Paraschachnerite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Paraschachnerite
Doris Schachner-Korn
Formula:
Ag3Hg2
Colour:
Grey
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
12.98 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named from the Greek 'para' for near, and schachnerite, for the similarity to that mineral. The two minerals were described at the same time. The root name is in honor of Doris Schachner-Korn (Bockwa near Zwickau, 30 May 1904 - Heidelberg, 1 April 1988), Professor of Mineralogy, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen. She was the first female professor in mineralogy and petrography in Germany, and was also a senator for a few years.
This page provides mineralogical data about Paraschachnerite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3109
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3109:3
IMA Classification of Paraschachnerite
Approved
Approval year:
1971
First published:
1972
Classification of Paraschachnerite
1.AD.15a
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.:
1.1.11.3
1.1.8.3
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
1.17
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pshn | 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 Paraschachnerite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Grey
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=79 - 93 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
12.98 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Paraschachnerite
Anisotropism:
distinct
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 65.9% | 67.0% |
| 420nm | 67.9% | 69.0% |
| 440nm | 69.8% | 70.9% |
| 460nm | 71.5% | 72.6% |
| 480nm | 73.3% | 74.4% |
| 500nm | 74.9% | 76.2% |
| 520nm | 76.5% | 77.8% |
| 540nm | 78.1% | 79.3% |
| 560nm | 79.5% | 80.7% |
| 580nm | 80.6% | 81.8% |
| 600nm | 81.5% | 82.8% |
| 620nm | 82.3% | 83.5% |
| 640nm | 82.9% | 84.0% |
| 660nm | 83.6% | 84.6% |
| 680nm | 84.0% | 85.1% |
| 700nm | 84.6% | 85.5% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 85.5%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
creamy white
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
Brownish rose-white to creamy white
Chemistry of Paraschachnerite
Mindat Formula:
Ag3Hg2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Paraschachnerite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 2.961 Å, b = 5.13 Å, c = 4.83 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.577 : 1 : 0.942
Unit Cell V:
73.37 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Twinning:
Always twinned in a complex fashion; twin plane {110}; trillings common
Comment:
Point Group: 2/m 2/m 2/m or mm2. Space Group: Cmcm (probable) or Cmc2, Cmc21.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.267 Å | (100) |
| 2.404 Å | (60) |
| 1.263 Å | (60) |
| 1.361 Å | (50) |
| 1.481 Å | (40) |
| 0.8310 Å | (40) |
| 2.564 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]) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Paraschachnerite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Technical University, Berlin, Germany; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 145618, 150256
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Paraschachnerite
Other Language Names for Paraschachnerite
Relationship of Paraschachnerite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Silver Amalgam Group:
| Eugenite | Ag11Hg2 | Iso. 43m : I43m |
| Luanheite | Ag3Hg | Hex. |
| Schachnerite | Ag1.1Hg0.9 | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 62 photos of Paraschachnerite associated with Moschellandsbergite | Ag2Hg3 |
| 55 photos of Paraschachnerite associated with Metacinnabar | HgS |
| 49 photos of Paraschachnerite associated with Schachnerite | Ag1.1Hg0.9 |
| 44 photos of Paraschachnerite associated with Cinnabar | HgS |
| 35 photos of Paraschachnerite associated with Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| 30 photos of Paraschachnerite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 12 photos of Paraschachnerite associated with 'Kongsbergite' | (Ag,Hg) |
| 9 photos of Paraschachnerite associated with Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| 8 photos of Paraschachnerite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 7 photos of Paraschachnerite associated with Tetrahedrite-(Hg) | Cu6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4S12S |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 1.AD. | Aurihydrargyrumite | Au6Hg5 |
| 1.AD.05 | Native Mercury | Hg |
| 1.AD.10 | Belendorffite | Cu7Hg6 |
| 1.AD.10 | Kolymite | Cu7Hg6 |
| 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
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 Paraschachnerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3109.html
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References for Paraschachnerite
Reference List:
Zakrzewski, M. A., Burke, E. A. J. (1987) Schachnerite, paraschachnerite and silver amalgam from the Sala mine, Sweden. Mineralogical Magazine, 51 (360) 318-321 doi:10.1180/minmag.1987.051.360.16
Васильев, В. И. (1992) Твердые природные сплавы системы Ag-Hg. Терминология, фрагменты классификации, описание [Hard natural alloys of the Ag-Hg system. Terminology, classification fragments, description]. СО РАН НИЦ ОИГГМ.
Cipriani, Curzio, Bernardini, Gian Piero, Corazza, Marcello, Mazzetti, Giuseppe, Moggi, Vanni (1993) Reinvestigation of natural and synthetic silver amalgams. European Journal of Mineralogy, 5 (5) 903-914 doi:10.1127/ejm/5/5/0903
Localities for Paraschachnerite
Showing 16 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.
Austria | |
| Leblhuber (2000) |
| Krause et al. (2025) |
Bulgaria | |
| Atanasov (1979) +1 other reference |
Germany (TL) | |
| Seeliger et al. (1972) +1 other reference |
| 58. +1 other reference |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll |
Mexico | |
| Braith et al. (2001) |
| In the collection of Manfred Kampf. XRD ... | |
Russia | |
| www.encyclopedia.com (n.d.) |
| Belogub et al. (2007) |
Slovakia | |
| Ďuďa (1993) |
| Martin Števko-unpublished |
Spain | |
| Favreau et al. (2013) |
Sweden | |
| Zakrzewski et al. (1987) +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Tosdal (1990) |
| Paul M. Adams (2016) |
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Neuschurf adit, Schwarzleo mining district, Schwarzleograben, Hütten, Leogang, Zell am See District, Salzburg, Austria