Imiterite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page kindly sponsored in memory of Ing. Zoltan Kalinaj
About Imiterite
Formula:
Ag2HgS2
Colour:
Black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
7.846 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after the type locality, the Imiter mine.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2020
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2020:2
IMA Classification of Imiterite
Approved
Approval year:
1983
Classification of Imiterite
2.BD.05
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
D : With Hg, Tl
2.5.8.1
2 : SULFIDES
5 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:2
2 : SULFIDES
5 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 3:2
3.5.4
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Imi | 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 Imiterite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black
Comment:
Sometimes tarnished bluish
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=86 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
7.846(4) g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Imiterite
Anisotropism:
Strong, from bluish gray to reddish brown.
Bireflectance:
Strong
Colour in reflected light:
pale grey in reflected light
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
Bluish to pinkish.
Chemistry of Imiterite
Mindat Formula:
Ag2HgS2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Imiterite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.0394(8) Å, b = 8.0050(8) Å, c = 6.5812(8) Å
β = 107.12(2)°
β = 107.12(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.505 : 1 : 0.822
Unit Cell V:
203.38 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
anhedral grains and crystals to 1cm
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012085 | Imiterite | Guillou J J, Monthel J, Picot P, Pillard F, Protas J, Samama J C (1985) L'imiterite, Ag2HgS2 nouvelle espece minerale; proprietes et structure cristalline Bulletin de Mineralogie 108 457-464 | 1985 | Tinerhir, Boulmane, Morocco | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.768 Å | (100) |
| 2.746 Å | (100) |
| 2.461 Å | (80) |
| 3.466 Å | (50) |
| 1.467 Å | (35) |
| 4.88 Å | (30) |
| 3.138 Å | (30) |
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 Imiterite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Bureau de Recherches G´eologiques et Mini`eres (B.R.G.M.), Orl´eans; National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Imiterite
Other Language Names for Imiterite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 16 photos of Imiterite associated with Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 10 photos of Imiterite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 8 photos of Imiterite associated with Cinnabar | HgS |
| 5 photos of Imiterite associated with Acanthite | Ag2S |
| 4 photos of Imiterite associated with Xanthoconite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 3 photos of Imiterite associated with Polybasite | [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| 2 photos of Imiterite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Imiterite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 1 photo of Imiterite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 1 photo of Imiterite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.BD. | Vrančiceite | Cu10Hg3S8 |
| 2.BD. | 'UM2004-33-S:AgCuHgSe' | (Ag,Cu)8Hg3(S,Se)7 |
| 2.BD.10 | Gortdrumite | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 |
| 2.BD.15 | Danielsite | (Cu,Ag)14HgS8 |
| 2.BD.15 | Balkanite | Cu9Ag5HgS8 |
| 2.BD.20 | Donharrisite | Ni3HgS3 |
| 2.BD.25 | Carlinite | Tl2S |
| 2.BD.30 | Bukovite | (Cu3Fe)Σ4Tl2Se4 |
| 2.BD.30 | Thalcusite | Tl2Cu3FeS4 |
| 2.BD.30 | Murunskite | K2(Cu,Fe)4S4 |
| 2.BD.35 | Rohaite | (Tl,Pb,K)2Cu8.7Sb2S4 |
| 2.BD.40 | Chalcothallite | Tl2(Cu,Fe)6SbS4 |
| 2.BD.45 | Sabatierite | TlCu6Se4 |
| 2.BD.50 | Crookesite | Cu7(Tl, Ag)Se4 |
| 2.BD.55 | Brodtkorbite | Cu2HgSe2 |
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 Imiterite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2020.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Imiterite
Reference List:
Guillou, Jean-Jacques, Monthel, Jacques, Picot, Paul, Pillard, François, Protas, Jean, Samama, Jean-Claude (1985) L'imitérite, Ag2HgS2, nouvelle espèce minérale ; propriétés et structure cristalline. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 108 (3) 457-464 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1985.7842
Localities for Imiterite
Showing 33 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.
Argentina | |
| Rudashevsky et al. (2018) |
Australia | |
| Leverett et al. (2005) |
Austria | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Schachinger et al. (2014) |
| Kolitsch (2015) |
| Auer (2019) |
| Schachinger et al. (2014) |
| Krause et al. (2025) |
Czech Republic | |
| Pažout et al. (2026) |
| Plášil et al. (2009) +1 other reference |
| Ondruš et al. (2003) |
| Vrtiskova et al. (2024) |
France | |
| Pascal Chollet Collection - SEM-EDS ... |
Germany | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| - (1998) |
Hungary | |
| www.minerals- of-the- carpathians.eu (Editor:Szakáll) |
| GEODA 2010/1 | |
Italy | |
| Guastoni A. et al. (2016) |
| Fiori (1998) +1 other reference |
Morocco | |
| Zaid et al. (2025) |
| Favreau (n.d.) |
| Anthony +4 other references |
Norway | |
| Kullerud et al. (2020) |
Romania | |
| In the collection of Brent Thorne. ... |
Russia | |
| Sejkora et al. (2023) |
| Baksheev et al. (2018) |
| Zhuravkova et al. (2015) +2 other references |
| Nekrasov et al. (1987) +1 other reference |
| Nekrasov et al. (1987) +1 other reference | |
| Kuzhuget et al. (2015) |
USA | |
| Forbes et al. (1991) |
| - (1990) |
| Bindi et al. (2006) |
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Imiter mine, Imiter mining district, Tinghir Cercle, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco