Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Eglestonite

Big Photo

Landsberg Mt. (Moschellandsberg Mt.), Obermoschel, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

Show Eglestonite Photos (4)
Formula:
[Hg
1+
2
]
 
3
[O|OH|Cl
 
3
]
System:IsometricColour:Yellow, orange-yellow, ...
Lustre:Adamantine, ResinousHardness:2½
Name:After Thomas E. Egleston (1832-1900) Professor of Mineralogy and Metallurgy, Columbia University, New York.


Eglestonite-Kadyrelite Series

Eglestonite is an alteration product of other mercury minerals (native Mercury, Cinnabar, etc.)

Not to be confused with the silicate eggletonite.

Classification of Eglestonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.06-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.DD.05

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
D : With Hg
Dana 8th edition ID:10.5.4.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
5 : Am(O,OH)pXq
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.5.6

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
5 : Halides of Zn and Hg
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1357.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Eglestonite

Type Locality:Terlingua District, Brewster Co., Texas, USA
Year of Discovery:1903
Associated Minerals at type locality:
TerlinguaiteMontroyditeMercuryCalomelCalcite

Physical Properties of Eglestonite

Lustre:Adamantine, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Yellow, orange-yellow, brown; turns dark brownish, then black, on exposure to light; yellow-brown to brown (transmitted light)
Streak:Yellow to greenish-yellow
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):8.33 - 8.45 g/cm3
Density (calculated):8.61 g/cm3

Crystallography of Eglestonite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:Ia3d (I41/a 3 2/d)
Cell Parameters:a = 16.03Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 4,119.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Dodecahedral, with striations parallel to the edges, and elongated on [001] at times, into almost hair-like forms. Octahedral and cubic forms less common. Massive; as crusts.

Optical Data of Eglestonite

Type:Isotropic
Comments:Exhibits weak anomalous birefringence at times.

Blackened immediately by hydrogen sulfide or ammonia. Decomposed by acids with separation of Calomel.

Chemical Properties of Eglestonite

Formula:
[Hg
1+
2
]
 
3
[O|OH|Cl
 
3
]
Essential elements:Cl, H, Hg, O
All elements listed in formula:Cl, H, Hg, O

Relationship of Eglestonite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Kadyrelite (see here)
Common Associates:
MercuryCinnabarCalomel
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
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
 
36
Sb
 
3
(Cl,Br)
 
9
O
 
28
3.DD.65Comancheite
Hg
 
13
(Cl,Br)
 
8
O
 
9
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
8.5.7Kadyrelite
Hg
 
4
(Br,Cl)
 
2
O
8.5.8Comancheite
Hg
 
13
(Cl,Br)
 
8
O
 
9
8.5.9Kuzminite
Hg
 
2
(Br,Cl)
 
2
8.5.10Moschelite
Hg
 
2
I
 
2
8.5.11Tocornalite
(Ag,Hg)I

Other Names for Eglestonite

Other Languages:
German:Eglestonit
Russian:Эглестонит
Spanish:Eglestonita

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 Eglestonite

Reference List:Moses (1903) American Journal of Science: 16: 253.

Hillebrand and Schaller (1909) USGS Bulletin 405: 143.

Rogers (1911) American Journal of Science: 32: 48.

Bird (1932) American Mineralogist: 17: 541.

Hedlik (1948) Experientia, Basel: 4: 66.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 51-52.

American Mineralogist (1977): 62: 396.

Mereiter, K., J. Zeeman, and A.W. Hewat (1992) Eglestonite, [Hg2]3Cl3O2H: confirmation of the chemical formula by neutron powder diffraction. American Mineralogist: 77: 839–842.

Articles/Blogs about Eglestonite

Internet Links for Eglestonite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Eglestonite on Google
  • Look for Eglestonite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Eglestonite on Webmineral
  • Look for Eglestonite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Eglestonite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Eglestonite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Eglestonite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Eglestonite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Search for Eglestonite on minvision.com
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Eglestonite specimens
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Search for - Eglestonite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Buy minerals from Mineralium.com
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

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

    Localities for Eglestonite

    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (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
    		Lapis 2001(6), 40
      • Obermoschel
    		Lapis 2001(6), 13-40
      • Rockenhausen
        • Stahlberg
    		Lapis 2001(6), 13-40
    Kyrgyzstan
     
    • Osh Oblast
      • Fergana Valley
        • Alai Range
    		[Lapis 1993(11), 11-24]
    [Lapis 11:11-24]
    Mexico
     
    • Guerrero
      • Mun. de Taxco
        • Hauhauxtla
    		Panczner (1987): 135-372.
    • San Luis Potosí
      • Mun. de Moctezuma
        • Moctezuma
          • Hacienda de Santa Antonio de Rul
    		Panczner(1987):135,164,185 & 372.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)
        • Buriatia (Buryatia) Republic
          • Baunt District
            • North-Muya Range
              • Middle Kelyana River
      • Tuva Republic
        • Pii-Khem District
          • Uyuk Range
    		Canadian Mineralogist Feb. 1999
            • Oorash-Khem River Valley
    South Africa
     
    • Limpopo Province
      • Murchison Range
        • Gravelotte
          • Monarch Cinnabar mine
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 52; Minerals of South Africa
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Gila Co.
        • Mazatzal Mts
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 153, 211.
    • Arkansas
      • Pike Co.
    		Roberts, A.C. et al (2003), The Canadian Mineralogist: 41(3): 721-725.
    • California
      • Kings Co.
        • Parkfield District
          • The Dark Hole Valley
    		Pemberton:Minerals of California (1983)
      • San Benito Co.
        • New Idria District
    		Dunning, Hadley, Cooper, Magnasco collections
      • San Mateo Co.
    		Minerals Of California, 1983, Pemberton, H. E.
    No reference listed
        • Redwood City
          • Emerald Lake area
    		Pemberton; Minerals of California (1983)
      • Sonoma Co.
    • Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Opalite District
    		Rocks & Minerals, Nov. 1999
        • Poverty Peak District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Lander Co.
        • Warm Springs District
    		NBMG Bull 80 Geology and Mineral Deposits of Lander County, Nevada
    • Texas
      • Brewster Co.
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 52.
    Rocks & Minerals: 66(3): 196-224.
    Rocks & Minerals: 66(1): 202.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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.