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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:grey-black
Lustre:MetallicHardness:3½
Name:Named after its discovery locality in Russia.
This page provides mineralogical data about Aktashite.

Classification of Aktashite

IMA status:Published without Approval
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
Year of Discovery:1968

Occurrences of Aktashite

Geological Setting:Hydrothermal veins

Physical Properties of Aktashite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:grey-black
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:Trigonal pyramids

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,Hg,Ag)
 
12
Sb
 
4
(Se,S)
 
13

Other Names for Aktashite

Other Languages:
German:Aktashit
Russian:Акташит
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.

Internet Links for Aktashite

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    Localities for Aktashite

    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.
    Canada
     
    • Ontario
      • Thunder Bay District
        • Marathon
          • Hemlo gold deposit
    		ontariominerals.com; Mineralogical Magazine 1988 52 : 691-697
    Econ Geol (1997) 92:569-577
    China
     
    • Sichuan Province
      • Ngawa (Aba) Autonomous Prefecture
        • Nanping (Jiuzhaigou) Co.
          • Western Qinling gold belt
    		http://www.idm.gov.vn/Nguon_luc/Xuat_ban/2004/B23/b42.htm
    France
     
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Hautes-Alpes
        • Valgaudemar
          • Pelvoux Mt.
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990
    Iran
     
    • West Azarbaijan 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 (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
        • Ekaterinburgskaya (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
    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
    Mineral and/or Locality
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