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Imiterite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Photos of Imiterite (67)

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Imiterite

Imiter mine, Imiter mining district, Tinghir Cercle, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

Imiterite

Imiter mine, Imiter mining district, Tinghir Cercle, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

Imiterite

Imiter mine, Imiter mining district, Tinghir Cercle, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

Imiterite

Imiter mine, Imiter mining district, Tinghir Cercle, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

Imiterite

Imiter mine, Imiter mining district, Tinghir Cercle, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

Imiterite

Imiter mine, Imiter mining district, Tinghir Cercle, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

Imiterite

Imiter mine, Imiter mining district, Tinghir Cercle, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

Imiterite

Imiter mine, Imiter mining district, Tinghir Cercle, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

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About ImiteriteHide

Imiter I open pit

Imiter mine, Imiter mining district, Tinghir Cercle, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

Formula:

Ag₂HgS₂

Colour:

Black

Lustre:

Metallic

Hardness:

2½ - 3

Specific Gravity:

7.846 (Calculated)

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Name:

Named after the type locality, the Imiter mine.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Imiter mine, Imiter mining district, Tinghir Cercle, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

The second Ag-Hg mineral known is coded as 'UM1985-19-S:AgHg'.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

2020

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:2020:2

GUID
(UUID V4):

494e8d47-0ebf-4a24-8665-3131849680a1

IMA Classification of ImiteriteHide

IMA status:

Approved

Type description reference:

Guillou, Jean-Jacques, Monthel, Jacques, Picot, Paul, Pillard, François, Protas, Jean, Samama, Jean-Claude (1985) L'imitérite, Ag2HgS2, nouvelle espèce minérale ; propriétés et structure cristalline. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 108 (3) 457-464 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1985.7842

Classification of ImiteriteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

2.BD.05

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.:

2.5.8.1

2 : SULFIDES
5 : A_mB_nX_p, with (m+n):p = 3:2

Hey's CIM Ref.:

3.5.4

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

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

Symbol	Source	Reference
Imi	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 ImiteriteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Black

Comment:

Sometimes tarnished bluish

Hardness:

2½ - 3 on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₁₀₀=86 kg/mm² - Vickers

Density:

7.846(4) g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of ImiteriteHide

Anisotropism:

Strong, from bluish gray to reddish brown.

Bireflectance:

Strong

Colour in reflected light:

pale grey in reflected light

Pleochroism:

Visible

Comments:

Bluish to pinkish.

Chemistry of ImiteriteHide

Mindat Formula:

Ag₂HgS₂

Elements listed:

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

Crystallography of ImiteriteHide

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Class (H-M):

2/m - Prismatic

Space Group:

P2₁/b

Setting:

P2₁/c

Cell Parameters:

a = 4.0394(8) Å, b = 8.0050(8) Å, c = 6.5812(8) Å
β = 107.12(2)°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 0.505 : 1 : 0.822

Unit Cell V:

203.38 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

anhedral grains and crystals to 1cm

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0012085	Imiterite	Guillou J J, Monthel J, Picot P, Pillard F, Protas J, Samama J C (1985) L'imiterite, Ag2HgS2 nouvelle espece minerale; proprietes et structure cristalline Bulletin de Mineralogie 108 457-464		1985	Tinerhir, Boulmane, Morocco	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Imiterite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Guillou J J'
'Monthel J'
'Picot P'
'Pillard F'
'Protas J'
'Samama J C'
_journal_name_full 'Bulletin de Mineralogie'
_journal_volume 108 
_journal_year 1985
_journal_page_first 457
_journal_page_last 464
_publ_section_title
;
 L'imiterite, Ag2HgS2 nouvelle espece minerale; proprietes et structure cristalline
;
_database_code_amcsd 0012085
_chemical_compound_source 'Tinerhir, Boulmane, Morocco'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Ag2 Hg S2'
_cell_length_a 4.0394
_cell_length_b 8.0050
_cell_length_c 6.5812
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 107.12
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 203.376
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      7.846
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 1 21/c 1'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  'x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Ag   0.62970   0.15110   0.40810   0.03040
Hg   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000   0.01862
S   0.20140   0.37050   0.23380   0.01406

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
2.768 Å	(100)
2.746 Å	(100)
2.461 Å	(80)
3.466 Å	(50)
1.467 Å	(35)
4.88 Å	(30)
3.138 Å	(30)

Geological EnvironmentHide

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])

Type Occurrence of ImiteriteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Imiter mine, Imiter mining district, Tinghir Cercle, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Bureau de Recherches G´eologiques et Mini`eres (B.R.G.M.), Orl´eans; National School of Mines, Paris, France.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Chalcopyrite	Sphalerite	Acanthite	Polybasite	Galena
Arsenopyrite

Reference:

Guillou, J.-J., Monthel, J., Picot, P., Pillard, F., Protas, J., and Samama, J.-C. (1985) L'imitérite, Ag2HgS2, nouvelle espèce minérale; propriétés et structure cristalline. Bulletin de Mineralogie (1985): 108: 457-464.

Synonyms of ImiteriteHide

IMA1983-038

Other Language Names for ImiteriteHide

German:Imiterit

Russian:Имитерит

Simplified Chinese:汞辉银矿

Spanish:Imiterita

Traditional Chinese:汞輝銀礦

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

12 photos of Imiterite associated with Proustite	Ag₃AsS₃
10 photos of Imiterite associated with Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
8 photos of Imiterite associated with Cinnabar	HgS
5 photos of Imiterite associated with Acanthite	Ag₂S
3 photos of Imiterite associated with Polybasite	[Ag₆Sb₂S₇][Ag₉CuS₄]
2 photos of Imiterite associated with Calcite	CaCO₃
1 photo of Imiterite associated with Xanthoconite	Ag₃AsS₃
1 photo of Imiterite associated with Gold	Au
1 photo of Imiterite associated with Galena	PbS
1 photo of Imiterite associated with Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.BD.	UM2004-33-S:AgCuHgSe	(Ag,Cu)₈Hg₃(S,Se)₇
2.BD.	Vrančiceite	Cu₁₀Hg₃S₈	Tric. 1 : P1
2.BD.10	Gortdrumite	Cu₂₄Fe₂Hg₉S₂₃	Tric. 1 : P1
2.BD.15	Balkanite	Cu₉Ag₅HgS₈	Mon. 2/m : P2/m
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	(Cu₃Fe)_Σ4Tl₂Se₄	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm
2.BD.30	Murunskite	K₂(Cu,Fe)₄S₄	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm
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	TlCu₆Se₄	Orth.
2.BD.50	Crookesite	Cu₇(Tl, Ag)Se₄	Tet.
2.BD.55	Brodtkorbite	Cu₂HgSe₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m

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.

Internet Links for ImiteriteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-2020.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

Look for Imiterite on Webmineral

Look for Imiterite on Wikipedia

Look for Imiterite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for ImiteriteHide

Reference List:

American Mineralogist: 71: 1277-1278.

Walenta, K. and Hess, H. (1985) Imiterite; a new silver- and mercury-rich sulfide mineral from Ramsbeck, Sauerland. Der Aufschluss: 36: 209-215.

Plášil J., Sejkora J., Litochleb J., Škácha P. (2009): Výskyt vzácného Ag-Hg sulfidu - imiteritu - v materiálu z haldy dolu Lill (černojamské ložisko), březohorský rudní revír, Česká republika. Bulletin mineralogicko-petrologického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze 17 (2), 62-68 (in Czech with English abstract).

(2023) Imiterite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for ImiteriteHide

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.


Argentina
San Juan Province Iglesia Department Tudcum Frontera mining district ⓘ Veladero Mine	Rudashevsky et al. (2018)

Australia
New South Wales Robinson Co. Cobar ⓘ Endeavor Mine (Elura Mine)	Leverett et al. (2005)

Austria
Carinthia Völkermarkt District ⓘ Ruden	Niedermayr et al. (1995)
Salzburg Tamsweg District Weißpriach ⓘ Lungauer Kalkspitze (incl. Znachsattel; "Im Kalk") ?	Schachinger et al. (2014)
Styria Bruck-Mürzzuschlag District Tragöß-Sankt Katharein Oberdorf (Oberdorf an der Laming) ⓘ Oberdorf magnesite deposit ?	Kolitsch (2015)
Leoben District Kammern im Liesingtal Seiz Wolfsgruben (Wolfgruben) ⓘ Quartz quarry ?	Auer (2019)
Liezen District Schladming Giglach valley Giglach lakes ⓘ Steirische Kalkspitze (incl. Akarscharte; Akharscharte) ?	Schachinger et al. (2014)

Czech Republic
Central Bohemian Region Příbram District Příbram Březové Hory Černojamské deposit ⓘ Lill Mine	Plášil J. et al. (2009)
Karlovy Vary Region ⓘ Jáchymov ore district	Ondruš et al. (2003)

Germany
North Rhine-Westphalia Arnsberg Hochsauerlandkreis Meschede ⓘ Alexander Mine	Weiss: "Mineralienfundstellen et al. (Munich)
Olsberg ⓘ Dörnberg Mine	[Mineralogical Record 29:144]

Hungary
Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Kazincbarcika District ⓘ Rudabánya	www.minerals- of-the- carpathians.eu (Editor:Szakáll)
ⓘ Andrássy III. Mine	GEODA 2010/1

Italy
Lombardy Lecco Province Introbio ⓘ Passaggia Mine (Pra Piazzo mine)	Guastoni A. et al. (2016)
Sardinia South Sardinia Province Iglesias Bindua ⓘ San Giovanni Mine	Fiori (1998) +1 other reference

Morocco
Drâa-Tafilalet Region Tinghir Province Tinghir Cercle Imiter mining district ⓘ Igoudrane mine	Georges Favreau collection
ⓘ Imiter mine (TL)	Anthony +4 other references

Norway
Buskerud Flesberg Vinoren Silver Mine Field Vinoren Southern Mines ⓘ Ulrica Shaft (Ulrike Mine)	Kullerud et al. (2020)

Romania
Alba County Roșia Montană ⓘ Roşia Montană	In the collection of Brent Thorne. ...

Russia
Altai Krai Zmeinogorsky District ⓘ Zmeinogorsk Mine (Zmyeinogorsk Mine)	Sejkora et al. (2023)
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Bilibinsky District Vesenniy ⓘ Tumanny prospect	Baksheev et al. (2018)
Magadan Oblast Omsukchansky District ⓘ Rogovik deposit	T. V. Zhuravkova et al. (2015) +2 other references
Sakha ⓘ Aid deposit ?	Nekrasov et al. (1987) +1 other reference
ⓘ Alfa deposit ?	Nekrasov et al. (1987) +1 other reference
Tuva Sut-Kholsky District Aldan-Maadyr ore cluster ⓘ Khaak-Sair occurrence	Kuzhuget et al. (2015)

USA
Alaska Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area Rampart Mining District ⓘ Hunter Creek Mine (ARDF - TN062)	Forbes et al. (1991)
California Tuolumne County Jamestown District Jamestown Jamestown Mine (Jamestown group) Jumper & Golden Rule group (Jumper Mine; Jumper claim; Jumper deposit; New Era claim) ⓘ Golden Rule Mine	Mineralogical Record (1990)
Montana Fergus County Warm Springs District (Gilt Edge District; Gold Hill District; Maiden District) Cone Butte Sub-District ⓘ Geis Mine (Red Metal Claim group; Gies Mine; Elk Peak project; Bertha claim group)	Bindi et al (2006)

Imiterite

About ImiteriteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of ImiteriteHide

Classification of ImiteriteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of ImiteriteHide

Optical Data of ImiteriteHide

Chemistry of ImiteriteHide

Crystallography of ImiteriteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of ImiteriteHide

Synonyms of ImiteriteHide

Other Language Names for ImiteriteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for ImiteriteHide

References for ImiteriteHide

Localities for ImiteriteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide