Aurihydrargyrumite
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About Aurihydrargyrumite
Formula:
Au6Hg5
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
16.86 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
For its composition, being a natural amalgam of gold (Latin: aurum) and mercury (Latin: hydrargyrum).
Type Locality:
The natural Au6Hg5 phase (synthetic). Aurihydrargyrumite forms through the weathering of mercury-bearing placer gold by involvement of self-electrorefining. The core of the particle consists mainly of a gold–silver–mercury alloy which is overlain by a gold-rich zone consists of a gold–mercury alloy, where the silver components are generally absent.
Classification of Aurihydrargyrumite
Approved
Approval year:
2017
First published:
2018
1/A.02-
1.AD.
1.AD.
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
D : Mercury-amalgam family
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
D : Mercury-amalgam family
Physical Properties of Aurihydrargyrumite
Metallic
Comment:
Metallic silver luster
Streak:
Silver white
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Malleable
Density:
16.86 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Chemical Properties of Aurihydrargyrumite
Formula:
Au6Hg5
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Aurihydrargyrumite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mcm
Setting:
P63/mcm
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.9960(10) Å, c = 10.154(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.451
Unit Cell V:
430.4 ų
Morphology:
Submicron- to 2 μm-thick layer on placer gold. A prismatic face may be formed by {001} and {100} or {110}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.877 Å | (29) |
| 2.434 Å | (42) |
| 2.337 Å | (100) |
| 2.234 Å | (87) |
| 1.401 Å | (39) |
| 1.301 Å | (41) |
| 1.286 Å | (29) |
| 1.225 Å | (65) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Type Occurrence of Aurihydrargyrumite
General Appearance of Type Material:
As as a submicron- to 2 μm-thick layer on the outermost surface of the placer gold.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the mineralogical collections of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba, Japan, specimen number NSM-45047
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
Au5.95Hg5.05
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Nishio-Hamane, D., Tanaka, T., Minakawa, T. (2018): Aurihydrargyrumite, a Natural Au6Hg5 Phase from Japan. Minerals, 8: 415
Download:
Synonyms of Aurihydrargyrumite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
| 1.AD.05 | Mercury | Hg | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| 1.AD.10 | Belendorffite | Cu7Hg6 | Trig. |
| 1.AD.10 | Kolymite | Cu7Hg6 | Iso. |
| 1.AD.15c | Eugenite | Ag11Hg2 | Iso. |
| 1.AD.15b | Luanheite | Ag3Hg | Hex. |
| 1.AD.15d | Moschellandsbergite | Ag2Hg3 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) |
| 1.AD.15a | Paraschachnerite | Ag3Hg2 | Orth. |
| 1.AD.15a | Schachnerite | Ag1.1Hg0.9 | Hex. |
| 1.AD.20a | Weishanite | (Au,Ag,Hg) | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| 1.AD.20b | Goldamalgam (of Chen et al.) | (Au,Ag)Hg | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Im3m |
| 1.AD.25 | Potarite | PdHg | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mmm |
| 1.AD.30 | Leadamalgam | Pb0.7Hg0.3 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm |
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 Aurihydrargyrumite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Nishio-Hamane, D. and Minakawa, T. (2017) Aurihydrargyrumite, IMA 2017-003. CNMNC Newsletter No. 37, June 2017, page 739; Mineralogical Magazine: 81: 737–742.
Nishio-Hamane, D., Tanaka, T., Minakawa, T. (2018): Aurihydrargyrumite, a Natural Au6Hg5 Phase from Japan. Minerals, 8: 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/min8090415
Internet Links for Aurihydrargyrumite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-51827.html
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Aurihydrargyrumite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Japan (TL) | |
| Nishio-Hamane, D. and Minakawa, T. (2017) Aurihydrargyrumite, IMA 2017-003. CNMNC Newsletter No. 37, June 2017, page 739; Mineralogical Magazine, 81, 737–742. ;Nishio-Hamane, D., Tanaka, T., Minakawa, T. (2018): Aurihydrargyrumite, a Natural Au6Hg5 Phase from Japan. Minerals, 8: 415; |
Iyoki, Uchiko, Ehime Prefecture, Japan