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Livingstonite

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Mun. de Huitzuco, Guerrero, Mexico
© Paul Bongaerts

Show Livingstonite Photos (9)
Formula:
HgSb
 
4
S
 
8
System:MonoclinicColour:Blackish-gray
Hardness:2
Name:
After David Livingston (1813-1873), the African explorer and missionary.
This page provides mineralogical data about Livingstonite.

Classification of Livingstonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/E.13-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.JA.05i

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
J : Sulfosalts of PbS archetype
A : Galena derivatives with little or no Pb
Dana 8th edition ID:3.7.11.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.4.6

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 Livingstonite

Type Locality:Huitzuco de los Figueroa (Huitzuco), Mun. de Huitzuco, Guerrero, Mexico
Year of Discovery:1874

Occurrences of Livingstonite

Geological Setting:Low temperature hydrothermal veins

Physical Properties of Livingstonite

Lustre:Adamantine, Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Blackish-gray
Streak:Red
Hardness (Mohs):2
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=96 - 125 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Elastic
Cleavage:Perfect
{001} perfect, {010}, and {100} poor.
Density (measured):4.88(2) g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.98 g/cm3

Crystallography of Livingstonite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P2/m {P1 1 2/m} {P2/m} {P1 2/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 30.567(6) Å, b = 4.015(1) Å, c = 21.465(3) Å
β = 103.39°
Ratio:a:b:c = 7.613 : 1 : 5.346
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,562.71 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8
Morphology:Minute needles elongated [010]. Columnar to fibrous massive; in globular masses of interlaced needles.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Livingstonite

Type:Biaxial (-)
Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong
Dispersion:relatively strong
Colour in reflected light:White
Internal Reflections:Deep red
Pleochroism:Weak

Chemical Properties of Livingstonite

Formula:
HgSb
 
4
S
 
8
Essential elements:Hg, S, Sb
All elements listed in formula:Hg, S, Sb

Relationship of Livingstonite to other Species

Common Associates:
CinnabarStibniteSulphurGypsum
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.JA.05eBenjaminite
(Ag,Cu)
 
3
(Bi,Pb)
 
7
S
 
12
2.JA.05gBorodaevite
Ag
 
5
(Bi,Pb,Fe)
 
8
(Sb,Bi)
 
2
S
 
17
2.JA.05aCupropavonite
AgCu
 
2
PbBi
 
5
S
 
10
2.JA.05aKitaibelite
Ag
 
10
PbBi
 
30
S
 
51
2.JA.05dMakovickyite
Ag
 
1.5
Bi
 
5.5
S
 
9
2.JA.05fMummeite
Ag
 
2
CuPbBi
 
6
S
 
13
2.JA.05aPavonite
(Ag,Cu)(Bi,Pb)
 
3
S
 
5
2.JA.05bGrumiplucite
HgBi
 
2
S
 
4
2.JA.05hMozgovaite
PbBi
 
4
(S,Se)
 
7
2.JA.05dCupromakovickyite
Cu
 
8
Pb
 
4
Ag
 
2
Bi
 
18
S
 
36
2.JA.05cKudriavite
(Cd,Pb)Bi
 
2
S
 
4
2.JA.05aIMA2005-036
Ag
 
3
Cu
 
8
Pb
 
4
Bi
 
19
S
 
38
2.JA.05IMA2008-058
Ag
 
5
Bi
 
13
S
 
22
2.JA.10aCuprobismutite
Cu
 
10
Bi
 
12
S
 
23
2.JA.10cHodrušite
Cu
 
8
Bi
 
12
S
 
22
2.JA.10ePadĕraite
Cu
 
5.9
Ag
 
1.3
Pb
 
1.6
Bi
 
11.2
S
 
22
2.JA.10dPizgrischite
Cu
 
17
Bi
 
17
S
 
35
2.JA.10bKupčíkite
(Cu,Fe)
 
4
Bi
 
5
S
 
10
2.JA.15Schapbachite
AgBiS
 
2
2.JA.15Cuboargyrite
AgSbS
 
2
2.JA.20Bohdanowiczite
AgBiSe
 
2
2.JA.20Matildite
AgBiS
 
2
2.JA.20Volynskite
AgBiTe
 
2
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
5.4.3Aktashite
Cu
 
6
Hg
 
3
As
 
4
S
 
12
5.4.4Laffittite
AgHgAsS
 
3
5.4.5Galkhaite
(Cs,Tl)(Hg,Cu,Zn)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
12
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 Livingstonite

Other Languages:
German:Livingstonit
Russian:Ливингстонит
Spanish:Livingstonita

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 Livingstonite

Reference List:Barcena (1874), Naturaleza: 3: 35.

Barcena (1874), American Journal of Science: 8: 145.

Barcena (1875), American Journal of Science: 9: 64.

Barcena (1879), Naturaleza: 4: 268.

Richmond (1936), American Mineralogist: 21: 719.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 485-486.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1975): 141: 174-192.

Internet Links for Livingstonite

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

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