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Chursinite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Chursinite
Lyudmila Alekseevna Chursina
Formula:
[Hg2]2+Hg2+2[AsO4]2
Colour:
Yellow-brown to orange-brown
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
9.06 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
In honour of the Russian theatre and film actress Lyudmila Alekseevna Chursina (1941– ).
Second mercury arsenate mineral after kuznetsovite.
Weil (2004) reports chursinite as the α-(Hg2)3(AsO4)3. In the crystal structure of the synthetic alpha form, 3/4 of oxygen atoms of the arsenate group are linked to three different Hg-Hg pairs, to form puckered layers. Hg coordination is tetrahedral. Hg2 pairs are in dumbbell configuration. Both α and β forms (synthetic, light yellow) have the same space group.
Weil (2004) reports chursinite as the α-(Hg2)3(AsO4)3. In the crystal structure of the synthetic alpha form, 3/4 of oxygen atoms of the arsenate group are linked to three different Hg-Hg pairs, to form puckered layers. Hg coordination is tetrahedral. Hg2 pairs are in dumbbell configuration. Both α and β forms (synthetic, light yellow) have the same space group.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1048
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1048:7
IMA Classification of Chursinite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Hg1+Hg2+(As5+O4)
Approval year:
1982
First published:
1984
Classification of Chursinite
8.AD.60
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
38.5.1.1
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
5 : Miscellaneous
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
5 : Miscellaneous
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Csi | 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 Chursinite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
nearly adamantine
Colour:
Yellow-brown to orange-brown
Comment:
transparent in thin fragments
Streak:
Grayish yellow
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=198 - 245 - Vickers
Comment:
ca. 3
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
9.06 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
data for synthetic material
Optical Data of Chursinite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
n = >2
Surface Relief:
Unknown
Anisotropism:
Dark brown to blue-gray
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 460nm | 18.5% | 22.8% |
| 546nm | 16.1% | 20.4% |
| 590nm | 15.8% | 19.7% |
| 656nm | 14.5% | 18.5% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 22.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
gray with bluish tint; bluish to bluish white when tarnished
Comments:
Pale brownish yellow to light brown
Chemistry of Chursinite
Mindat Formula:
[Hg2]2+Hg2+2[AsO4]2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Chursinite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.71(2) Å, b = 5.08(2) Å, c = 15.66(2) Å
β = 128.27(11)°
β = 128.27(11)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.715 : 1 : 3.083
Unit Cell V:
544.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009483 | Chursinite | Kamenar B, Kaitner B (1973) The crystal structure of mercury(I) orthoarsenate Acta Crystallographica B29 1666-1669 |  | 1973 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.05 Å | (100) |
| 2.89 Å | (75) |
| 2.84 Å | (70) |
| 2.49 Å | (50) |
| 2.16 Å | (50) |
| 1.911 Å | (50) |
| 1.883 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Chursinite
General Appearance of Type Material:
grains to 0.2 mm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Siberian Division, Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, no. XI-41/1; Mining Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, no. 1678/1
Geological Setting of Type Material:
oxidized zone of Sb-As-Hg deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Chursinite
Other Language Names for Chursinite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.AD. | 'Unnamed (Monoclinic polymorph of ximengite)' | Bi(PO4) |
| 8.AD. | Keplerite | Ca9(Ca0.5◻0.5)Mg(PO4)7 |
| 8.AD. | Mazorite | Ba3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AD. | Deynekoite | Ca9◻Fe3+(PO4)7 |
| 8.AD. | Monazite-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.05 | Nahpoite | Na2(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.10 | Weilite | Ca(HAsO4) |
| 8.AD.10 | Švenekite | Ca(H2AsO4)2 |
| 8.AD.10 | Monetite | Ca(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.15 | Archerite | (K,NH4)(H2PO4) |
| 8.AD.15 | Biphosphammite | NH4(H2PO4) |
| 8.AD.20 | Phosphammite | (NH4)2(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.25 | Buchwaldite | NaCa(PO4) |
| 8.AD.30 | Schulténite | Pb(HAsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Dreyerite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(La) | La(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Anningite-(Ce) | (Ca0.5Ce4+0.5)(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Pretulite | Sc(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Ce) | Ce(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Y) | Y(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Yb) | Yb(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | 'Chernovite-(Ce)' | (Ce,Y)(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Chernovite-(Y) | Y(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Nd) | Nd(VO4) |
| 8.AD.40 | Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.45 | Ximengite | Bi(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | 'UM2005-35-VO:CaFePSiTh' | (Th,Ca)(VO4,SiO4,PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Rooseveltite | Bi(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Gasparite-(Ce) | Ce(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Sm) | Sm(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(La) | La(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Gasparite-(La) | La(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Cheralite | CaTh(PO4)2 |
| 8.AD.55 | Tetrarooseveltite | Bi(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.65 | Clinobisvanite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.70 | Gurimite | Ba3(VO4)2 |
| 8.AD.75 | Picaite | NaCa[AsO3OH][AsO2(OH)2] |
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 Chursinite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1048.html
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References for Chursinite
Reference List:
Kamenar, B., Kaitner, B. (1973) The crystal structure of mercury(I) orthoarsenate. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, 29 (8) 1666-1669 doi:10.1107/s0567740873005224
Localities for Chursinite
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.
Australia | |
| Leverett et al. (2005) |
Germany | |
| EDS and Raman analyzed by Joy Desor. |
Kyrgyzstan (TL) | |
| Vasil’ev et al. (1984) +2 other references |
| Kolesar et al. (1993) |
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Landsberg, Obermoschel, Nordpfälzer Land, Donnersbergkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany