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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.

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Classification of BalkaniteHide

IMA status:

Approved

Strunz 8th ed.:

2/B.09-20

Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) ed.:

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

Dana 8th ed.:

2.16.7.1

2 : SULFIDES
16 : Miscellaneous

Hey's CIM Ref.:

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

Physical Properties of BalkaniteHide

Lustre:

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 BalkaniteHide

Type:

Anisotropic

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 BalkaniteHide

Formula:

Cu₉Ag₅HgS₈

alternatively (Cu_9−xMe_2+x)Ag_5−xHgS₈ (x = 0.3) (from Biagioni & Bindi 2016)

IMA Formula:

Ag₅Cu₉HgS₈

Elements listed:

Ag, Cu, Hg, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of BalkaniteHide

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)°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 2.44 : 1 : 2.718

Unit Cell V:

398.06 Å³

Morphology:

Rod like prismatic crystals.

Twinning:

Lamellar in several directions

Comment:

sp. gr. P222, Pmm2 or Pmmm

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.09	(7)
2.98	(10)
2.61	(8)
2.55	(10)
2.45	(8)
1.985	(8)
1.955	(9)

Comments:

Sedmochislenitsi deposit, Bulgaria.

Type Occurrence of BalkaniteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Sedmochislenitsi Mine (Sedmocislenici Mine), Balkan Mts (Stara Planina), Vratsa Oblast (Vratza), Bulgaria

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 BalkaniteHide

IMA1971-009

Other Language Names for BalkaniteHide

German:Balkanit

Simplified Chinese:硫汞铜银矿

Spanish:Balkanita

Common AssociatesHide

Aragonite	CaCO₃
Baryte	BaSO₄
Bismuth	Bi
Bornite	Cu₅FeS₄
Calcite	CaCO₃
Chalcocite	Cu₂S
Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
Cinnabar	HgS
Digenite	Cu₉S₅
Djurleite	Cu₃₁S₁₆
Mckinstryite	Ag_5-xCu_3+xS₄
Pyrite	FeS₂
Rammelsbergite	NiAs₂
Silver	Ag
Stromeyerite	AgCuS
Tennantite	Cu₆[Cu₄(Fe,Zn)₂]As₄S₁₃
Wittichenite	Cu₃BiS₃

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping Hide

2.BD.	UM2004-33-S:AgCuHgSe	(Ag,Cu)₈Hg₃(S,Se)₇
2.BD.05	Imiterite	Ag₂HgS₂	Mon.
2.BD.10	Gortdrumite	Cu₁₈FeHg₆S₁₆	Orth.
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)₂Cu_8.7Sb₂S₄	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.)Hide

2.16.7.2

Danielsite

(Cu,Ag)₁₄HgS₈

Orth.

Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping Hide

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
3.5.7	Danielsite	(Cu,Ag)₁₄HgS₈	Orth.
3.5.8	Coloradoite	HgTe	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m)
3.5.9	Gortdrumite	Cu₁₈FeHg₆S₁₆	Orth.
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

Other InformationHide

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 BalkaniteHide

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. (2016): Ordered distribution of Cu and Ag in the crystal structure of balkanite, Cu₉Ag₅HgS₈. European Journal of Mineralogy: 28 (in press).

http://forum.amiminerals.it/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13016&sid=f202e1cb80657d6e2a7259f1a965fd1e (2016)

Internet Links for BalkaniteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-496.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Search Engines:

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External Links:

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Look for Balkanite on Wikipedia

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

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Balkanite specimens for sale - minfind.com

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Localities for BalkaniteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

(TL) indicates type locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) indicates first recorded locality for everything else. ? 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.


Austria
Salzburg Saalfelden Leogang Hütten Schwarzleograben Schwarzleo District ⓘ Erasmus adit	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)
Tyrol North Tyrol Kitzbühel Alps Fieberbrunn ⓘ Röhrerbühel (Rohrer Berg; Röhrerbichel; Röhrerbüchel; Rerobichl)	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
Luxembourg Province Stavelot Massif Vielsalm ⓘ Salmchâteau ?	http://perso.infonie.be/jose.dehove/photos/Salmchateau.htm

Bulgaria (TL)
Vratsa Oblast (Vratza) Balkan Mts (Stara Planina) ⓘ Sedmochislenitsi Mine (Sedmocislenici Mine) (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.

China
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Baise Prefecture Leye Co. ⓘ Langquan Au deposit	Lin Niu (1994): Geology and Prospecting 30(3), 1-8

Italy
Sardinia Carbonia-Iglesias Province Iglesias Punta della Torre ⓘ San Giovanni Mine	Orlandi, P. & Campostrini, I. (2005): Zibaldone. Aggiornamenti di mineralogia italiana 2004. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 3/2005, 184-191.

Mexico
Sonora ⓘ Agua Prieta	Handbook of Mineralogy
Cerro Morita ⓘ Unnamed prospect	Handbook of Mineralogy

USA
Nevada Nye Co. Toquima Range ⓘ Manhattan District	NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada

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Balkanite