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Hypercinnabar

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Manhattan District, Nye Co., Nevada, USA
© 2008, JGW

Formula:
HgS
System:HexagonalHardness:3


The high-temperature phase of mercury sulphide, HgS. It shows a slight deficiency in Hg [Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index"].

Intimately associated with metacinnabar.


Classification of Hypercinnabar

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.18-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.CD.15b

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
D : With Sn, Pb, Hg, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:2.8.8.1

2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.5.2

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
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Type Occurrence of Hypercinnabar

Type Locality:Mount Diablo Mine (Mt. Diablo Mine; Ryne Mine), Mount Diablo, Clayton, Contra Costa Co., California, USA

Physical Properties of Hypercinnabar

Hardness (Mohs):3

Crystallography of Hypercinnabar

Crystal System:Hexagonal
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.70 (70)
3.43 (80)
3.08 (100)
2.97 (60)
2.80 (90)
1.980 (100)
1.892 (100)

Optical Data of Hypercinnabar

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 2.610 nε = 2.850
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.240

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High

Chemical Properties of Hypercinnabar

Formula:
HgS
Essential elements:Hg, S
All elements listed in formula:Hg, S

Relationship of Hypercinnabar to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.CD.05Herzenbergite
(Sn,Pb)SnS
 
2
2.CD.05Teallite
(Pb,Sn)SnS
 
2
2.CD.10Alabandite
Mn
2+
 
S
2.CD.10Altaite
PbTe
2.CD.10Clausthalite
PbSe
2.CD.10Galena
PbS
2.CD.10Niningerite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)S
2.CD.10Oldhamite
(Ca,Mg)S
2.CD.10Keilite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)S
2.CD.15aCinnabar
HgS
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.5.1Cinnabar
HgS
3.5.3Metacinnabar
HgS
3.5.4Imiterite
Ag
 
2
HgS
 
2
3.5.5Tiemannite
HgSe
3.5.6Balkanite
Cu
 
9
Ag
 
5
HgS
 
8
3.5.7Danielsite
(Cu,Ag)
 
14
HgS
 
8
3.5.8Coloradoite
HgTe
3.5.9Gortdrumite
(Cu,Fe)
 
6
Hg
 
2
S
 
5
3.5.10Polhemusite
(Zn,Hg)S
3.5.11Carlinite
Tl
 
2
S
3.5.12Crookesite
(Cu,Tl,Ag)
 
2
Se
3.5.13Sabatierite
Cu
 
6
TlSe
 
4
3.5.14Picotpaulite
TlFe
 
2
S
 
3
3.5.15Raguinite
TlFeS
 
2
3.5.16Thalcusite
Tl
 
2
Cu
 
3
FeS
 
4
3.5.17Bukovite
Tl
 
2
(Cu,Fe)
 
4
Se
 
4
3.5.18Gallite
CuGaS
 
2
3.5.19Roquesite
CuInS
 
2
3.5.20Indite
FeIn
 
2
S
 
4

Other Names for Hypercinnabar

Synonyms:
IMA1977-D
Other Languages:

Other Information

Health Warning:Contains mercury - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when breaking. Never lick or ingest. Do not heat in unventilated environment - emits toxic Hg fumes.

References for Hypercinnabar

Reference List:Potter, R.W. and H.L. Barnes (1978): Phase relations in the binary Hg–S. Amer. Mineral., 63, 1143–1152.

Internet Links for Hypercinnabar

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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  • Hypercinnabar details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Hypercinnabar

    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.
    Kyrgyzstan
     
    • Osh Oblast
      • Alai (Alay) Range
    		[Lapis 1993:11 p11-24]
    South Africa
     
    • Limpopo Province
      • Murchison Range
        • Gravelotte
          • Monarch Cinnabar mine
    		Minerals of South Africa
    USA
     
    • California
      • Contra Costa Co.
        • Clayton
          • Mount Diablo
    		[Am Min 63 (1978), 1143; Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index"]
    • Nevada
      • Nye Co.
        • Manhattan District
          • Manhattan
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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