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Polhemusite

A valid IMA mineral species
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04140270017271925923119.jpg
Polhemusite, etc.

Getchell Mine, Adam Peak, Potosi Mining District, Osgood Mountains, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA
01753140017271925964322.jpg
Polhemusite, etc.

Getchell Mine, Adam Peak, Potosi Mining District, Osgood Mountains, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA
03791160017271925997746.jpg
Polhemusite, etc.

Getchell Mine, Adam Peak, Potosi Mining District, Osgood Mountains, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA
04140270017271925923119.jpg
Polhemusite, etc.

Getchell Mine, Adam Peak, Potosi Mining District, Osgood Mountains, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA
01753140017271925964322.jpg
Polhemusite, etc.

Getchell Mine, Adam Peak, Potosi Mining District, Osgood Mountains, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA
03791160017271925997746.jpg
Polhemusite, etc.

Getchell Mine, Adam Peak, Potosi Mining District, Osgood Mountains, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA
04140270017271925923119.jpg
Polhemusite, etc.

Getchell Mine, Adam Peak, Potosi Mining District, Osgood Mountains, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA
01753140017271925964322.jpg
Polhemusite, etc.

Getchell Mine, Adam Peak, Potosi Mining District, Osgood Mountains, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA
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About PolhemusiteHide

04204380017271926042620.jpg
Clyde Polhemus
Formula:
(Zn,Hg)S
Colour:
Black
Lustre:
Adamantine, Resinous, Greasy
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
4.83 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Named in honor of Clyde Polhemus Ross, born Clyde Polhemus (1891–1965), American economic geologist with the United States Geological Survey who studied mercury deposits and the geology of Idaho. Clyde Ross Peak is also named after him.
Polymorph of:
Sphalerite, Wurtzite
A metastable, disordered polymorph of (mercurian) zinc sulfide (Leonard et al., 1978).

See also mercury-bearing sphalerite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3253
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3253:3

IMA Classification of PolhemusiteHide

Classification of PolhemusiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.CB.05c

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.
Dana 8th ed.:
2.8.3.1

2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:
3.5.10

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 SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
PheIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of PolhemusiteHide

Lustre:
Adamantine, Resinous, Greasy
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=220 - 333 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
Rare
Parting:
Rare
Density:
4.83(60) g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of PolhemusiteHide

Anisotropism:
Distinct in air, strong in oil
Bireflectance:
Decreases with increasing wavelength. Nearly absent at 650 nm.
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
470nm20.1%24.4%
546nm17.1%18.3%
589nm16.5%17.7%
650nm17.9%17.9%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 24.4%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Gray in air, darker in oil
Internal Reflections:
Air: strong, lavender, pink, reddish orange, dark red; Oil: strong, red-orange; not visible in all grains
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
Distinct in air, very slightly brownish gray to slightly lavender gray.
Conspicuous in oil,light brownish gray (almost yellow) to purplish gray.

Chemistry of PolhemusiteHide

Mindat Formula:
(Zn,Hg)S
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Zn67.094 %
S32.906 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Zn
S
Elements listed:
Hg, S, Zn - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
Fe

Crystallography of PolhemusiteHide

Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.71 Å, c = 24.74 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.84
Unit Cell V:
1,876.88 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
24
Twinning:
Knee-shaped twins resembling those of rutile are common; other simple twins and some lamellar twins are present.
Comment:
Point Group: 4/m or 4/m 2/m 2/m.; Space Group: P4/n, P42/n, P4/nbm, P4/nmm, P42/nnm, or P42/ncm; Z = 24 − 32(?)

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.16 Å(ms)
3.08 Å(vs)
1.888 Å(s)
1.608 Å(ms)
1.222 Å(m)
1.086 Å(m)
1.024 Å(m)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere>4.45
12 : Hadean hydrothermal subsurface sulfide deposits (see also #33)

Type Occurrence of PolhemusiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ B & B deposit (Dundee), Big Creek Mining District, Valley County, Idaho, USA
General Appearance of Type Material:
Stubby tetragonal prisms, dipyramids, and irregular grains.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 145549.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
CinnabarMetacinnabarQuartzSphaleriteStibnite
Reference:
Leonard, B. F., Desborough, George A., Mead, Cynthia W. (1978) Polhemusite, a new Hg-Zn sulfide from Idaho. American Mineralogist, 63 (11-12) 1153-1161

Synonyms of PolhemusiteHide

Other Language Names for PolhemusiteHide

German:Polhemusit
Simplified Chinese:硫汞锌矿
Spanish:Polhemusita

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
4 photos of Polhemusite associated with RealgarAs4S4

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.CB.RichardsiteZn2CuGaS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.OkruginiteCu2SnSe3Mon. m : Bb
2.CB.HanswilkeiteKFeS2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.CB.AuroselenideAuSeMon. 2/m : B2/m
2.CB.Ruizhongite(Ag2◻)Pb3Ge2S8Iso. 43m : I43d
2.CB.AgmantiniteAg2MnSnS4Orth.
2.CB.TolstykhiteAu3S4Te6Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.GachingiteAu(Te1-xSex)Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.05aHawleyiteCdSIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05'UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn'Cu2Fe3Zn5S10
2.CB.05aColoradoiteHgTeIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aMetacinnabarHgSIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aTiemanniteHgSeIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aSphaleriteZnSIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05bSakuraiite(Cu,Zn,Fe)3(In,Sn)S4 Iso.
2.CB.05aRudashevskyite(Fe,Zn)SIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aStilleiteZnSeIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.05aIshiharaite(Cu,Ga,Fe,In,Zn)SIso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.07a'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)'Cu2MnSnS4
2.CB.07aShenzhuangiteNiFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10bTalnakhiteCu9(Fe,Ni)8S16Iso. 43m : I43m
2.CB.10bHaycockiteCu4Fe5S8Orth. 222
2.CB.10aLenaiteAgFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10aGalliteCuGaS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10aRoquesiteCuInS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10aEskeborniteCuFeSe2Tet. 42m : P42c
2.CB.10a'UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn'Cu2Fe2Sn3S7
2.CB.10cOmariniiteCu8Fe2ZnGe2S12Orth. 222 : I222
2.CB.10aChalcopyriteCuFeS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10a'Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)'CuZn2InS4
2.CB.10bMooihoekiteCu9Fe9S16Tet. 42m : P42m
2.CB.10aLaforêtiteAgInS2Tet. 42m : I42d
2.CB.10bPutoraniteCu1.1Fe1.2S2Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pn3m
2.CB.15aVelikiteCu2HgSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15c'UM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn'Cu8(Fe,Zn)3Ge2S12 (?)
2.CB.15aHocartiteAg2(Fe2+,Zn)SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15aKësteriteCu2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aPirquitasiteAg2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aStanniteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15cStannoiditeCu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12Orth. 222 : I222
2.CB.15bMohiteCu2SnS3Mon.
2.CB.15aČernýiteCu2CdSnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.15aIdaiteCu5FeS6Hex.
2.CB.15aFerrokësteriteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aKuramiteCu3SnS4Tet. 42m : I42m
2.CB.17a v'Arsenic-bearing Renierite'Cu11GeAsFe4S16
2.CB.20MawsoniteCu6Fe2SnS8Tet. 42m : P4m2
2.CB.20ChatkaliteCu6FeSn2S8Tet. 42m : P4m2
2.CB.30'Frieseite'Ag2Fe5S8 (?)
2.CB.30NekrasoviteCu26V2(Sn,As,Sb)6S32Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30'Argyropyrite'near Ag2Fe7S11
2.CB.30MaikainiteCu20(Fe,Cu)6Mo2Ge6S32Iso. m3m(4/m32/m)
2.CB.30ColusiteCu13VAs3S16Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30GermaniteCu13Fe2Ge2S16Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.30GermanocolusiteCu26V2(Ge,As)6S32Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.30StibiocolusiteCu13V(Sb,Sn,As)3S16Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.30Ovamboite Cu20(Fe,Cu,Zn)6W2Ge6S32Iso. 43m : P43n
2.CB.35aMorozeviczite(Pb,Fe)3Ge1-xS4Iso.
2.CB.35aRenierite(Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16Tet. 42m : P42c
2.CB.35aHemusiteCu6SnMoS8Iso.
2.CB.35bCatamarcaiteCu6GeWS8Hex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.35aVincienniteCu+7Cu2+3Fe2+2Fe3+2Sn(As,Sb)S16Tet.
2.CB.35aKiddcreekiteCu6SnWS8Iso. 43m : F43m
2.CB.35aPolkovicite(Fe,Pb)3(Ge,Fe)1-xS4Iso.
2.CB.40LautiteCuAsSOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.CB.42LingbaoiteAgTe3Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.45CadmoseliteCdSeHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45RambergiteMnSHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45Buseckite(Fe,Zn,Mn)SHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45MaletoyvayamiteAu3Se4Te6Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.45GreenockiteCdSHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.45Wurtzite(Zn,Fe)SHex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.47MurchisiteCr5S6Trig. 3m(32/m) : P31c
2.CB.50'Zincselenide'ZnSe
2.CB.50WassoniteTiSTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
2.CB.52'Dzhezkazganite'ReMoCu2PbS6 ?Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.55bIsocubaniteCuFe2S3Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.CB.55aCubaniteCuFe2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.60RaguiniteTlFeS2Orth.
2.CB.60PicotpauliteTlFe2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
2.CB.65ArgentopyriteAgFe2S3Mon. 2/m
2.CB.65SternbergiteAgFe2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.70SulvaniteCu3VS4Iso. 43m : P43m
2.CB.75VulcaniteCuTeOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.80EmpressiteAgTeOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.CB.85MuthmanniteAuAgTe2Mon. 2/m : P2/m

Other InformationHide

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 PolhemusiteHide

References for PolhemusiteHide

Localities for PolhemusiteHide

Showing 11 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Algeria
 
  • Djanet Province
    • Djanet District
      • Djilouet granite suite
Larit et al. (2025)
Australia
 
  • Tasmania
    • Latrobe municipality
      • Harford
R. Bottrill +1 other reference
China
 
  • Hunan
    • Xiangxi
      • Baojing Co.
Zhongqi Huang (1991)
Iran
 
  • West Azerbaijan Province
    • Takab County
Daliran (2008)
Italy
 
  • Tuscany
    • Lucca Province
      • Stazzema
        • Sant'Anna di Stazzema
Costagliola et al. (1990)
Pacific Ocean
 
  • Tonga-Kermadec Arc
Schwarz-Schampera et al. (2001)
Poland
 
  • Subcarpathian Voivodeship
    • Lesko County
      • Gmina Baligród
        • Huczwice
GAWEŁ A. (Middle Carpathians)
Karwowski Ł. & Szełęg E. 2006: Zn-BEARING CINNABAR FROM RABE NEAR BALIGRÓD (BIESZCZADY MTS., OUTER CARPATIANS, SE POLAND) +2 other references
Russia
 
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Serovsky District
      • Turya river
        • Tur'insk
Vikentyev et al. (2019)
USA (TL)
 
  • Idaho
    • Valley County
      • Big Creek Mining District
Leonard et al. (1978) +1 other reference
  • Nevada
    • Humboldt County
      • Osgood Mountains
        • Potosi Mining District
          • Adam Peak
Castor et al. (2004)
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