Aurihydrargyrumite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Aurihydrargyrumite
Formula:
Au6Hg5
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
16.86 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
For its composition, being a natural amalgam of gold (Latin: aurum) and mercury (Latin: hydrargyrum).
Type Locality:
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 Identifiers
Mindat ID:
51827
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:51827:7
IMA Classification of Aurihydrargyrumite
Approved
Approval year:
2017
First published:
2018
Classification of Aurihydrargyrumite
1.AD.
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
D : Mercury-amalgam family
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
A : Metals and Intermetallic Alloys
D : Mercury-amalgam family
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Aurihydrargyrumite
Metallic
Comment:
Metallic silver luster
Streak:
Silver white
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Malleable
Density:
16.86 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Chemistry of Aurihydrargyrumite
Mindat Formula:
Au6Hg5
Element Weights:
| Element | % weight |
|---|---|
| Hg | 45.907 % |
Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Aurihydrargyrumite
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 ų
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 Diffraction
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) |
Reference:
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Aurihydrargyrumite
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:
Au5.95Hg5.05
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Aurihydrargyrumite
Other Language Names for Aurihydrargyrumite
Dutch:Aurihydrargyrumiet
French:Aurihydrargyrumite
German:Aurihydrargyrumit
Norwegian:Aurihydrargyrumitt
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Aurihydrargyrumite associated with Cinnabar | HgS |
| 1 photo of Aurihydrargyrumite associated with Tetrahedrite-(Hg) | Cu6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4S12S |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 1.AD.05 | Native Mercury | Hg |
| 1.AD.10 | Belendorffite | Cu7Hg6 |
| 1.AD.10 | Kolymite | Cu7Hg6 |
| 1.AD.15a | Paraschachnerite | Ag3Hg2 |
| 1.AD.15c | Eugenite | Ag11Hg2 |
| 1.AD.15b | Luanheite | Ag3Hg |
| 1.AD.15a | Schachnerite | Ag1.1Hg0.9 |
| 1.AD.15d | Moschellandsbergite | Ag2Hg3 |
| 1.AD.20b | 'Goldamalgam (of Chen et al.)' | (Au,Ag)Hg |
| 1.AD.20a | Weishanite | (Au,Ag,Hg) |
| 1.AD.20c | 'Yiyangite' | Au3Hg |
| 1.AD.25 | Potarite | PdHg |
| 1.AD.30 | Leadamalgam | Pb0.7Hg0.3 |
| 1.AD.35 | Shosanbetsuite | Ag3Sn |
| 1.AD.40 | 'Unnamed (Au-Hg Amalgam)' | Au2Hg |
Other Information
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 Aurihydrargyrumite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-51827.html
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External Links:
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References for Aurihydrargyrumite
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
Localities for Aurihydrargyrumite
Showing 4 localities.
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.
Japan (TL) | |
| Hålenius et al. (2017) +2 other references |
Slovakia | |
| Martin Števko-unpublished |
| Števko et al. (2024) | |
South Africa | |
| Vandenbroucke Museum Waregem Belgium ... |
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Modderfontein 'B' gold mine, Springs, City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa