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Aktashite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About AktashiteHide

Formula:
Cu6Hg3As4S12
Colour:
Gray-black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
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).
Isostructural with:
Hg analogue of nowackiite and zhengminghuaite; As analogue of gruzdevite.

Compare UM1990-33-S:AsCuHg.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
74
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:74:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
2eabce0c-c12c-49ca-bf3b-b9c3ca72848d

IMA Classification of AktashiteHide

Approved
IMA status notes:
Renamed by the IMA
Approval history:
Renamed by IMA: 2008

Classification of AktashiteHide

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
3.4.13.2

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

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference
AtsIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of AktashiteHide

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 AktashiteHide

Anisotropism:
Weak, in shades of blue
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR
472nm30.7%
496nm30.7%
527nm30.8%
546nm30.7%
579nm29.9%
608nm29.3%
640nm28.5%
670nm27.6%
691nm27.2%

Reflectance graph
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 AktashiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Cu6Hg3As4S12
Common Impurities:
Zn,Sb

Crystallography of AktashiteHide

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 StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0012465AktashiteKaplunik L N, Pobedimskaya E A, Belov N V (1980) Kristallicheskaya struktura aktashimita Cu6Hg3As4S12 Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 251 96-9819800293
0018863AktashiteVasil'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 52 656-6612010Aktash deposit, Gorny Altai, Russia0293
0018891AktashiteNowacki W (1982) Isotypy in aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 and nowackiite Cu6Zn3As4S12 Soviet Physics Crystallography 27 26-271982not given0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
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 EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest 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 AktashiteHide

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 AktashiteHide

German:Aktashit
Simplified Chinese:硫砷汞铜矿
Spanish:Aktashita

Relationship of Aktashite to other SpeciesHide

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
3 photos of Aktashite associated with ArsiccioiteAgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6
2 photos of Aktashite associated with RealgarAs4S4
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 QuartzSiO2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.GA.ArsiccioiteAgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.GA.EckeriteAg2CuAsS3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.GA.PyradoketositeAg3SbS3Mon. 2/m
2.GA.05ProustiteAg3AsS3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
2.GA.05PyrargyriteAg3SbS3Trig. 3m : R3c
2.GA.10PyrostilpniteAg3SbS3Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.GA.10XanthoconiteAg3AsS3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.GA.15SamsoniteAg4MnSb2S6Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.GA.20SkinneriteCu3SbS3Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.GA.20WitticheniteCu3BiS3Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21
2.GA.20BytíziteCu3SbSe3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.GA.25LapieiteNiCuSbS3Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21
2.GA.25MückeiteNiCu(Bi,Sb)S3Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21
2.GA.25MalyshevitePdCuBiS3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmm
2.GA.25LisiguangitePtCuBiS3Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21
2.GA.25RoterbäritePdBiCuSe3Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21
2.GA.30GruzdeviteCu6Hg3Sb4S12Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.30NowackiiteCu6Zn3As4S12Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.30ZhengminghuaiteCu6Fe3As4S12Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.35LaffittiteAgHgAsS3Mon. 2/m
2.GA.40RouthieriteTl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.GA.40StalderiteTl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)2(As,Sb)2S6Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.GA.40RalphcannoniteAgZn2TlAs2S6Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.GA.40FerrostalderiteCuFe2TlAs2S6Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.GA.40Unnamed (Ag-Fe endmember of Routhierite Group)AgFe2TlAs2S6
2.GA.45ErniggliiteTl2SnAs2S6Trig. 3 : P3
2.GA.50BournonitePbCuSbS3Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
2.GA.50SeligmannitePbCuAsS3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
2.GA.50SoučekitePbCuBi(S,Se)3Orth. mm2
2.GA.50Unnamed (Pb-Cu-Bi Selenide)PbCuBiSe3
2.GA.50CerromojoniteCuPbBiSe3Orth.
2.GA.55EldragóniteCu6BiSe4(Se2) Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)

Fluorescence of AktashiteHide

Not fluorescent.

Other InformationHide

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 AktashiteHide

References for AktashiteHide

Localities for AktashiteHide

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

- 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.
Canada
 
  • British Columbia
    • Liard Mining Division
      • Iskut River
MINFILE NUMBER: 104B 008
  • Ontario
    • Thunder Bay District
      • Bomby Township
Harris et al. (1988) +1 other reference
Sabina (1991)
Econ Geol (1997) +1 other reference
China
 
  • Guizhou
    • Qianxinan
      • Xingren County
Gu et al. (2024)
  • Sichuan
    • Ngawa Autonomous Prefecture (Aba Autonomous Prefecture)
      • Jiuzhaigou Co. (Nanping Co.)
www.idm.gov.vn (n.d.)
France
 
  • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
    • Hautes-Alpes
      • Gap
        • La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar
Anthony et al. (1990) +1 other reference
Georgia
 
  • Abkhazia
    • Gudauta District
      • Avadkhara ore field (Avadkhara deposit)
Vasil’ev et al. (2009) +1 other reference
  • Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti
    • Ambrolauri District
Anthony et al. (2016)
Iran
 
  • West Azerbaijan Province
    • Takab County
Asadi +3 other references
Italy
 
  • Tuscany
    • Lucca Province
      • Stazzema
        • Sant'Anna di Stazzema
Biagioni et al. (2014) +1 other reference
Kyrgyzstan
 
  • Batken Region
    • Kadamjay District
Spiridonov et al. (1981) +2 other references
Kolesar et al. (1993) +1 other reference
Mexico
 
  • Sonora
    • Moctezuma Municipality
Lapis 2001 (1)
Mineralogical Society of America - ...
Russia (TL)
 
  • Altai Republic
    • Ulagansky District
Clark (1993) +2 other references
  • Sakha
    • Ust-Yansky District
Anthony et al. (1990)
    • Verkhoyansk District
Bryzgalov et al. (1999)
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Beryozovsky
Vikent'eva et al. (2016, April)
    • Serovsky District
      • Turya river
        • Tur'insk
American Mineralogist +15 other references
Spain
 
  • Castile and Leon
    • León
      • Maraña
        • Puerto de las Señales
Martín-Izard et al. (2009)
Switzerland
 
  • Valais
    • Goms
      • Binn
        • Fäld
www.fglb.clubdesk.com (2020)
Taiwan
 
  • New Taipei City
    • Ruifang District
Henley et al. (2012)
USA
 
  • Nevada
Castor et al. (2004)
    • Humboldt County
      • Osgood Mountains
        • Potosi Mining District
          • Adam Peak
Castor et al. (2004)
    • Lander County
      • Cortez Mining District
Clark (2012)
 
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