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Kolymite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Kolymite
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.
Type Locality:
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Kolymite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2244
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2244:2
Similar Names
| Calamite | A synonym of Tremolite | |
| Colimaite | A valid IMA mineral species | K3VS4 |
| Colomite | A synonym of Roscoelite | |
| Columbite | A synonym of 'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series' | |
| Columbite-(Fe) | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Fe2+Nb2O6 |
| Columbite-(Fe)-Tantalite-(Fe) Series | A 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 - grandfathered | Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| Columbite-(Mn)-Tantalite-(Mn) Series | A solid-solution series between two end-member minerals | |
| Kolumbite | A synonym of 'Columbite' |
IMA Classification of Kolymite
Approved
Approval year:
1979
First published:
1980
Classification of Kolymite
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
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 : 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)
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kym | 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 Kolymite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Tin-white quickly altering in moist air to brownish-black
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN20=220 - 267 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
13.0 g/cm3 (Measured) 13.1 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Kolymite
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) |
|---|---|
| 420nm | 59.0% |
| 440nm | 61.4% |
| 460nm | 63.8% |
| 480nm | 66.8% |
| 500nm | 69.4% |
| 520nm | 71.2% |
| 540nm | 72.1% |
| 560nm | 72.8% |
| 580nm | 73.6% |
| 600nm | 74.0% |
| 620nm | 74.6% |
| 640nm | 75.3% |
| 660nm | 76.0% |
| 680nm | 76.9% |
| 700nm | 77.8% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 77.8%.
Colour in reflected light:
Creamy white
Chemistry of Kolymite
Mindat Formula:
Cu7Hg6
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Kolymite
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 Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 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 Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Kolymite
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 Kolymite
Other Language Names for Kolymite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 1.AD. | Aurihydrargyrumite | Au6Hg5 |
| 1.AD.05 | Native Mercury | Hg |
| 1.AD.10 | Belendorffite | 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
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 Kolymite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2244.html
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References for Kolymite
Reference List:
Adolf Mine, Rudabánya, Kazincbarcika District, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hungary