Schuetteite
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About Schuetteite
Formula:
Hg2+3(SO4)O2
Colour:
Canary-, orange- and brownish yellow
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
8.18
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named after Curt Nicolaus Schuette (1895-1975), American mining engineer and geologist, who studied many mercury deposits.
Appears to form in two different ways, by action of sunlight and very small amounts of water on cinnabar and the reaction of sulfuric acid on native mercury (retorts, chimneys).
Classification of Schuetteite
Approved
6/B.03-10
7.BB.40
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
B : With medium-sized cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
B : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, without H2O
B : With medium-sized cations
30.1.13.1
30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : (AB)m(XO4)pZq, where m:p>2:1
30 : ANHYDROUS SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : (AB)m(XO4)pZq, where m:p>2:1
25.5.17
25 : Sulphates
5 : Sulphates of Zn and Hg
25 : Sulphates
5 : Sulphates of Zn and Hg
Physical Properties of Schuetteite
Colour:
Canary-, orange- and brownish yellow
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Density:
8.18 g/cm3 (Measured) 8.36 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Schuetteite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nε = 2.100
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.000

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Chemical Properties of Schuetteite
Formula:
Hg2+3(SO4)O2
IMA Formula:
Hg3O2(SO4)
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Schuetteite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 2 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
P31 2 1
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.0429(5) Å, c = 10.0166(7) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.422
Unit Cell V:
430.28 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Coatings, tiny hexagonal plates.
Comment:
Determined on synthetic material (Weil, 2001).
Type Occurrence of Schuetteite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 117725
Geological Setting of Type Material:
A recently formed secondary mineral in opalite [chalcedonic] mercury deposits, typically formed on cinnabar exposed to sunlight.
Other Language Names for Schuetteite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
7.BB.05 | Caminite | Mg7(SO4)5(OH)4 · H2O | Tet. |
7.BB.10 | Hauckite | Fe3+3(Mg,Mn2+)24Zn18(SO4)4(CO3)2(OH)81 | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mmm |
7.BB.15 | Antlerite | Cu3(SO4)(OH)4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
7.BB.20 | Dolerophanite | Cu2(SO4)O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
7.BB.25 | Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
7.BB.30 | Vergasovaite | Cu3(SO4)(MoO4,SO4)O | Orth. |
7.BB.35 | Klebelsbergite | Sb4O4(SO4)(OH)2 | Orth. mm2 |
7.BB.45 | Paraotwayite | Ni(OH)2-x(SO4,CO3)0.5x | Mon. |
7.BB.50 | Xocomecatlite | Cu3(TeO4)(OH)4 | Orth. |
7.BB.55 | Pauflerite | (V4+O)SO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
7.BB.60 | Grandviewite | Cu3Al9(SO4)2(OH)29 | Mon. 2 : P2 |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
25.5.1 | Zinkosite | ZnSO4 | Orth. |
25.5.2 | Goslarite | ZnSO4 · 7H2O | Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21 |
25.5.3 | Namuwite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 4H2O | Trig. 3 : P3 |
25.5.4 | Ktenasite | Zn(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O | Mon. |
25.5.5 | Ramsbeckite | (Cu,Zn)15(SO4)4(OH)22 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m |
25.5.6 | Boyleite | (Zn,Mg)SO4 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
25.5.7 | Serpierite | Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
25.5.8 | Orthoserpierite | Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | Orth. mm2 : Pca21 |
25.5.9 | Zincaluminite | Zn6Al6(SO4)2(OH)16 · 5H2O | |
25.5.10 | Glaucocerinite | (Zn1-xAlx)(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O | Hex. |
25.5.11 | Gunningite | ZnSO4 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
25.5.12 | Chaidamuite | ZnFe3+(SO4)2(OH) · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
25.5.13 | Bianchite | (Zn,Fe)SO4 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
25.5.15 | Zincmelanterite | (Zn,Cu,Fe)SO4 · 7H2O | Mon. |
25.5.16 | Zincobotryogen | (Zn,Mg,Mn2+)Fe3+(SO4)2(OH) · 7H2O | Mon. 2/m |
25.5.18 | Gianellaite | [(NHg2)2](SO4)(H2O)x | Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m |
Other Information
Notes:
Does not darken on exposure to light.
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 Schuetteite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Bailey, E. H., Hildebrand, F. A., Christ, C. L., Fahey, J. J. (1959): Schuetteite, a new supergene mercury mineral. American Mineralogist 44, 1026-1038.
Weil, M. (2001): Schuetteite, Hg3(SO4)O2, a re-investigation. Acta Crystallographica E57, i98-i100.
Internet Links for Schuetteite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3587.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Schuetteite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Russia | |
| Pervukhina, N. V., & Romanenko, G. V. (1999). New Data On The Mercury Oxide-Chloride Mineral Poyarkovite: The Second Find, And Crystal. Structure Determination. Canadian Mineralogist 37:119-126; Pervukhina, N. V., Vasil’ev, V. I., Borisov, S. V., Magarill, S. A., & Naumov, D. Y. (2003). The crystal structure of a polymorph of Hg2+ 3S2Br1. 0Cl0. 5I0. 5. The Canadian Mineralogist, 41(6), 1445-1453. |
| Pervukhina, N. V., Vasil’ev, V. I., Borisov, S. V., Magarill, S. A., & Naumov, D. Y. (2003). The crystal structure of a polymorph of Hg2+ 3S2Br1. 0Cl0. 5I0. 5. The Canadian Mineralogist, 41(6), 1445-1453. |
Spain | |
| Navarro, A., Cardellach, E., & Corbella, M. (2009). Mercury mobility in mine waste from Hg-mining areas in Almería, Andalusia (Se Spain). Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 101(3), 236-246.; Mendoza, J. L., Navarro, A., & Cuitiño, L. (2006). Nueva interpretación metalogenética del yacimiento de mercurio del Valle del Azogue (Almería), España. In XI Congreso Geológico Chileno, Actas (Vol. 2). |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data, Ignacio Gaspar specimen |
Reiner Mielke 2015 | |
Jordi Fabre | |
USA | |
| Pampeyan, Earl Haig (1963), Geology and mineral deposits of Mount Diablo, Contra Costa County, California: California Division Mines & Geol., Special Report 80, 31 pp.: 24; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 332; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 303. |
| American Mineralogist (1979): 64(3-4): 1026-1038; Bailey, Edgar H., et al (1959), Schuetteite, a new supergene mercury mineral: American Mineralogist: 44: 1026-1038; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 303. |
| Mineralogical Record: 36(4): 337-363. |
| Collected by David Shannon in 1983. |
| Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History specimen YPM MIN 035267 (http://collections.peabody.yale.edu/search/Record/YPM-MIN-035267); http://www.lehighminerals.com/cgi-bin/dbase/views_record.cgi?dbase=/home/lmineral/public_html/cgi-bin/auctions/dbase/archive/05182007.txt&fielda=38&fieldb=37 ; http://www.dakotamatrix.com/mineralpedia/8132/schuetteite#!prettyPhoto |
| Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 303; American Mineralogist: 64(3-4): 1026-1038. |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada; Am Min 64:3-4 pp 1026-1038 |
| Rocks & Minerals, Nov. 1999 ; Am Min 64:3-4 pp 1026-1038 |
NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada | |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
| Gunnar Färber |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
| Handbook of Mineralogy (http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/schuetteite.pdf) |
Rainbow mine, Terlingua District, Brewster Co., Texas, USA