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Aktashite

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Moctezuma, Mun. de Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
© Thomas Witzke

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Formula:
Cu
 
6
Hg
 
3
As
 
4
S
 
12
System:TrigonalColour:Gray-black
Lustre:MetallicHardness:3½
Name:Named after its discovery locality in Russia.
Published without approbation, but recognize as valid species by the IMA CNMNC Sulfosalts Subcommittee (2008).
This page provides mineralogical data about Aktashite.

Classification of Aktashite

IMA status:Redefined Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/C.12-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.GA.30

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
Dana 8th edition ID:3.4.13.2

3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.4.3

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
4 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Zn and Hg
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Type Occurrence of Aktashite

Type Locality:Aktashskoye Sb-Hg deposit, Altai Republic (Gorno-Altayskaya Autonomous Oblast'), Western-Siberian Region, Russia
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Central Siberian Geological Museum, Novosibirsk, Russia, III-14/1; National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Year of Discovery:1968
Geological Setting of type material:Uncommon, of hydrothermal origin in complex polymetallic As–Hg-bearing deposits.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
TennantiteStibniteSphaleriteRealgarQuartz
PyriteOrpimentMercurian TetrahedriteLuzoniteEnargite
DickiteCinnabarChalcostibiteChalcopyriteCalcite

Occurrences of Aktashite

Geological Setting:Hydrothermal veins

Physical Properties of Aktashite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Gray-black
Comment:white in reflected light
Streak:black
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN50=300 - 346 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):5.5 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.72 g/cm3

Crystallography of Aktashite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:R3
Cell Parameters:a = 13.730(3) Å, c = 9.329(1) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.679
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,523.02 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
Morphology:Rarely in crystals resembling trigonal pyramids, to 0.2 mm, which may be zoned with gruzdevite; as xenomorphic grains and granular aggregates.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
4.04 (20)
3.10 (100)
2.69 (70)
1.903 (100)
1.621 (100)
1.554 (20)
1.345 (30)
1.236 (40)
1.204 (20)
Comments:Gal-Khaya, Yakutia, Russia (ICDD 25-298).

Optical Data of Aktashite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:weak in shades of blue
Colour in reflected light:White

Chemical Properties of Aktashite

Formula:
Cu
 
6
Hg
 
3
As
 
4
S
 
12
Essential elements:As, Cu, Hg, S
All elements listed in formula:As, Cu, Hg, S
Common Impurities:Zn,Sb

Relationship of Aktashite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Gruzdevite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.GA.05Proustite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
2.GA.05Pyrargyrite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
2.GA.10Pyrostilpnite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
2.GA.10Xanthoconite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
2.GA.15Samsonite
Ag
 
4
MnSb
 
2
S
 
6
2.GA.20Skinnerite
Cu
 
3
SbS
 
3
2.GA.20Wittichenite
Cu
 
3
BiS
 
3
2.GA.25Lapieite
NiCuSbS
 
3
2.GA.25Mückeite
NiCu(Bi,Sb)S
 
3
2.GA.25Malyshevite
PdCuBiS
 
3
2.GA.25Lisiguangite
PtCuBiS
 
3
2.GA.30Gruzdevite
Cu
 
6
Hg
 
3
Sb
 
4
S
 
12
2.GA.30Nowackiite
Cu
 
6
Zn
 
3
As
 
4
S
 
12
2.GA.35Laffittite
AgHgAsS
 
3
2.GA.40Routhierite
Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
6
2.GA.40Stalderite
Tl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
6
2.GA.45Erniggliite
Tl
 
2
SnAs
 
2
S
 
6
2.GA.50Bournonite
PbCuSbS
 
3
2.GA.50Seligmannite
PbCuAsS
 
3
2.GA.50Součekite
PbCuBi(S,Se)
 
3
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
5.4.1Nowackiite
Cu
 
6
Zn
 
3
As
 
4
S
 
12
5.4.2Florensovite
(Cu,Zn)Cr
 
1.5
Sb
 
0.5
S
 
4
5.4.4Laffittite
AgHgAsS
 
3
5.4.5Galkhaite
(Cs,Tl)(Hg,Cu,Zn)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
12
5.4.6Livingstonite
HgSb
 
4
S
 
8
5.4.7Gruzdevite
Cu
 
6
Hg
 
3
Sb
 
4
S
 
12
5.4.8Tvalchrelidzeite
Hg
 
3
SbAsS
 
3
5.4.9Hakite
Cu
 
6
[Cu
 
4
Hg
 
2
]Sb
 
4
Se
 
13

Other Names for Aktashite

Other Languages:
German:Aktashit
Russian:Акташит
Simplified Chinese:硫砷汞铜矿
Spanish:Aktashita

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 Aktashite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 58: 562.

Voprosy metallogenii rtuti (Problems of mercury metallogeny): 111-129.

Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 206(3): 694-697.

Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 251(1): 96-98.

Aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 from the Aktash deposit, Altai, Russia: Refinement and crystal chemical analysis of the structure

V. I. Vasil’ev, N. V. Pervukhina, S. V. Borisov, S. A. Magarill, D. Yu. Naumov and N. V. Kurat’eva (2010): Aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 from the Aktash deposit, Altai, Russia: Refinement and crystal chemical analysis of the structure. Geology of Ore Deposits 52, 656-661.

Internet Links for Aktashite

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    • Localities for Aktashite

    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.
    Canada
     
    • Ontario
      • Thunder Bay District
        • Marathon
    		ontariominerals.com; Mineralogical Magazine 1988 52 : 691-697
    Econ Geol (1997) 92:569-577
    China
     
    • Sichuan Province
      • Ngawa Autonomous Prefecture (Aba Autonomous Prefecture)
        • Jiuzhaigou Co. (Nanping Co.)
    		http://www.idm.gov.vn/Nguon_luc/Xuat_ban/2004/B23/b42.htm
    France
     
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Hautes-Alpes
        • La Chapelle en Valgaudemard
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Georgia
     
    • Racha-Lochkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti Region
      • Mestia-Racha District
    		Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols
    Iran
     
    • West Azarbaijan Province (West Azerbaijan Province)
      • Takab (Takan Tepe)
    		Asadi, H.H., Voncken, J.H.L, Kühnel, R.A., and Hale, M. (2000): Mineralium Deposita 35, 656-671.
    Kyrgyzstan
     
    • Osh Oblast
      • Alai Range (Alay Range)
    		[Lapis 1993:11 p11-24]; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
        • Fergana Valley
    		[Lapis 11:11-24]; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Mexico
     
    • Sonora
      • Mun. de Moctezuma
    		Lapis 2001(1), 11-40
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    • Urals Region
      • Middle Urals
        • Sverdlovskaya Oblast'
          • Krasnoturjinsk (Bogolovsk; Krasnotur'insk; Krasnoturyinsk)
            • Turya river
              • Turjinsk
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    • Western-Siberian Region
      • Altai Republic (Gorno-Altayskaya Autonomous Oblast')
    		[Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index, 3rd Edition"]; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow; V. I. Vasil’ev, N. V. Pervukhina, S. V. Borisov, S. A. Magarill, D. Yu. Naumov and N. V. Kurat’eva (2010): Aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 from the Aktash deposit, Altai, Russia: Refinement and crystal chemical analysis of the structure. Geology of Ore Deposits 52, 656-661.
    USA
     
    • Nevada
      • Eureka Co.
        • Lynn District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Potosi District
          • Adam Peak
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
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