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Miersite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Miersite
Sir Henry A. Miers
Formula:
(Ag,Cu)I
Colour:
Yellow
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
5.64
Crystal System:
Isometric
Member of:
Name:
After Henry A. Miers (1858-1942), Professor of Mineralogy, Oxford, England.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2707
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2707:2
Similar Names
| Marosite (of Cook and Sherwood) | A rock subtype |
| Marosite (of Iddings) | A rock subtype |
IMA Classification of Miersite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ag1+I1-
First published:
1898
Classification of Miersite
3.AA.05
3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
A : M:X = 1:1, 2:3, 3:5, etc.
3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
A : M:X = 1:1, 2:3, 3:5, etc.
9.1.7.2
9 : NORMAL HALIDES
1 : AX
9 : NORMAL HALIDES
1 : AX
8.3.5
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
3 : Halides of Ag
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
3 : Halides of Ag
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mier | 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 Miersite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Yellow
Streak:
Yellow
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {011}.
On {011}.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
5.64 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.67 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Miersite
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 2.20(2)
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Comments:
Exhibits weak anomalous birefringence at times.
Chemistry of Miersite
Mindat Formula:
(Ag,Cu)I
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Miersite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
43m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:
F43m
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.5 Å
Unit Cell V:
274.63 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Tetrahedral, often with small faces of {01}; cubo-octahedral rare by equal development of {001}, {111}, and {111}. {001} striated parallel to the edges with the tetrahedral faces. o differences exhibited by the positive and negative tetrahedra. Crusts; aggregates of indistinct crystals.
Twinning:
On {011}, repeated at times.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0015224 | Miersite | Hull S, Keen D A (1999) Pressure-induced phase transitions in AgCl, AgBr, and AgI Physical Review B59 750-761 | 1999 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0015226 | Miersite | Hull S, Keen D A (1999) Pressure-induced phase transitions in AgCl, AgBr, and AgI Physical Review B59 750-761 | 1999 | 1.5 | 293 | ||
| 0015227 | Miersite | Hull S, Keen D A (1999) Pressure-induced phase transitions in AgCl, AgBr, and AgI Physical Review B59 750-761 | 1999 | 3.4 | 293 | ||
| 0015228 | Miersite | Hull S, Keen D A (1999) Pressure-induced phase transitions in AgCl, AgBr, and AgI Physical Review B59 750-761 | 1999 | 6.4 | 293 | ||
| 0015229 | Miersite | Hull S, Keen D A (1999) Pressure-induced phase transitions in AgCl, AgBr, and AgI Physical Review B59 750-761 | 1999 | 8.9 | 293 | ||
| 0015230 | Miersite | Hull S, Keen D A (1999) Pressure-induced phase transitions in AgCl, AgBr, and AgI Physical Review B59 750-761 | 1999 | 11.1 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Epitaxial Relationships of Miersite
Epitaxial Minerals:
Epitaxy Comments:
Oriented intergrowths with iodargyrite.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.72 Å | (w) |
| 3.23 Å | (s) |
| 2.28 Å | (m) |
| 1.948 Å | (m) |
| 1.489 Å | (vw) |
| 1.320 Å | (vw) |
| 1.290 Å | (vw) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Miersite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Usually as crystalline crusts or as aggregates of rather indistinct crystals on rock surfaces. Also as scattered crystals to 2 mm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Muséum Nationale d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, number 112.405 (type).
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, number BM 83822 (holotype).
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, number BM 83822 (holotype).
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Miersite
Relationship of Miersite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Chlorargyrite Group:
| Bromargyrite | AgBr | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m |
| Chlorargyrite | AgCl | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m |
| Marshite | CuI | Iso. 43m : F43m |
| Nantokite | CuCl | Iso. 43m : F43m |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 59 photos of Miersite associated with Cuprite | Cu2O |
| 27 photos of Miersite associated with Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 17 photos of Miersite associated with Native Silver | Ag |
| 14 photos of Miersite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 9 photos of Miersite associated with Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| 4 photos of Miersite associated with Chenevixite | Cu2Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)4 |
| 2 photos of Miersite associated with Serpierite | Ca(Cu2+,Zn2+)4(S6+O4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 1 photo of Miersite associated with Marshite | CuI |
| 1 photo of Miersite associated with Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| 1 photo of Miersite associated with Native Copper | Cu |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.AA. | Brontesite | (NH4)3PbCl5 |
| 3.AA.05 | Marshite | CuI |
| 3.AA.05 | Nantokite | CuCl |
| 3.AA.05 | 'UM1999-11:I:CuS' | Cu(I,S) |
| 3.AA.10 | Tocornalite | (Ag,Hg)I (?) |
| 3.AA.10 | Iodargyrite | AgI |
| 3.AA.15 | Bromargyrite | AgBr |
| 3.AA.15 | Chlorargyrite | AgCl |
| 3.AA.20 | Sylvite | KCl |
| 3.AA.20 | Halite | NaCl |
| 3.AA.20 | Villiaumite | NaF |
| 3.AA.20 | Carobbiite | KF |
| 3.AA.20 | Griceite | LiF |
| 3.AA.25 | 'UM1998-03-Cl:Tl' | TlCl |
| 3.AA.25 | Nataliyamalikite | TlI |
| 3.AA.25 | Lafossaite | Tl(Cl,Br) |
| 3.AA.25 | Salammoniac | NH4Cl |
| 3.AA.30 | Calomel | [Hg2]2+Cl2 |
| 3.AA.30 | Moschelite | [Hg2]2+I2 |
| 3.AA.30 | Kuzminite | HgBr |
| 3.AA.35 | Neighborite | NaMgF3 |
| 3.AA.35 | Parascandolaite | KMgF3 |
| 3.AA.40 | Javorieite | KFeCl3 |
| 3.AA.40 | Chlorocalcite | KCaCl3 |
| 3.AA.45 | Kolarite | PbTeCl2 |
| 3.AA.50 | Radhakrishnaite | PbTe3(Cl,S)2 |
| 3.AA.55 | Challacolloite | KPb2Cl5 |
| 3.AA.60 | Hephaistosite | TlPb2Cl5 |
| 3.AA.90 | Pseudocotunnite | K2PbCl4 |
Fluorescence of Miersite
None
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 Miersite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2707.html
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References for Miersite
Reference List:
Spencer, L. J. (1901) Marshite, Miersite, and Iodyrite from Broken Hill, New South Wales. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 13 (59) 38-53 doi:10.1180/minmag.1901.013.59.04
Prior, G. T. (1902) The Identity of Kilbriekenite with Geocronite : and Analyses of Miersite, Marshite, and Copper-pyrites. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 13 (60) 186-190 doi:10.1180/minmag.1902.13.60.07
Kolkmeijer, Ν. H., Hengel, J. W. A. van (1934) Über das reguläre und das hexagonale Silberjodid. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 88 (1). 317 doi:10.1524/zkri.1934.88.1.317
Millsteed, P. W. (1998) Marshite–miersile solid solution and iodargyrite from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. Mineralogical Magazine, 62 (4) 471-475 doi:10.1180/002646198547846
Localities for Miersite
Showing 17 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 (TL) | |
| Spencer (1898) +1 other reference |
| Steve Sorrell Collection | |
| South Australian Museum specimen in the ... | |
| Spencer (1898) |
| Sorrell (n.d.) | |
Chile | |
| Miersite - xray identification by ... |
| Chouinard et al. (2005) |
DR Congo | |
| Deliens (1996) |
Mexico | |
| Braith et al. (2001) |
Russia | |
| Minerals offered by Excalibur minerals +2 other references |
| Kuzhuget et al. (2015) |
| Shavekina et al. (2026) |
Spain | |
| Rewitzer et al. (2014) |
USA | |
| Graeme (1993) |
| Graeme (1993) +1 other reference |
| Williams et al. (1963) +1 other reference |
| Williams et al. (1963) +1 other reference |
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Broken Hill, Broken Hill district, Yancowinna Co., New South Wales, Australia