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Comancheite

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Mariposa Mine (California Mountain Mine), Terlingua District, Brewster Co., Texas, USA
© c Knut Eldjarn

Show Comancheite Photos (3)
Formula:
Hg
 
13
(Cl,Br)
 
8
O
 
9
System:OrthorhombicHardness:2
This page provides mineralogical data about Comancheite.

Classification of Comancheite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.06-90
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.DD.65

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
D : With Hg
Dana 8th edition ID:10.5.5.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
5 : Am(O,OH)pXq
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.5.8

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
5 : Halides of Zn and Hg
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Type Occurrence of Comancheite

Type Locality:Mariposa Mine (California Mountain Mine), Terlingua District, Brewster Co., Texas, USA
Year of Discovery:1981

Physical Properties of Comancheite

Hardness (Mohs):2

Crystallography of Comancheite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 18.41Å, b = 21.64Å, c = 6.67Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.851 : 1 : 0.308
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,657.28 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Comancheite

Type:Biaxial
RI values: nα = 1.780 nγ = 1.790
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r > v distinct

Chemical Properties of Comancheite

Formula:
Hg
 
13
(Cl,Br)
 
8
O
 
9
Essential elements:Cl, Hg, O
All elements listed in formula:Br, Cl, Hg, O

Relationship of Comancheite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.DD.05Eglestonite
[Hg
1+
2
]
 
3
[O|OH|Cl
 
3
]
3.DD.05Kadyrelite
Hg
 
4
(Br,Cl)
 
2
O
3.DD.10Poyarkovite
Hg
 
3
ClO
3.DD.15Hanawaltite
Hg
 
6
Hg[Cl,(OH)]
 
2
O
 
3
3.DD.20Terlinguaite
Hg
 
2
ClO
3.DD.25Pinchite
Hg
 
5
O
 
4
Cl
 
2
3.DD.30Gianellaite
[Hg
 
2
N]
+
2
SO
 
4
3.DD.30Mosesite
[Hg
 
2
N]
+
 
(Cl,SO
 
4
,MoO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
3.DD.35Kleinite
[Hg
 
2
N]
+
3
Cl
 
2
S
 
0.5
 · H
 
2
O
3.DD.40Tedhadleyite
Hg
2+
 
Hg
1+
10
O
 
4
I
 
2
(Cl,Br)
 
2
3.DD.45Vasilyevite
[Hg
1+
2
]
 
10
[O
 
6
|I
 
3
|Br
 
2
|Cl|CO
 
3
]
3.DD.50Aurivilliusite
(Hg-Hg)
2+
 
Hg
2+
2
[O|(I,Br,Cl)]
 
2
3.DD.55Terlinguacreekite
Hg
2+
3
O
 
2
Cl
 
2
3.DD.60Kelyanite
(Hg
2+
 
)
 
6
(SbO
 
6
)BrCl
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.5.1Simonkolleite
Zn
 
5
[(OH)
 
8
|Cl
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
8.5.2Calomel
Hg
 
2
Cl
 
2
8.5.3Terlinguaite
Hg
 
2
ClO
8.5.4Poyarkovite
Hg
 
3
ClO
8.5.5Pinchite
Hg
 
5
O
 
4
Cl
 
2
8.5.6Eglestonite
[Hg
1+
2
]
 
3
[O|OH|Cl
 
3
]
8.5.7Kadyrelite
Hg
 
4
(Br,Cl)
 
2
O
8.5.9Kuzminite
Hg
 
2
(Br,Cl)
 
2
8.5.10Moschelite
Hg
 
2
I
 
2
8.5.11Tocornalite
(Ag,Hg)I

Other Names for Comancheite

Synonyms:
IMA1980-077
Other Languages:
German:Comancheit
Spanish:Comancheita

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 Comancheite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 67: 622.

Internet Links for Comancheite

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    Localities for Comancheite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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.
    Germany
     
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Kirchheimbolanden
        • Mörsfeld
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    USA
     
    • Texas
      • Brewster Co.
    		[MinRec 21:233]
    Charles Creekmur collection
    Canadian Mineralogist (1981): 19: 393-396.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 7th Nov 2009 11:46:22