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Balkanite

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

Formula:
Cu
 
9
Ag
 
5
HgS
 
8
System:OrthorhombicColour:Grey
Lustre:MetallicHardness:2½
This page provides mineralogical data about Balkanite.

Classification of Balkanite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/B.09-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.BD.15

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl
Dana 8th edition ID:2.16.7.1

2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.5.6

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 Balkanite

Type Locality:Sedmochislenitsi Mine, Balkan Mts (Stara-Planina Mts), Vratsa (Vratza) Oblast, Bulgaria
Year of Discovery:1973

Physical Properties of Balkanite

Lustre:Metallic
Colour:Grey
Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Balkanite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 10.62Å, b = 9.42Å, c = 3.92Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.127 : 1 : 0.416
Unit Cell Volume:V 392.16 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Chemical Properties of Balkanite

Formula:
Cu
 
9
Ag
 
5
HgS
 
8
Essential elements:Ag, Cu, Hg, S
All elements listed in formula:Ag, Cu, Hg, S

Relationship of Balkanite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.BD.UM2004-33-S:AgCuHgSe
(Ag,Cu)
 
8
Hg
 
3
(S,Se)
 
7
2.BD.05Imiterite
Ag
 
2
HgS
 
2
2.BD.10Gortdrumite
(Cu,Fe)
 
6
Hg
 
2
S
 
5
2.BD.15Danielsite
(Cu,Ag)
 
14
HgS
 
8
2.BD.20Donharrisite
Ni
 
8
Hg
 
3
S
 
9
2.BD.25Carlinite
Tl
 
2
S
2.BD.30Bukovite
Tl
 
2
(Cu,Fe)
 
4
Se
 
4
2.BD.30Murunskite
K
 
2
Cu
 
3
FeS
 
4
2.BD.30Thalcusite
Tl
 
2
Cu
 
3
FeS
 
4
2.BD.35Rohaite
(Tl,Pb,K)
 
2
Cu
 
8.7
Sb
 
2
S
 
4
2.BD.40Chalcothallite
Tl
 
2
(Cu,Fe)
 
6
SbS
 
4
2.BD.45Sabatierite
Cu
 
6
TlSe
 
4
2.BD.50Crookesite
(Cu,Tl,Ag)
 
2
Se
2.BD.55Brodtkorbite
Cu
 
2
HgSe
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.5.1Cinnabar
HgS
3.5.2Hypercinnabar
HgS
3.5.3Metacinnabar
HgS
3.5.4Imiterite
Ag
 
2
HgS
 
2
3.5.5Tiemannite
HgSe
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 Balkanite

Synonyms:
IMA1971-009
Other Languages:
German:Balkanit
Spanish:Balkanita

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 Balkanite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 58: 11-15.

Internet Links for Balkanite

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    Localities for Balkanite

    (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.
    Austria
     
    • Salzburg
      • Saalfelden
        • Leogang
          • Hütten
            • Schwarzleograben
              • Schwarzleo District
    		Paar, W. H. & Chen, T. T. (1985): Zur Mineralogie von Cu-Ni(Co)-Pb-Ag-Hg-Erzen im Revier Schwarzleo bei Leogang, Salzburg, Österreich. Mitt. österr. geol. Ges. 78, 125-148.; A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989)
    • Tyrol
      • North Tyrol
        • Kitzbüheler Alpen Mts
          • Fieberbrunn
    		Steiner, M., Vavtar, F., Tropper, P. (2008): Rare Ag ores (danielsite, balkanite) from the fahlore deposit of the Röhrerbühel (N-Tyrol, Austria). Poster, Annual Meeting of the DMG, Berlin, Germany, September 14-17, 2008; CD with abstracts, Abs. no. 292.
    Belgium
     
    • Luxembourg Province
      • Stavelot Massif
        • Vielsalm
    		http://perso.infonie.be/jose.dehove/photos/Salmchateau.htm
    Bulgaria
     
    • Vratsa (Vratza) Oblast
      • Balkan Mts (Stara-Planina Mts)
    		AM 58 (1973), 11
    Italy
     
    • Sardinia
      • Carbonia-Iglesias Province
        • Iglesias
          • Punta della Torre
    		Orlandi, P. & Campostrini, I. (2005): Zibaldone. Aggiornamenti di mineralogia italiana 2004. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 3/2005, 184-191.
    USA
     
    • Nevada
      • Nye Co.
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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