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Kleinite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered

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Photos of Kleinite (107)

Kleinite Gallery Search Photos of Kleinite

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Kleinite

McDermitt Mine, Opalite Mining District, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA

Kleinite

McDermitt Mine, Opalite Mining District, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA

Kleinite

McDermitt Mine, Opalite Mining District, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA

Kleinite

McDermitt Mine, Opalite Mining District, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA

Kleinite

McDermitt Mine, Opalite Mining District, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA

Kleinite

McDermitt Mine, Opalite Mining District, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA

Kleinite

McDermitt Mine, Opalite Mining District, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA

Kleinite

McDermitt Mine, Opalite Mining District, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA

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About KleiniteHide

Carl Klein

Formula:

(Hg₂N)(Cl,SO₄) · nH₂O

Colour:

Light to canary-yellow, orange; darkens to reddish yellow or orange in daylight and reverts to original color in darkness. Yellow to colourless in transmitted light.

Lustre:

Adamantine, Greasy

Hardness:

3½

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Name:

Named in 1905 by Arthur Sachs in honor of Johann Friedrich Carl Klein [15 September 1842 Hannau, Germany - 23 June 1907 Berlin, Germany], German Professor of Mineralogy and curator of the Museum für Naturkunde, University of Berlin. Klein was a petrographer who made major contributions to understanding mineral optics and the indentification of minerals in thin sections. He was a pioneer in studying meteorites in thin section.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Terlingua Mining District, Texas, USA

Dimorph of:

Mosesite

This page provides mineralogical data about Kleinite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

2225

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:2225:1

GUID
(UUID V4):

30fb956e-61f8-4320-bfb2-6c0fb1b106d1

IMA Classification of KleiniteHide

IMA status:

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

First published:

1905

Type description reference:

Sachs, A. (1905) Der Kleinit, ein hexagonales Quecksilberoxychlorid von Terlingua in Texas. Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften: 1905: 1091-1094.

Classification of KleiniteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

3.DD.35

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
D : With Hg

Dana 8th ed.:

10.4.3.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
4 : A₂(O,OH)X_q

Hey's CIM Ref.:

26.16

26 : Sulphates with Halide

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
Kle	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 KleiniteHide

Lustre:

Adamantine, Greasy

Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent

Colour:

Light to canary-yellow, orange; darkens to reddish yellow or orange in daylight and reverts to original color in darkness. Yellow to colourless in transmitted light.

Streak:

Yellow

Hardness:

3½ on Mohs scale

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

Distinct/Good
On {0001} easy but uneven; on {1010}, imperfect.

Optical Data of KleiniteHide

Type:

Uniaxial (+)

RI values:

n_ω = 2.190 n_ε = 2.210

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.020

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Surface Relief:

Very High

Comments:

Biaxial below 130°C (biaxial negative) and uniaxial above 130°C (uniaxial positive). Isotropic above aproximately 190°C.

Chemistry of KleiniteHide

Mindat Formula:

(Hg₂N)(Cl,SO₄) · nH₂O

Elements listed:

Cl, H, Hg, N, O, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of KleiniteHide

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Class (H-M):

6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal

Space Group:

P6₃/mmc

Cell Parameters:

a = 6.762(2) Å, c = 11.068(3) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 1.637

Unit Cell V:

438.3 Å³

Morphology:

Crystals short prismatic [0001] with variable development of {10-11}; equidimensional at times. Crystals are anomalously birefringent - true symmetry may be monoclinic or triclinic, due to ordering of zeolitic chloride, sulfate and water, and. apparently hexagonal crystals may be highly twinned and/or pseudomorphs of truly hexagonal high-temperature polymorph (birefringence vanishes above 130°C).

Comment:

data from Giester et al. (1996)

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)
0014883	Kleinite	Giester G, Mikenda W, Pertlik F (1996) Kleinite from Terlingua, Brewster County, Texas: Investigations by single crystal X-ray diffraction, and vibrational spectroscopy Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1996 49-56		1996	Terlingua, Brewster County, Texas, USA	0	403

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Kleinite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Giester G'
'Mikenda W'
'Pertlik F'
_journal_name_full 'Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte'
_journal_volume 1996 
_journal_year 1996
_journal_page_first 49
_journal_page_last 56
_publ_section_title
;
 Kleinite from Terlingua, Brewster County, Texas: Investigations
 by single crystal X-ray diffraction, and vibrational spectroscopy
 Note: sample heated at T = 130 C for 1 day to transform crystal to hexagonal
;
_database_code_amcsd 0014883
_chemical_compound_source 'Terlingua, Brewster County, Texas, USA'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Hg4 N2 S Cl O H2'
_cell_length_a 6.762
_cell_length_b 6.762
_cell_length_c 11.068
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 120
_cell_volume 438.278
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      6.940
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 63/m m c'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '-x,-x+y,1/2+z'
  'x,x-y,1/2-z'
  '-x+y,-x,1/2-z'
  'x-y,x,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,z'
  'y,x,-z'
  'y,-x+y,-z'
  '-y,x-y,z'
  'x-y,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x+y,y,1/2-z'
  'x,y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,1/2+z'
  'x,x-y,z'
  '-x,-x+y,-z'
  'x-y,x,-z'
  '-x+y,-x,z'
  'y,x,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,1/2-z'
  '-y,x-y,1/2-z'
  'y,-x+y,1/2+z'
  '-x+y,y,z'
  'x-y,-y,-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Hg1   0.33333   0.66667   0.25000   1.00000 ?
Hg2   0.50000   0.00000   0.00000   1.00000 ?
N   0.33333   0.66667   0.06250   1.00000   0.02000
S1   0.00000   0.00000   0.25000   0.25000 ?
S2  -0.03640  -0.07280   0.25000   0.25000 ?
Cl   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000   1.00000 ?
Wat1   0.60620   0.80310   0.75000   0.10000 ?
Wat2   0.66820   0.83410   0.00000   0.10000   0.03800
Wat3   0.33333   0.66667   0.75000   0.10000   0.08900
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Hg1 0.02700 0.02700 0.00500 0.01350 0.00000 0.00000
Hg2 0.02400 0.02100 0.00800 0.01200 0.00000 0.00000
S1 0.09000 0.09000 0.28300 0.04500 0.00000 0.00000
S2 0.03600 0.06400 0.01900 0.01800 0.00000 0.00000
Cl 0.07200 0.07200 0.07200 0.03600 0.00000 0.00000
Wat1 0.03900 0.06400 0.02600 0.01900 0.00000 0.00000

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
2.914 Å	(10)
2.615 Å	(10)
3.884 Å	(6)
2.013 Å	(6)
1.434 Å	(4)
1.242 Å	(4)
5.228 Å	(2)

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])
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event	<2.4
46 : Near-surface hydrothermal alteration of minerals (see also #22)
47b : [Sulfates and sulfites]
47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals]

Type Occurrence of KleiniteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Terlingua Mining District, Texas, USA

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 86639–86641, 86647.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Sachs, A. (1905) Der Kleinit, ein hexagonales Quecksilberoxychlorid von Terlingua in Texas. Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften: 1905: 1091-1094.

Download:

https://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/Sitzungsberichte_der_Koniglich_1905_1091.pdf

Synonyms of KleiniteHide

Mercurammonite (in part)

Other Language Names for KleiniteHide

German:Kleinit

Spanish:Kleinita

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

25 photos of Kleinite associated with Terlinguacreekite	Hg²⁺₃Cl₂O₂
12 photos of Kleinite associated with Quartz	SiO₂
9 photos of Kleinite associated with Opal-AN	SiO₂ · nH₂O
7 photos of Kleinite associated with Cinnabar	HgS
7 photos of Kleinite associated with Calcite	CaCO₃
7 photos of Kleinite associated with Comancheite	Hg²⁺₅₅N^3-₂₄(NH₂,OH)₄(Cl,Br)₃₄
4 photos of Kleinite associated with Opal	SiO₂ · nH₂O
3 photos of Kleinite associated with Mosesite	(Hg₂N)(Cl,SO₄,MoO₄) · H₂O
3 photos of Kleinite associated with Goethite	α-Fe³⁺O(OH)
3 photos of Kleinite associated with Montroydite	HgO

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

3.DD.	Mikecoxite	[CHg₄]OCl₂	Mon. 2/m
3.DD.05	Eglestonite	[Hg₂]²⁺₃OCl₃(OH)	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
3.DD.05	Kadyrelite	[Hg₂]²⁺₃OBr₃(OH)	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
3.DD.10	Poyarkovite	[Hg₂]²⁺₃Cl₂O₂	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
3.DD.15	Hanawaltite	[Hg₂]²⁺₃Hg²⁺(Cl,OH)₂O₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
3.DD.20	Terlinguaite	[Hg₃]⁴⁺Hg²⁺Cl₂O₂	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
3.DD.25	Pinchite	Hg²⁺₅Cl₂O₄	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Ibam
3.DD.30	Gianellaite	[(Hg₂N)₂](SO₄)(H₂O)_x	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
3.DD.30	Mosesite	(Hg₂N)(Cl,SO₄,MoO₄) · H₂O	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
3.DD.40	Tedhadleyite	[Hg₂]²⁺₅Hg²⁺I₂(Cl,Br)₂O₄	Tric. 1
3.DD.45	Vasilyevite	[Hg₂]²⁺₁₀I₃Br₂Cl[CO₃]O₆	Tric. 1 : P1
3.DD.50	Aurivilliusite	[Hg₂]²⁺Hg²⁺₂(I,Br,Cl)₂O₂	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
3.DD.55	Terlinguacreekite	Hg²⁺₃Cl₂O₂	Orth.
3.DD.60	Kelyanite	[Hg]²⁺₆Sb³⁺BrCl₂O₆	Trig. 3 : P3
3.DD.65	Comancheite	Hg²⁺₅₅N^3-₂₄(NH₂,OH)₄(Cl,Br)₃₄	Orth.
3.DD.70	Gaildunningite	Hg²⁺₃[NHg²⁺₂]₁₈(Cl,I,OH,Br,S)₂₄	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)

Other InformationHide

Thermal Behaviour:

Optical properties vary with temperature.

Notes:

Soluble in warm HCl and HNO3 without deposition of calomel. Soluble in ammonium bromide with evolution of ammonia.

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 KleiniteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-2225.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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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

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References for KleiniteHide

Reference List:

Moses, A.J. (1903) Eglestonite, terlinguaite, and montroydite, new mercury minerals from Terlingua, Texas. American Journal of Science, Fourth Series: 16: 253-263. (as "yellow mercury mineral No. 5)

Hillebrand, W.F. (1905) Preliminary announcement concerning a new mercury mineral from Terlingua, Texas. Science: 22(573): 844-844. (as mercurammonite)

Sachs, A. (1905) Der Kleinit, ein hexagonales Quecksilberoxychlorid von Terlingua in Texas. Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften: 1905: 1091-1094.

Sachs, A. (1905) Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin, der Sitzungsberichte: 1091.

Sachs, A. (1905) Der Kleinit, ein hexagonales Quecksilberoxychlorid von Terlingua in Texas. Sitzungsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften: 1905: 1091-1094.

Hillebrand (1906) American Journal of Science: 21: 85.

Hillebrand, W.F. (1906) Preliminary announcement concerning a new mercury mineral from Terlingua, Texas. Journal of the American Chemical Society 28(1): 122-122.

Sachs, A. (1906) Notiz zu der chemischen Zusammensetzung des Kleinits. Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 200-202.

Hillebrand, W.F., Schaller, W.T. (1907) The mercury minerals from Terlingua, Texas; Kleinite, Terlinguaite, Eglestonite, Montroydite, Calomel, Mercury. American Journal of Science: 174: 259-274.

Hilleband, W.F., Schaller, W.T. (1909) The mercury minerals from Terlingua, Texas. United States Geological Survey, Bulletin 405: 174 pgs (18).

Scaller, W.T. (1912) Mineralogical notes, Series 2. United States Geological Survey, Bulletin 509: 115 pgs. (108).

Doelter, C. (1930) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie (in 4 volumes divided into parts): 4 [3]: 405.

Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Ect. John Wiley and Sons, New York.pp.87-89

Rouse, R.C. (1975) New data on some mercury minerals from Terlingua, Texas. Mineral Sciences Investigations, Smithsonian Institution Press: 11-16.

Giester, G., Mikenda, W. and Pertlik, F. (1996) Kleinite from Terlingua, Brewster County, Texas: investigations by single crystal X-ray diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte: 1996: 49-56.

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

Localities for KleiniteHide

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.


Germany
Rhineland-Palatinate Donnersbergkreis Nordpfälzer Land Obermoschel ⓘ Landsberg	Lapis 2001 (6)

USA
Nevada Humboldt County Opalite Mining District ⓘ McDermitt Mine	McCormack (2000) +1 other reference
Texas Brewster County ⓘ Mariposa Mine	Smith (1991)
ⓘ Terlingua Mining District (TL)	Sachs (1905) +1 other reference

Kleinite

About KleiniteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of KleiniteHide

Classification of KleiniteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of KleiniteHide

Optical Data of KleiniteHide

Chemistry of KleiniteHide

Crystallography of KleiniteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of KleiniteHide

Synonyms of KleiniteHide

Other Language Names for KleiniteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for KleiniteHide

References for KleiniteHide

Localities for KleiniteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide