Livingstonite
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About Livingstonite
Formula:
HgSb4S6(S2)
Colour:
Blackish-gray
Lustre:
Adamantine, Metallic
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
4.88
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named by Mariano Barcena in 1874 in honor of David Livingston (19 March 1813, Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, Scotland - 1 May 1873, Chief Chitambo's Village, Zambia), the African explorer and missionary.
This page provides mineralogical data about Livingstonite.
Classification of Livingstonite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First Published:
1874
2/E.13-10
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
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
3.7.11.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
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
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
4 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Zn and Hg
Physical Properties of Livingstonite
Adamantine, Metallic
Transparency:
Translucent, Opaque
Colour:
Blackish-gray
Streak:
Red
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=96 - 125 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Elastic
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001} perfect, {010}, and {100} poor.
{001} perfect, {010}, and {100} poor.
Density:
4.88(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 5.013 g/cm3 (Calculated)
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:
HgSb4S6(S2)
IMA Formula:
HgSb4S6(S)2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Livingstonite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 30.1543(10) Å, b = 3.9953(2) Å, c = 21.4262(13) Å
β = 104.265(1)°
β = 104.265(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 7.547 : 1 : 5.363
Unit Cell V:
2501.7 ų
Z:
8
Morphology:
Minute needles elongated [010]. Columnar to fibrous massive; in globular masses of interlaced needles.
Comment:
A2/a
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Type Occurrence of Livingstonite
Other Language Names for Livingstonite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
2.JA.05e | Benjaminite | Ag3Bi7S12 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.JA.05g | Borodaevite | Ag5(Bi,Pb,Fe)8(Sb,Bi)2S17 | Mon. |
2.JA.05a | Cupropavonite | Cu0.9Ag0.5Pb0.6Bi2.5S5 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.JA.05a | Kitaibelite | Ag10PbBi30S51 | |
2.JA.05d | Makovickyite | Cu1.12Ag0.81Pb0.27Bi5.35S9 | Mon. 2/m |
2.JA.05f | Mummeite | Cu0.58Ag3.11Pb1.10Bi6.65S13 | Mon. |
2.JA.05a | Pavonite | AgBi3S5 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.JA.05b | Grumiplucite | HgBi2S4 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.JA.05h | Mozgovaite | PbBi4(S,Se)7 | Orth. |
2.JA.05d | Cupromakovickyite | Cu4AgPb2Bi9S18 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.JA.05c | Kudriavite | (Cd,Pb)Bi2S4 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.JA.05a | Cupromakopavonite | Ag3Cu8Pb4Bi19S38 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.JA.05 | Dantopaite | Ag5Bi13S22 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.JA.10a | Cuprobismutite | Cu8AgBi13S24 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.JA.10c | Hodrušite | Cu8Bi12S22 | Mon. |
2.JA.10e | Padĕraite | Cu7[(Cu,Ag)0.33Pb1.33Bi11.33]S22 | Mon. |
2.JA.10d | Pizgrischite | (Cu,Fe)Cu14PbBi17S35 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.JA.10b | Kupčíkite | Cu3.4Fe0.6Bi5S10 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.JA.15 | Schapbachite | Ag0.4Pb0.2Bi0.4S | Iso. |
2.JA.15 | Cuboargyrite | AgSbS2 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) |
2.JA.20 | Bohdanowiczite | AgBiSe2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
2.JA.20 | Matildite | AgBiS2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
2.JA.20 | Volynskite | AgBiTe2 | Orth. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
5.4.1 | Nowackiite | Cu6Zn3As4S12 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
5.4.2 | Florensovite | (Cu,Zn)Cr1.5Sb0.5S4 | |
5.4.3 | Aktashite | Cu6Hg3As4S12 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
5.4.4 | Laffittite | AgHgAsS3 | Mon. |
5.4.5 | Galkhaite | (Cs,Tl)(Hg,Cu,Zn)6(As,Sb)4S12 | Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m |
5.4.7 | Gruzdevite | Cu6Hg3Sb4S12 | Trig. |
5.4.8 | Tvalchrelidzeite | Hg3SbAsS3 | Mon. 2/m |
5.4.9 | Hakite | Cu6[Cu4Hg2]Sb4Se13 | Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m |
Other Information
Health Risks:
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:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Barcena, M. (1874) Naturaleza: 3: 35.
Barcena, M. (1874) On livingstonite, a new mineral. American Journal of Science: 108: 145-146.
Barcena, M. (1875) American Journal of Science: 9: 64.
Barcena, M. (1879) Naturaleza: 4: 268.
Richmond, W.E. (1936) Crystallography of livingstonite. American Mineralogist: 21: 719-720.
Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (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.
Niizeki, N., Buerger, M.J. (1957) The crystal structure of livingstonite, HgSb4S8. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 109: 129-157.
Srikrishnan, T., W. Nowacki (1975) A redetermination of the crystal structure of livingstonite, HgSb4S8. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 141: 174–192.
Borisov, S.V., Pervukhina, N.V., Magarill, S.A., Kuratieva, N.V., Vasil’ev, V.I. (2010) Crystallographic analysis of the structure of livingstonite HgSb4S8 from refined data. Crystallography Reports: 55: 224-228.
Internet Links for Livingstonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2424.html
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Livingstonite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| G. Nottes & U. Heidtke (1986) Aufschluss 37, 31-36 |
China | |
| Zhengjiang Ding, Fengyue Sun, Bile Li, Shijin Li, Junwei Zhao, Hui Zhao, and Li Wang (2010): Geology and Exploration 46(2), 198-206 |
Germany | |
| Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990 |
| Lapis 2001(6), 13-40 |
Italy | |
| Pellecchia, M. and Passarino, G. (2018) Tesori nascosti nelle collezioni. Livingstonite tra i minerali su marmo di Carrara di Francesco Bedogné. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 42 (3), 176-184. |
Japan | |
| Mineralogical Journal, Spec. 1, 157-159 (1971) |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| [Lapis 11:11-24]; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow |
| [Lapis 1993:11 p11-24] |
Mexico (TL) | |
| Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 141, 174(1957) |
Panczner(1987):254. | |
Pancnzer(1987):94-386. | |
Panczner (1987): 254. | |
Panczner (1987): 254. | |
New Zealand | |
| Mineralogical Magazine; February 2004; v. 68; no. 1; p. 191-198 |
Hampton, W.A., White, G.P., Hoskin, P.W.O., Browne, P.R.L., Rodgers , K.A. (2004) Cinnabar, livingstonite, stibnite and pyrite in Pliocene silica sinter from Northland, New Zealand. Mineralogical Magazine 68:1, 191-198. | |
Russia | |
| Vikent'eva, O., & Vikentev, I. (2016, April). Occurrence modes of As, Sb, Te, Bi, Ag in sulfide assemblages of gold deposits of the Urals. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering (Vol. 123, No. 1, p. 012028). IOP Publishing. |
| Vikent'eva, O., & Vikentev, I. (2016, April). Occurrence modes of As, Sb, Te, Bi, Ag in sulfide assemblages of gold deposits of the Urals. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering (Vol. 123, No. 1, p. 012028). IOP Publishing. |
Spain | |
| Crespo, J. L., Moro, M. C., Fadón, O., Cabrera, R., & Fernández, A. (2000). The Salamón gold deposit (León, Spain). Journal of Geochemical Exploration,71(2), 191-208. |
| - Luque, C., Garcia, J. and García, P. (1989): Características Geoquimicas de los Cinabrios de la Cordillera Cantábrica (NW de España): Utilidad en prospección. Trabajos de Geología Universidad de Oviedo(18) pp. 1-11 |
Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 1, 1990 | |
USA | |
| U.S. Geological Survey,2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S Geological Survey,Reston, Virginia |
| Roberts, A.C. et al (2003), The Canadian Mineralogist: 41(3): 721-725. |
U.S. Geological Survey,2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S Geological Survey,Reston, Virginia | |
| NBMG Bull 99B Geology and Mineral Resources of Northern Nye County, Nevada |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
Mun. de Huitzuco, Guerrero, Mexico