As
1.35Paxite
CuAs
 
2
1.36Koutekite
Cu
 
5
As
 
2
1.37Domeykite
Cu
 
3
As
1.38Algodonite
(Cu
 
1-x
As
 
x
)
1.39Novakite
Cu
 
20
AgAs
 
10
1.40Kutinaite
Cu
 
2
AgAs
1.41Antimony
Sb
1.42Stibarsen
AsSb
1.43Paradocrasite
Sb
 
3
As
1.44Horsfordite
Cu, Sb
1.45Cuprostibite
Cu
 
2
(Sb,Tl)
1.46Allargentum
(Ag
 
1-x
Sb
 
x
)
1.47Aurostibite
AuSb
 
2
1.48Dyscrasite
Ag
 
3
Sb
1.49Bismuth
Bi
1.50Maldonite
Au
 
2
Bi
1.51Sulphur
S
 
8
1.52Rosickýite
S
1.53Selenium
Se
1.54Tellurium
Te
1.55Chromium
Cr
1.56Rhenium
Re
1.57Iron
Fe
1.58Chromferide
Fe
 
3
Cr
 
1-x
 (x=0.6)
1.59Ferchromide
Cr
 
1.5
Fe
 
0.5-x
1.60Wairauite
CoFe
1.61Nickel
Ni
1.62Kamacite
(Fe,Ni)
1.63Taenite
(Fe,Ni)
1.64Tetrataenite
FeNi
1.65Awaruite
Ni
 
3
Fe
1.66Palladium
(Pd,Pt)
1.67Potarite
PdHg
1.68Paolovite
Pd
 
2
Sn
1.69Stannopalladinite
(Pd,Cu)
 
3
Sn
 
2
1.70Cabriite
Pd
 
2
CuSn
1.71Taimyrite
(Pd,Cu,Pt)
 
3
Sn
1.72Atokite
(Pd,Pt)
 
3
Sn
1.73Rustenburgite
(Pt,Pd)
 
3
Sn
1.74Zvyagintsevite
(Pd,Pt,Au)
 
3
(Pb,Sn)
1.75Plumbopalladinite
Pd
 
3
Pb
 
2
1.76Osmium
(Os,Ir,Ru)
1.77Iridium
(Ir,Os,Ru)
1.82Platinum
Pt
1.83Hongshiite
PtCu
1.84Niggliite
PtSn
1.85Isoferroplatinum
Pt
 
3
Fe
1.86Tetraferroplatinum
PtFe
1.87Tulameenite
Pt
 
2
CuFe
1.88Ferronickelplatinum
Pt
 
2
FeNi
1.89Rhodium
(Rh,Pt)

Other Names for Weishanite

Synonyms:
IMA1982-076
Other Languages:
German:Weishanit
Simplified Chinese:围山矿
Spanish:Weishanita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Weishanite

Reference List:

- +
Li Yuheng, Ouyang Shan, and Tian Peixue (1984): Weishanite - A new gold-bearing mineral. Acta Mineralogica Sinica 4(2), 102-105 (in Chinese with English abstract). - American Mineralogist (1988), 73, 196 (abstract).

American Mineralogist (1989), 74, 504.

Shaofeng Huang (2011): Mineralogical characteristics of gold-mercury minerals in the Davao gold placer of Mindanao islands, Phillippines, and its prospecting significance. Geology and Exploration 47(5), 935-942 (in Chinese with English abstract).

Internet Links for Weishanite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Weishanite on Google
  • Look for Weishanite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Weishanite on Webmineral
  • Look for Weishanite on Athena Mineralogy[Link Broken?]
  • Look for Weishanite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Weishanite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Search for - Weishanite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • By minerals from YourMineralCollection
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Buy RARE Minerals from Rocks of Africa
  • Search for minerals at Heliodor
  • Pricedownminerals.com - Reverse Auctions and Shop
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Weishanite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Brazil
     
    • Minas Gerais
      • Mariana (Marianna de Itacolumy)
    		extraLapis #2 (1992), 52
    China
     
    • Henan Province
      • Nanyang Prefecture
        • Tongbai Co.
          • Weishancheng ore field
    		Yuheng Li, Shan Ouyang, and Peixue Tian (1984): Acta Mineralogica Sinica 4(2), 102-105
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
    Current server date and time: 15th Nov 2011 16:33:02
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds