Livingstonite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Livingstonite
David Livingstone
Formula:
HgSb4S6(S2)
Colour:
Blackish-gray
Lustre:
Adamantine, Metallic
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
4.88
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named by Mariano Barcena in 1874 in honor of David Livingstone (19 March 1813, Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, Scotland - 1 May 1873, Chief Chitambo's Village, Zambia), the African explorer and missionary. Livingstone had died the year before the mineral was described and Barcena noted that 'the benefactors of humanity belong to all nations, and that all humanity must honor their memory.'
This page provides mineralogical data about Livingstonite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2424
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2424:8
IMA Classification of Livingstonite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Hg2+Sb3+4S2-6(S2)2-
First published:
1874
Classification of Livingstonite
2.JA.05i
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
J : Sulfosalts of PbS archetype
A : Galena derivatives with little or no Pb
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
J : Sulfosalts of PbS archetype
A : Galena derivatives with little or no Pb
3.7.11.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
5.4.6
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
4 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Zn and Hg
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
4 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Zn and Hg
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lst | 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 Livingstonite
Adamantine, Metallic
Transparency:
Translucent, Opaque
Colour:
Blackish-gray
Streak:
Red
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=96 - 125 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Elastic
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001} perfect, {010}, and {100} poor.
{001} perfect, {010}, and {100} poor.
Density:
4.88(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 5.013 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Livingstonite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
Anisotropism:
Strong
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 35.0% | 44.3% |
| 420nm | 34.2% | 44.3% |
| 440nm | 33.2% | 44.4% |
| 460nm | 32.8% | 44.9% |
| 480nm | 32.6% | 44.9% |
| 500nm | 32.3% | 43.8% |
| 520nm | 31.8% | 42.3% |
| 540nm | 31.2% | 41.0% |
| 560nm | 30.7% | 40.0% |
| 580nm | 30.4% | 39.2% |
| 600nm | 29.9% | 38.1% |
| 620nm | 29.1% | 36.8% |
| 640nm | 28.4% | 35.7% |
| 660nm | 27.8% | 34.9% |
| 680nm | 27.4% | 34.2% |
| 700nm | 26.9% | 33.6% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 44.9%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
White
Internal Reflections:
Deep red
Pleochroism:
Weak
Chemistry of Livingstonite
Mindat Formula:
HgSb4S6(S2)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Livingstonite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 30.1543(10) Å, b = 3.9953(2) Å, c = 21.4262(13) Å
β = 104.265(1)°
β = 104.265(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 7.547 : 1 : 5.363
Unit Cell V:
2501.7 ų
Z:
8
Morphology:
Minute needles elongated [010]. Columnar to fibrous massive; in globular masses of interlaced needles. Forms include c{001}, a{100}, d{101}, e{101}, p{111}, q{122}.
Comment:
A2/a
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010773 | Livingstonite | Srikrishnan T, Nowacki W (1975) A redetermination of the crystal structure of livingstonite, HgSb4S8 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 141 174-192 |  | 1975 | Huitzuco, Guerrero, Mexico | 0 | 293 |
| 0010580 | Livingstonite | Niizeki N, Buerger M J (1957) The crystal structure of livingstonite, HgSb4S8 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 109 129-157 | | 1957 | Guerrido, Mexico | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.00 Å | (100) |
| 3.74 Å | (70) |
| 3.48 Å | (70) |
| 2.28 Å | (60) |
| 1.734 Å | (50) |
| 5.16 Å | (40) |
| 2.67 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Huitzuco, Mexico. May show preferred orientation.
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]) |
Geological Setting:
Low temperature hydrothermal veins
Type Occurrence of Livingstonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Prisms in columnar groups.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type specimen.
Other Language Names for Livingstonite
Dutch:Livingstoniet
German:Livingstonit
Russian:Ливингстонит
Simplified Chinese:硫锑汞矿
Spanish:Livingstonita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 18 photos of Livingstonite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 16 photos of Livingstonite associated with Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
| 15 photos of Livingstonite associated with Cinnabar | HgS |
| 8 photos of Livingstonite associated with Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| 7 photos of Livingstonite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 2 photos of Livingstonite associated with Native Sulphur | S8 |
| 1 photo of Livingstonite associated with Native Mercury | Hg |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.JA. | Ferdowsiite | Ag8(Sb5As3)S16 |
| 2.JA. | Luboržákite | Mn2AsSbS5 |
| 2.JA. | Sangenaroite | Ag8(Sb8-xAsx)SΣ16 |
| 2.JA.05a | Pavonite | AgBi3S5 |
| 2.JA.05b | Grumiplucite | HgBi2S4 |
| 2.JA.05c | Kudriavite | (Cd,Pb)Bi2S4 |
| 2.JA.05d | Cupromakovickyite | Cu4AgPb2Bi9S18 |
| 2.JA.05e | Benjaminite | Ag3Bi7S12 |
| 2.JA.05h | Mozgovaite | PbBi4S7 |
| 2.JA.05 | Dantopaite | Ag5Bi13S22 |
| 2.JA.05a | Cupropavonite | Cu0.9Ag0.5Pb0.6Bi2.5S5 |
| 2.JA.05 | Selenodantopaite | Ag5Bi13Se22 |
| 2.JA.05g | Borodaevite | Ag5(Bi,Pb,Fe)8(Sb,Bi)2S17 |
| 2.JA.05a | Cupromakopavonite | Ag3Cu8Pb4Bi19S38 |
| 2.JA.05d | Makovickyite | Cu1.12Ag0.81Pb0.27Bi5.35S9 |
| 2.JA.05f | Mummeite | Cu0.58Ag3.11Pb1.10Bi6.65S13 |
| 2.JA.10b | Kupčíkite | Cu3.4Fe0.6Bi5S10 |
| 2.JA.10d | Pizgrischite | (Cu,Fe)Cu14PbBi17S35 |
| 2.JA.10c | Hodrušite | Cu8Bi12S22 |
| 2.JA.10a | Cuprobismutite | Cu8AgBi13S24 |
| 2.JA.10e | Padĕraite | Cu7[(Cu,Ag)0.33Pb1.33Bi11.33]S22 |
| 2.JA.15 | Schapbachite | Ag0.4Pb0.2Bi0.4S |
| 2.JA.15 | Cuboargyrite | AgSbS2 |
| 2.JA.20 | Matildite | AgBiS2 |
| 2.JA.20 | Volynskite | AgBiTe2 |
| 2.JA.20 | Bohdanowiczite | AgBiSe2 |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Fuses at the first touch of the blowpipe flame, and produces abundant white fumes.
Notes:
Not attacked by cold nitric acid but warm nitric acid decomposes it, giving a white residue. Easily dissolved in aqua regia, producing a solution with a white color.
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 Livingstonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2424.html
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References for Livingstonite
Reference List:
Richmond, Wallace E. (1936) Crystallography of livingstonite. American Mineralogist, 21 (11) 719-720
Niizeki, N., Buerger, M. J. (1957) The Crystal Structure of Livingstonite, HgSb4S8. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 109 (1) 129-157 doi:10.1524/zkri.1957.109.1-6.129
Berry, L. G., Thompson, R. M. (1962) X-Ray Powder Data for Ore Minerals: the Peacock Atlas. GSA Memoir 85. Geological Society of America doi:10.1130/mem85p.170
Craig, James R. (1970) Livingstonite, HgSb4S8: Synthesis and stability. American Mineralogist, 55 (5-6) 919-924
Srikrishnan, T., Nowacki, W. (1975) A redetermination of the crystal structure of livingstonite, HgSb4S8. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 141 (3). 174-192 doi:10.1524/zkri.1975.141.3-4.174
Tunell, G., Learned, R. E., Lawrence, E. F. (1976) On the origin of the livingstonite deposits at Huitzuco, Guerrero, Mexico. Mineralium Deposita, 11 (1) 71-82 doi:10.1007/bf00203095
Criddle, A. J., Stanley, C. J. (1993) Data file. In Quantitative Data File for Ore Minerals. Springer Netherlands. p.1-635. doi:10.1007/978-94-011-1486-8_1p.326
Localities for Livingstonite
Showing 28 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 | |
| Nottes et al. (1986) |
China | |
| Zhengjiang Ding et al. (2010) |
Germany | |
| undefined +2 other references |
| Weiß (1990) | |
| Heidtke (2001) |
Italy | |
| Pellecchia et al. (2018) |
| Pellecchia et al. (2018) +1 other reference |
Japan | |
| Mineralogical Journal et al. (1971) |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| Kolesar et al. (1993) +1 other reference |
| Kolesar et al. (1993) | |
Mexico (TL) | |
| Barcena (1874) +1 other reference |
| Panczner (1987) | |
| Panczner (1987) | |
| Panczner (1987) | |
| Panczner (1987) | |
New Zealand | |
| Mineralogical Magazine +4 other references |
| Hampton et al. (2004) | |
Russia | |
| Vikent'eva et al. (2016) +1 other reference |
| Vikent'eva et al. (2016) |
Spain | |
| Crespo et al. (2000) |
| Luque et al. (1989) |
| Anthony et al. (1990) | |
USA | |
| Howard (1987) +1 other reference |
| - (2005) |
| Roberts et al. (2003) |
| - (2005) | |
| Kleinhampl et al. (1984) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
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Landsberg, Obermoschel, Nordpfälzer Land, Donnersbergkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany