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Kolymite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About KolymiteHide

Formula:
Cu7Hg6
Colour:
Tin-white quickly altering in moist air to brownish-black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
13.0
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named for the Kolyma River basin that includes the type locality.
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Kolymite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
2244
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2244:2

Similar NamesHide

CalamiteA synonym of Tremolite
ColimaiteA valid IMA mineral speciesK3VS4
ColomiteA synonym of Roscoelite
ColumbiteA synonym of 'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series'
Columbite-(Fe)A valid IMA mineral species - grandfatheredFe2+Nb2O6
Columbite-(Fe)-Tantalite-(Fe) SeriesA solid-solution series between two end-member minerals
Columbite-(Mg)A valid IMA mineral species(Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6
Columbite-(Mn)A valid IMA mineral species - grandfatheredMn2+Nb2O6
Columbite-(Mn)-Tantalite-(Mn) SeriesA solid-solution series between two end-member minerals
KolumbiteA synonym of 'Columbite'

IMA Classification of KolymiteHide

Classification of KolymiteHide

1.AD.10

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
D : Mercury-amalgam family
Dana 7th ed.:
1.1.13.1
1.1.9.1

1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
1.13

1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

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

Physical Properties of KolymiteHide

Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Tin-white quickly altering in moist air to brownish-black
Hardness:
Hardness:
VHN20=220 - 267 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
13.0 g/cm3 (Measured)    13.1 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of KolymiteHide

Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)
420nm59.0%
440nm61.4%
460nm63.8%
480nm66.8%
500nm69.4%
520nm71.2%
540nm72.1%
560nm72.8%
580nm73.6%
600nm74.0%
620nm74.6%
640nm75.3%
660nm76.0%
680nm76.9%
700nm77.8%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 77.8%.
Colour in reflected light:
Creamy white

Chemistry of KolymiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Cu7Hg6
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Hg73.014 %
Cu26.986 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of KolymiteHide

Crystal System:
Isometric
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.418(2) Å
Unit Cell V:
835.36 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Point Group: 41m"3 21m, 43m, or 432. Space Group: 1m3m, 1432, or 143m.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.98 Å(25)
2.52 Å(42)
2.22 Å(100)
2.09 Å(25)
2.01 Å(25)
1.29 Å(25b)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of KolymiteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
Intergrown with native Cu aggregates (0.01-0.8 mm) of irregular form that contain individual crystals less than 0.005 mm, of cubo-octahedral form with cube predominant.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, and at the museum of the Institute of the Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Rare Elements (IMGRE), Moscow, Russia.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of KolymiteHide

Other Language Names for KolymiteHide

Dutch:Kolymiet
German:Kolymit
Simplified Chinese:科汞铜矿
汞铜矿
Spanish:Kolymita
Traditional Chinese:科汞銅礦
汞銅礦

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

1.AD.AurihydrargyrumiteAu6Hg5Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mcm
1.AD.05Native MercuryHgAmor.
1.AD.10BelendorffiteCu7Hg6Trig. 3m : R3m
1.AD.15aParaschachneriteAg3Hg2Orth.
1.AD.15cEugeniteAg11Hg2Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m
1.AD.15bLuanheiteAg3HgHex.
1.AD.15aSchachneriteAg1.1Hg0.9Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AD.15dMoschellandsbergiteAg2Hg3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m)
1.AD.20b'Goldamalgam (of Chen et al.)'(Au,Ag)HgIso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Im3m
1.AD.20aWeishanite(Au,Ag,Hg)Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc
1.AD.20c'Yiyangite'Au3HgHex.
1.AD.25PotaritePdHgTet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mmm
1.AD.30LeadamalgamPb0.7Hg0.3Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm
1.AD.35ShosanbetsuiteAg3SnOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
1.AD.40'Unnamed (Au-Hg Amalgam)'Au2HgHex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mcm

Other InformationHide

Notes:
Readily fusible, even during the preparation of polished sections by usual methods, and loses most of its mercury at 150°C.
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 KolymiteHide

References for KolymiteHide

Localities for KolymiteHide

Showing 9 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the Image symbol to view information about a locality. The Image symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

Image - This locality has map coordinates listed. Image - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. Image - Good crystals or important locality for species. Image - 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.
Chile
 
  • Atacama
    • Copiapó Province
      • Tierra Amarilla
        • Pabellón
British Museum online catalogue 2007
Hungary
 
  • Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County
    • Kazincbarcika District
      • Rudabánya
Kupi et al. (2010)
Zajzon et al. (2012)
Mexico
 
Poland
 
  • Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Piestrzyński (Main Ed.)
Piestrzyński et al. (2012)
Russia (TL)
 
  • Magadan Oblast
    • Arik-Revkom zone
Markova et al. (1980) +1 other reference
USA
 
  • Nevada
    • Storey County
      • Comstock Mining District
        • Virginia City
          • Comstock Lode
Eur. J. Mineral.
Cipriani et al. (1989) +1 other reference
 
Image Image
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