Mosesite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Mosesite
Alfred J. Moses
Formula:
(Hg2N)(Cl,SO4,MoO4) · H2O
Colour:
Yellow; turns olive-green upon prolonged exposure to light.
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
3 - 4
Specific Gravity:
7.72
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named in 1910 by Frederick Alexander Canfield, William Francis Hillebrand, and Waldemar Theodore Schaller in honor of Alfred Joseph Moses [July 25, 1859 Brooklyn, New York, USA - February 27, 1920 Mount Kisco, New York, USA], Professor of Mineralogy, Columbia University, who first described several of the mercury minerals from Terlingua, Texas.
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2790
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2790:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
6df0f5bd-42bc-496f-99f1-7561ff8097d8
IMA Classification of Mosesite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
(Hg2N)Cl
First published:
1910
Classification of Mosesite
3.DD.30
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
D : With Hg
3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
D : With Hg
29.3.8.1
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
3 : A2B(XO4)2·xH2O
29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
3 : A2B(XO4)2·xH2O
26.15
26 : Sulphates with Halide
26 : Sulphates with Halide
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mos | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Mosesite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Mosesite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Yellow; turns olive-green upon prolonged exposure to light.
Streak:
Very light yellow
Hardness:
3 - 4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Very brittle
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
On {111}
On {111}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
7.72 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.53 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Mosesite
Type:
Isotropic
Comments:
Becomes isotropic when heated over about 186°.
Chemistry of Mosesite
Mindat Formula:
(Hg2N)(Cl,SO4,MoO4) · H2O
Crystallography of Mosesite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:
F4 3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.524 Å
Unit Cell V:
863.89 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Crystals usually octahedral; also in cube-octahedrons, cubes, and dodecahedrons.
Twinning:
Twin plane {111} common (spinel twinning); repeated groups at times.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.74 Å | (100) |
| 2.86 Å | (80) |
| 1.68 Å | (70) |
| 1.44 Å | (70) |
| 2.18 Å | (60) |
| 1.61 Å | (60) |
| 2.38 Å | (50) |
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]) |
Type Occurrence of Mosesite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small, isolated crystals on calcite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, C87, 93292.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Canfield, F.A., Hillebrand, W.F., Schaller, W.T. (1910) Mosesite, a new mercury mineral from Terlingua, Texas. American Journal of Science: 30: 202-208.
Other Language Names for Mosesite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.DD. | Mikecoxite | [CHg4]OCl2 |
| 3.DD.05 | Eglestonite | [Hg2]2+3OCl3(OH) |
| 3.DD.05 | Kadyrelite | [Hg2]2+3OBr3(OH) |
| 3.DD.10 | Poyarkovite | [Hg2]2+3Cl2O2 |
| 3.DD.15 | Hanawaltite | [Hg2]2+3Hg2+(Cl,OH)2O3 |
| 3.DD.20 | Terlinguaite | [Hg3]4+Hg2+Cl2O2 |
| 3.DD.25 | Pinchite | Hg2+5Cl2O4 |
| 3.DD.30 | Gianellaite | [(Hg2N)2](SO4)(H2O)x |
| 3.DD.35 | Kleinite | (Hg2N)(Cl,SO4) · nH2O |
| 3.DD.40 | Tedhadleyite | [Hg2]2+5Hg2+I2(Cl,Br)2O4 |
| 3.DD.45 | Vasilyevite | [Hg2]2+10I3Br2Cl[CO3]O6 |
| 3.DD.50 | Aurivilliusite | [Hg2]2+Hg2+2(I,Br,Cl)2O2 |
| 3.DD.55 | Terlinguacreekite | Hg2+3Cl2O2 |
| 3.DD.60 | Kelyanite | [Hg]2+6Sb3+BrCl2O6 |
| 3.DD.65 | Comancheite | Hg2+55N3-24(NH2,OH)4(Cl,Br)34 |
| 3.DD.70 | Gaildunningite | Hg2+3[NHg2+2]18(Cl,I,OH,Br,S)24 |
Other Information
Notes:
Alters to a white substance retaining its original shape when placed into cold HCl.
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 Mosesite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2790.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Mosesite
Reference List:
Canfield, F.A., Hillebrand, W.F., Schaller, W.T. (1910) Mosesite, a new mercury mineral from Terlingua, Texas. American Journal of Science, S. 4 Vol. 30. 202-208
Spencer, L. J. (1913) A (sixth) list of new mineral names. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 16 (77) 352-378 doi:10.1180/minmag.1913.016.77.09
Localities for Mosesite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Mexico | |
| Panczner (1987) |
| Panczner (1987) |
USA | |
| Dunning +1 other reference |
| The Challenge Mercury Deposit |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Smith (1991) |
| Mineralogical Record: 21: 233. +2 other references |
Quick NavTopAbout MosesiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPronunciation Physical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Terlingua Mining District, Texas, USA