Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite
A variety of Tetrahedrite Subgroup
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About Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite
Formula:
Cu6[Cu4(Zn,Fe,Hg)2]Sb4S13
A mercury-bearing variety of tetrahedrite, if Zn/Fe>Hg.
NOTE: If the material is Hg-dominant, it is tetrahedrite-(Hg).
Foit & Ulbricht (2001) found that the Hg content in tetrahedrite is negatively correlated to both the Fe and, especially, the Zn content, and positively but weakly correlated to the Sb content; samples with the highest Hg contents (∼2 atoms per formula unit)* tend to be tetrahedritess with only minor to trace amounts of Fe and Zn and approximately 10 atoms per formula unit of Cu.
* These are now to be termed tetrahedrite-(Hg) (approved in 2019).
Originally reported as "schwazite" from Schwaz, Brixlegg - Schwaz area, Inn valley, North Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria. However, modern analyses showed that "schwazite" never contained much Hg (Arlt & Diamond, 1998, 1999); electron microprobe data showed an average Hg content of 1.8 wt.% and a maximum of 9.4 wt.% (Arlt & Diamond, 1998).
NOTE: If the material is Hg-dominant, it is tetrahedrite-(Hg).
Foit & Ulbricht (2001) found that the Hg content in tetrahedrite is negatively correlated to both the Fe and, especially, the Zn content, and positively but weakly correlated to the Sb content; samples with the highest Hg contents (∼2 atoms per formula unit)* tend to be tetrahedritess with only minor to trace amounts of Fe and Zn and approximately 10 atoms per formula unit of Cu.
* These are now to be termed tetrahedrite-(Hg) (approved in 2019).
Originally reported as "schwazite" from Schwaz, Brixlegg - Schwaz area, Inn valley, North Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria. However, modern analyses showed that "schwazite" never contained much Hg (Arlt & Diamond, 1998, 1999); electron microprobe data showed an average Hg content of 1.8 wt.% and a maximum of 9.4 wt.% (Arlt & Diamond, 1998).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7719 (as Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite)
3924 (as Tetrahedrite Subgroup)
3924 (as Tetrahedrite Subgroup)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7719:0 (as Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite)
mindat:1:1:3924:2 (as Tetrahedrite Subgroup)
mindat:1:1:3924:2 (as Tetrahedrite Subgroup)
Chemistry of Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite
Mindat Formula:
Cu6[Cu4(Zn,Fe,Hg)2]Sb4S13
Element Weights:
Synonyms of Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite
Other Language Names for Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite
German:Graugiltigerz (of Hausmann)
Hermesit
Merkurfahlerz
Quecksilberfahlerz
Schwatzit
Schwazit
Spaniolith
Hermesit
Merkurfahlerz
Quecksilberfahlerz
Schwatzit
Schwazit
Spaniolith
Russian:Шватцит
Simplified Chinese:黑黝铜矿
Spanish:Schwazita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 8 photos of Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 5 photos of Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5 photos of Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 4 photos of Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite associated with Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 4 photos of Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 2 photos of Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite associated with Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| 2 photos of Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite associated with Cinnabar | HgS |
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 Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7719.html
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References for Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite
Reference List:
Arlt, T., Diamond, L. W. (1998) Composition of tetrahedrite-tennantite and ‘schwazite’ in the Schwaz silver mines, North Tyrol, Austria. Mineralogical Magazine, 62 (6) 801-820 doi:10.1180/002646198548188
Arlt, Thilo; Diamond, Larryn (1999) Mineralnamen und Mineralogiegeschichte. Gab es je Schwazit in Schwaz? [Mineral names and mineralogical history. Was there ever Schwazite in Schwaz?]. Lapis, 24 (12). 45-46; 58on never confirmed Hg-richness of "schwazite"
Localities for Mercury-bearing Tetrahedrite
Showing 76 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.
Australia | |
| |
Austria | |
| |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) | |
| Strasser (1989) |
| - (1994, July) |
| Exel (1993) |
| 58. +3 other references |
| - (1994, July) |
| - (1994, July) |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| Jurković et al. (1994) |
| Jurkovic (1991) | |
| Jurković et al. (2011) | |
| Jurkovic (1991) |
Bulgaria | |
| Atanasov (1975) |
Canada | |
| Dana 7:I:381. |
Chile | |
| Econ Geol (1996) |
| McAllister et al. (1950) |
| Maskaev et al. (2007) |
| McAllister et al. (1950) | |
| Camus et al. (1991) |
China | |
| Jie Sun et al. (2012) |
Czech Republic | |
| Velebil et al. (2008) |
France | |
| Bruno Ducluzaux Collection |
| Bariand et al. (n.d.) |
Germany | |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Heidtke (2001) |
| Hartmut Hensel Collection | |
| Weiß (1990) |
Hungary | |
| NAGY et al. (2000) |
India | |
| Ahmed et al. (2018) |
| Ahmed et al. (2018) | |
Italy | |
| Capitanio A. Il Ferro della Val di ... |
| Roggiani (1975) +1 other reference |
Malaysia | |
| Wolfram Dieter Schuh (1993) |
Russia | |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) |
| Pavlova et al. (2009) | |
Slovakia | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Miškovic J. (1990) |
| Majzlan et al. (2018) |
| Háber et al. (SGR) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Grecula (1995) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Pauliš et al. (2002) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) | |
| Ďuda et al. (1996) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
Slovenia | |
| Scopolia - Journal of the Slovenian ... |
Spain | |
| Tritlla et al. (1997) |
| Viñals et al. (2007) |
| Viñals et al. (2007) |
| Tritlla (1994) | |
Sweden | |
| |
Turkey | |
| Mehmet Yildiz and Edgar H. Bailey (1978) |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Keith (1974) +1 other reference |
| Keith (1974) +1 other reference | |
| Keith (1974) +1 other reference |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Lindgren (1926) +3 other references |
| McAllister (1955) +1 other reference |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Williams +1 other reference |
Großkogel, St Gertraudi, Reith im Alpbachtal, Kufstein District, Tyrol, Austria