The natural Au6Hg5 phase (synthetic). Aurihydrargyrumite forms through the weathering of mercury-bearing placer gold by involvement of self-electrorefining. The core of the particle consists mainly of a gold–silver–mercury alloy which is overlain by a gold-rich zone consists of a gold–mercury alloy, where the silver components are generally absent.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

51827

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:51827:7

GUID
(UUID V4):

db4adf90-6d33-47cf-8f58-82c709ab40c2

IMA Classification of AurihydrargyrumiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

Approval year:

2017

First published:

2018

Type description reference:

Nishio-Hamane, D., Tanaka, T., Minakawa, T. (2018): Aurihydrargyrumite, a Natural Au6Hg5 Phase from Japan. Minerals, 8: 415

Classification of AurihydrargyrumiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

1.AD.

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
D : Mercury-amalgam family

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
Ahg	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 AurihydrargyrumiteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Comment:

Metallic silver luster

Streak:

Silver white

Hardness:

2½ on Mohs scale

Tenacity:

Malleable

Density:

16.86 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Chemistry of AurihydrargyrumiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Au₆Hg₅

Elements listed:

Au, Hg - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of AurihydrargyrumiteHide

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Class (H-M):

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

Space Group:

P6₃/mcm

Setting:

P6₃/mcm

Cell Parameters:

a = 6.9960(10) Å, c = 10.154(2) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 1.451

Unit Cell V:

430.4 Å³

Morphology:

Submicron- to 2 μm-thick layer on placer gold. A prismatic face may be formed by {001} and {100} or {110}.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
2.877 Å	(29)
2.434 Å	(42)
2.337 Å	(100)
2.234 Å	(87)
1.401 Å	(39)
1.301 Å	(41)
1.286 Å	(29)
1.225 Å	(65)

Comments:

From Type Description.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
26 : Hadean detrital minerals
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of AurihydrargyrumiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Iyoki, Uchiko, Ehime Prefecture, Japan

General Appearance of Type Material:

As as a submicron- to 2 μm-thick layer on the outermost surface of the placer gold.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Type material is deposited in the mineralogical collections of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba, Japan, specimen number NSM-45047

Empirical Formula of Type Material:

Au_5.95Hg_5.05

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Gold

Reference:

Nishio-Hamane, D., Tanaka, T., Minakawa, T. (2018): Aurihydrargyrumite, a Natural Au6Hg5 Phase from Japan. Minerals, 8: 415

Download:

https://doi.org/10.3390/min8090415

Synonyms of AurihydrargyrumiteHide

IMA2017-003

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

1.AD.05	Mercury	Hg	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
1.AD.10	Belendorffite	Cu₇Hg₆	Trig. 3m : R3m
1.AD.10	Kolymite	Cu₇Hg₆	Iso.
1.AD.15c	Eugenite	Ag₁₁Hg₂	Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m
1.AD.15b	Luanheite	Ag₃Hg	Hex.
1.AD.15d	Moschellandsbergite	Ag₂Hg₃	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m)
1.AD.15a	Paraschachnerite	Ag₃Hg₂	Orth.
1.AD.15a	Schachnerite	Ag_1.1Hg_0.9	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
1.AD.20a	Weishanite	(Au,Ag,Hg)	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mmc
1.AD.20b	Goldamalgam (of Chen et al.)	(Au,Ag)Hg	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Im3m
1.AD.20c	Yiyangite	Au₃Hg	Hex.
1.AD.25	Potarite	PdHg	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mmm
1.AD.30	Leadamalgam	Pb_0.7Hg_0.3	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm
1.AD.35	Shosanbetsuite	Ag₃Sn	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
1.AD.40	Unnamed (Au2Hg)	Au₂Hg	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6₃/mcm

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 AurihydrargyrumiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-51827.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Search Engines:

Look for Aurihydrargyrumite on Google

Look for Aurihydrargyrumite images on Google

Look for Aurihydrargyrumite on Bing

Look for Aurihydrargyrumite images on Bing

Look for Aurihydrargyrumite on DuckDuckGo

Look for Aurihydrargyrumite images on DuckDuckGo

Look for Aurihydrargyrumite in the Rock H. Currier Digital Library

External Links:

Look for Aurihydrargyrumite on Webmineral

Look for Aurihydrargyrumite on Wikipedia

Look for Aurihydrargyrumite 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

Mineral Dealers:

Wilensky Exquisite Minerals

Blue Gems Australian & International

Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.

Buy from McDougall Minerals

The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals

Buy from David K Joyce minerals

High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service

Buy rare minerals from Excalibur Minerals

References for AurihydrargyrumiteHide

Reference List:

Hålenius, U., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2017) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2017, CNMNC Newsletter No 37. Mineralogical Magazine, 81 (3) 737-742 doi:10.1180/minmag.2017.081.039

Nishio-Hamane, D., Tanaka, T., Minakawa, T. (2018): Aurihydrargyrumite, a Natural Au6Hg5 Phase from Japan. Minerals, 8: 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/min8090415

Nishio-Hamane, D., Tanaka, T., Minakawa, T. (2018): Aurihydrargyrumite, a Natural Au6Hg5 Phase from Japan. Minerals, 8: 415

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

Localities for AurihydrargyrumiteHide

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.


Japan (TL)
Ehime Prefecture Uchiko ⓘ Iyoki (TL)	Mineralogical Magazine +2 other references

Slovakia
Košice Region Gelnica District Gelnica ⓘ Perlová Valley (Grellenseifen)	Martin Števko-unpublished

South Africa
Gauteng City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Springs ⓘ Modderfontein 'B' gold mine	Vandenbroucke Museum Waregem Belgium ...

Quick NavTop About Aurihydrargyrumite Unique Identifiers IMA Classification Classification Mineral Symbols Physical Properties Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder Diffraction Geological Environment Type Occurrence Synonyms Strunz-Mindat Other Information Internet Links References Localities Locality List

Aurihydrargyrumite

About AurihydrargyrumiteHide