Aktashite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Aktashite
Formula:
Cu6Hg3As4S12
Colour:
Gray-black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
5.5
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named after its discovery locality in Russia.
Published without approbation, but recognized as valid species by the IMA CNMNC Sulfosalts Subcommittee (2008).
Published without approbation, but recognized as valid species by the IMA CNMNC Sulfosalts Subcommittee (2008).
Isostructural with:
Hg analogue of nowackiite and zhengminghuaite; As analogue of gruzdevite.
Compare UM1990-33-S:AsCuHg.
Compare UM1990-33-S:AsCuHg.
Unique Identifiers
IMA Classification of Aktashite
Classification of Aktashite
2.GA.30
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
3.4.13.2
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
5.4.3
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
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Ats | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Aktashite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Gray-black
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN50=300 - 346 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
5.5 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.72 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Aktashite
Anisotropism:
Weak, in shades of blue
Reflectivity:
Wavelength | R |
---|---|
472nm | 30.7% |
496nm | 30.7% |
527nm | 30.8% |
546nm | 30.7% |
579nm | 29.9% |
608nm | 29.3% |
640nm | 28.5% |
670nm | 27.6% |
691nm | 27.2% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 30.8%.
Colour in reflected light:
White
Chemistry of Aktashite
Mindat Formula:
Cu6Hg3As4S12
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Zn,Sb
Crystallography of Aktashite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
R3
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.730(3) Å, c = 9.329(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.679
Unit Cell V:
1,523.02 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Rarely in crystals resembling trigonal pyramids, to 0.2 mm, which may be zoned with gruzdevite; as xenomorphic grains and granular aggregates.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
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Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0012465 | Aktashite | Kaplunik L N, Pobedimskaya E A, Belov N V (1980) Kristallicheskaya struktura aktashimita Cu6Hg3As4S12 Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 251 96-98 | 1980 | 0 | 293 | ||
0018863 | Aktashite | Vasil'ev V I, Pervukhina N V, Borisov S V, Magarill S A, Naumov D Y, Kurat'eva N V (2010) Aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 from the Aktash Deposit, Altai, Russia: Refinement and crystal chemical analysis of the structure Geology of Ore Deposits 52 656-661 | 2010 | Aktash deposit, Gorny Altai, Russia | 0 | 293 | |
0018891 | Aktashite | Nowacki W (1982) Isotypy in aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 and nowackiite Cu6Zn3As4S12 Soviet Physics Crystallography 27 26-27 | 1982 | not given | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
4.04 Å | (20) |
3.10 Å | (100) |
2.69 Å | (70) |
1.903 Å | (100) |
1.621 Å | (100) |
1.554 Å | (20) |
1.345 Å | (30) |
1.236 Å | (40) |
1.204 Å | (20) |
Comments:
Gal-Khaya, Yakutia, Russia (ICDD 25-298).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Geological Setting:
Hydrothermal veins
Type Occurrence of Aktashite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small (0.01-0.2 mm) euhedral crystals and granular aggregates.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Central Siberian Geological Museum, Novosibirsk, Russia, III-14/1; National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Uncommon, of hydrothermal origin in complex polymetallic As–Hg-bearing deposits.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Aktashite
Relationship of Aktashite to other Species
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
3 photos of Aktashite associated with Arsiccioite | AgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6 |
2 photos of Aktashite associated with Realgar | As4S4 |
1 photo of Aktashite associated with Tlapallite | (Ca,Pb)3CaCu6[Te4+3Te6+O12]2(Te4+O3)2(SO4)2 · 3H2O |
1 photo of Aktashite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.GA. | Arsiccioite | AgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6 |
2.GA. | Eckerite | Ag2CuAsS3 |
2.GA. | Pyradoketosite | Ag3SbS3 |
2.GA.05 | Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
2.GA.05 | Pyrargyrite | Ag3SbS3 |
2.GA.10 | Pyrostilpnite | Ag3SbS3 |
2.GA.10 | Xanthoconite | Ag3AsS3 |
2.GA.15 | Samsonite | Ag4MnSb2S6 |
2.GA.20 | Skinnerite | Cu3SbS3 |
2.GA.20 | Wittichenite | Cu3BiS3 |
2.GA.20 | Bytízite | Cu3SbSe3 |
2.GA.25 | Lapieite | NiCuSbS3 |
2.GA.25 | Mückeite | NiCu(Bi,Sb)S3 |
2.GA.25 | Malyshevite | PdCuBiS3 |
2.GA.25 | Lisiguangite | PtCuBiS3 |
2.GA.25 | Roterbärite | PdBiCuSe3 |
2.GA.30 | Gruzdevite | Cu6Hg3Sb4S12 |
2.GA.30 | Nowackiite | Cu6Zn3As4S12 |
2.GA.30 | Zhengminghuaite | Cu6Fe3As4S12 |
2.GA.35 | Laffittite | AgHgAsS3 |
2.GA.40 | Routhierite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
2.GA.40 | Stalderite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
2.GA.40 | Ralphcannonite | AgZn2TlAs2S6 |
2.GA.40 | Ferrostalderite | CuFe2TlAs2S6 |
2.GA.40 | Unnamed (Ag-Fe endmember of Routhierite Group) | AgFe2TlAs2S6 |
2.GA.45 | Erniggliite | Tl2SnAs2S6 |
2.GA.50 | Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
2.GA.50 | Seligmannite | PbCuAsS3 |
2.GA.50 | Součekite | PbCuBi(S,Se)3 |
2.GA.50 | Unnamed (Pb-Cu-Bi Selenide) | PbCuBiSe3 |
2.GA.50 | Cerromojonite | CuPbBiSe3 |
2.GA.55 | Eldragónite | Cu6BiSe4(Se2) |
Fluorescence of Aktashite
Not fluorescent.
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in alkalis, H2SO4, HCl, and HF.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Aktashite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-74.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
References for Aktashite
Reference List:
Vasil’ev, V. I., Pervukhina, N. V., Borisov, S. V., Magarill, S. A., Naumov, D. Yu., Kurat’eva, N. V. (2010) Aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 from the Aktash deposit, Altai, Russia: Refinement and crystal chemical analysis of the structure. Geology of Ore Deposits, 52 (7) 656-661 doi:10.1134/s1075701510070184
Localities for Aktashite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and 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).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada | |
| MINFILE NUMBER: 104B 008 |
| Harris et al. (1988) +1 other reference |
Sabina (1991) | |
Econ Geol (1997) +1 other reference | |
China | |
| Gu et al. (2024) |
| www.idm.gov.vn (n.d.) |
France | |
| Anthony et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
Georgia | |
| Vasil’ev et al. (2009) +1 other reference |
| Anthony et al. (2016) |
Iran | |
| Asadi +3 other references |
Italy | |
| Biagioni et al. (2014) +1 other reference |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| Spiridonov et al. (1981) +2 other references |
Kolesar et al. (1993) +1 other reference | |
Mexico | |
| Lapis 2001 (1) |
Mineralogical Society of America - ... | |
Russia (TL) | |
| Clark (1993) +2 other references |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Bryzgalov et al. (1999) |
| Vikent'eva et al. (2016, April) |
| American Mineralogist +15 other references |
Spain | |
| Martín-Izard et al. (2009) |
Switzerland | |
| www.fglb.clubdesk.com (2020) |
Taiwan | |
| Henley et al. (2012) |
USA | |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Clark (2012) |
Quick NavTopAbout AktashiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Jas Roux, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France