Balkanite
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About Balkanite
Formula:
Cu9Ag5HgS8
alternatively (Cu9−xMe2+x)Ag5−xHgS8 (x = 0.3) (Biagioni & Bindi, 2017)
Colour:
Steel Grey
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
6.318
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
For the medieval and popular name of the Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains), the type locality.
Compare danielsite.
Balkanite's structure is not layered, but may be desribed by (1) alternation (along a) of Cu-rich and Ag-rich layers or (2) as the one based on two alternating atomic (010) layers: [Cu4Ag3HgS4]+ and [Cu5Ag2S4]−, or (3) alternation of two polyhedral layers: [Cu7Ag3S4]2+ and [Cu2Ag2HgS4]2−. Coordination of Hg is linear, Ag - tetrahedral or a distorted octahedral, and that of Cu - linear or planar triangular.
Balkanite's structure is not layered, but may be desribed by (1) alternation (along a) of Cu-rich and Ag-rich layers or (2) as the one based on two alternating atomic (010) layers: [Cu4Ag3HgS4]+ and [Cu5Ag2S4]−, or (3) alternation of two polyhedral layers: [Cu7Ag3S4]2+ and [Cu2Ag2HgS4]2−. Coordination of Hg is linear, Ag - tetrahedral or a distorted octahedral, and that of Cu - linear or planar triangular.
Classification of Balkanite
Approved
2/B.09-20
2.BD.15
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl
2.16.7.1
2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous
3.5.6
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
Physical Properties of Balkanite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Steel Grey
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=79.4 - 91.6 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
6.318 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.421 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured on synthetic material
Optical Data of Balkanite
Anisotropism:
Strong
Reflectivity:
440nm | R1=35.4% | R2= 30.6% |
460nm | R1=35.6% | R2= 31.0% |
480nm | R1=35.4% | R2= 31.0% |
500nm | R1=35.0% | R2= 30.2% |
520nm | R1=34.0% | R2= 28.9% |
540nm | R1=34.0% | R2= 28.0% |
560nm | R1=33.4% | R2= 27.2% |
580nm | R1=32.8% | R2= 26.5% |
600nm | R1=32.4% | R2= 26.0% |
620nm | R1=32.1% | R2= 25.6% |
640nm | R1=31.8% | R2= 25.1% |
660nm | R1=31.5% | R2= 24.9% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 35.6%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
White-grey
Chemical Properties of Balkanite
Formula:
Cu9Ag5HgS8
alternatively (Cu9−xMe2+x)Ag5−xHgS8 (x = 0.3) (Biagioni & Bindi, 2017)
alternatively (Cu9−xMe2+x)Ag5−xHgS8 (x = 0.3) (Biagioni & Bindi, 2017)
IMA Formula:
Ag5Cu9HgS8
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Balkanite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P2/m
Setting:
P2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.5539(11) Å, b = 3.9150(4) Å, c = 10.6424(12) Å
β = 90.047(9)°
β = 90.047(9)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.44 : 1 : 2.718
Unit Cell V:
398.06 ų
Morphology:
Rod-like prismatic crystals.
Twinning:
Lamellar in several directions
Comment:
Pseudo-orthorhombic. Originall assumed to be orthorhombic, with space group P222, Pmm2 or Pmmm.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.09 Å | (7) |
2.98 Å | (10) |
2.61 Å | (8) |
2.55 Å | (10) |
2.45 Å | (8) |
1.985 Å | (8) |
1.955 Å | (9) |
Comments:
Sedmochislenitsi deposit, Bulgaria.
Type Occurrence of Balkanite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical Museum of the Higher Institute of Mining and Geology, 619; Museum of the University of Sofia “Kliment Ohridsky”, Sofia, 1351; National Museum of Natural History, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2339.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
High-grade copper ores in stratiform deposit.
Synonyms of Balkanite
Other Language Names for Balkanite
Common Associates
Aragonite | CaCO3 |
Baryte | BaSO4 |
Bismuth | Bi |
Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
Calcite | CaCO3 |
Chalcocite | Cu2S |
Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
Cinnabar | HgS |
Digenite | Cu9S5 |
Djurleite | Cu31S16 |
Mckinstryite | Ag5-xCu3+xS4 |
Pyrite | FeS2 |
Rammelsbergite | NiAs2 |
Silver | Ag |
Stromeyerite | AgCuS |
Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4 C2+2)As4S12S |
Wittichenite | Cu3BiS3 |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
2.BD. | UM2004-33-S:AgCuHgSe | (Ag,Cu)8Hg3(S,Se)7 | |
2.BD.05 | Imiterite | Ag2HgS2 | Mon. |
2.BD.10 | Gortdrumite | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
2.BD.15 | Danielsite | (Cu,Ag)14HgS8 | Orth. |
2.BD.20 | Donharrisite | Ni3HgS3 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
2.BD.25 | Carlinite | Tl2S | Trig. 3 : R3 |
2.BD.30 | Bukovite | Tl2(Cu,Fe)4Se4 | Tet. |
2.BD.30 | Murunskite | K2(Cu,Fe)4S4 | Tet. |
2.BD.30 | Thalcusite | Tl2Cu3FeS4 | Tet. |
2.BD.35 | Rohaite | (Tl,Pb,K)2Cu8.7Sb2S4 | Orth. |
2.BD.40 | Chalcothallite | Tl2(Cu,Fe)6SbS4 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm |
2.BD.45 | Sabatierite | Cu6TlSe4 | Orth. |
2.BD.50 | Crookesite | Cu7(Tl, Ag)Se4 | Tet. |
2.BD.55 | Brodtkorbite | Cu2HgSe2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
2.16.7.2 | Danielsite | (Cu,Ag)14HgS8 | Orth. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
3.5.1 | Cinnabar | HgS | Trig. 3 2 : P31 2 1 |
3.5.2 | Hypercinnabar | HgS | Hex. |
3.5.3 | Metacinnabar | HgS | Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m |
3.5.4 | Imiterite | Ag2HgS2 | Mon. |
3.5.5 | Tiemannite | HgSe | Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m |
3.5.7 | Danielsite | (Cu,Ag)14HgS8 | Orth. |
3.5.8 | Coloradoite | HgTe | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) |
3.5.9 | Gortdrumite | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
3.5.10 | Polhemusite | (Zn,Hg)S | Tet. |
3.5.11 | Carlinite | Tl2S | Trig. 3 : R3 |
3.5.12 | Crookesite | Cu7(Tl, Ag)Se4 | Tet. |
3.5.13 | Sabatierite | Cu6TlSe4 | Orth. |
3.5.14 | Picotpaulite | TlFe2S3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
3.5.15 | Raguinite | TlFeS2 | Orth. |
3.5.16 | Thalcusite | Tl2Cu3FeS4 | Tet. |
3.5.17 | Bukovite | Tl2(Cu,Fe)4Se4 | Tet. |
3.5.18 | Gallite | CuGaS2 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d |
3.5.19 | Roquesite | CuInS2 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d |
3.5.20 | Indite | FeIn2S4 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
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 Balkanite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Atanassov, V.A., Kirov, G.N. (1973): Balkanite, Cu9Ag5HgS8, a new mineral from the Sedmochislenitsi mine, Bulgaria. American Mineralogist: 58: 11-15.
Biagioni C., Bindi, L. (2017): Ordered distribution of Cu and Ag in the crystal structure of balkanite, Cu9Ag5HgS8. European Journal of Mineralogy: 29, 279-285.
Internet Links for Balkanite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-496.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 Balkanite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Austria | |
| Paar, W. H. & Chen, T. T. (1985): Zur Mineralogie von Cu-Ni(Co)-Pb-Ag-Hg-Erzen im Revier Schwarzleo bei Leogang, Salzburg, Österreich. Mitt. österr. geol. Ges. 78, 125-148.; A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs (1989) |
| Steiner, M., Vavtar, F., Tropper, P. (2008): Rare Ag ores (danielsite, balkanite) from the fahlore deposit of the Röhrerbühel (N-Tyrol, Austria). Poster, Annual Meeting of the DMG, Berlin, Germany, September 14-17, 2008; CD with abstracts, Abs. no. 292; Steiner M., Vavtar F., Tropper P., Kaindl R. (2009): Silbererze (Balkanit und Danielsit) in den Fahlerzen von Röhrerbühel. In: Oeggl K., Prast M. (Hrsg.), Die Geschichte des Bergbaus in Tirol und seinen angrenzenden Gebieten. Proceedings zum 3. Milestone-Meeting des SFB-HiMAT vom 23.–26. 10. 2008 in Silbertal, Innsbruck, 193-195; Steiner, M., Tropper, P., Vavtar, F., Kaindl, R. & Krismer, M. (2010): Balkanite from the Cu ore deposit Röhrerbühel, Kitzbühel (N-Tyrol, Austria). N. Jb. Mineral. Abh. 187, 207-215. |
Belgium | |
| http://perso.infonie.be/jose.dehove/photos/Salmchateau.htm |
Bulgaria (TL) | |
| Atanassov, V.A. and Kirov, G.N. (1973): Balkanite, Cu9Ag5HgS8, a new mineral from the Sedmochislenitsi mine, Bulgaria. American Mineralogist, 58, 11-15.; ATANASSOVA, S. THE PRESERVED MINERAL DIVERSITY OF SEDMOCHISLENITSI DEPOSIT, VRATSA ORE REGION.; Svetla Atanassova, The Preserved Mineral Diversity of Sedmochislenitsi Deposit, Vratsa Ore Region. pp 207-216 |
China | |
| Lin Niu (1994): Geology and Prospecting 30(3), 1-8 |
Italy | |
| Orlandi, P. & Campostrini, I. (2005): Zibaldone. Aggiornamenti di mineralogia italiana 2004. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 3/2005, 184-191. |
Mexico | |
| Handbook of Mineralogy |
| Handbook of Mineralogy |
Russia | |
| Zaykov, V. V., Melekestseva, I. Y., Zaykova, E. V., Kotlyarov, V. A., & Kraynev, Y. D. (2017). Gold and platinum group minerals in placers of the South Urals: Composition, microinclusions of ore minerals and primary sources. Ore Geology Reviews, 85, 299-320. |
| Novoselov, K., Belogub, E., Palenova, E., Blinov, I. (2020): Silver minerals in the Unkur sandstone-hosted Cu deposit (Transbaikalia region, Russia). Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen: Journal of Mineralogy and Geochemistry (online). https://doi.org/10.1127/njma/2020/0192 |
USA | |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
Manhattan Mining District, Toquima Range, Nye Co., Nevada, USA