Forms a series with lavrentievite.

Originally reported from Arzak Hg occurrence (Arzakskoye), Uyuk Range, Pii-Khem District, Tuva Republic, Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia.

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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

380

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:380:9

IMA Classification of ArzakiteHide

IMA status notes:

Unnamed (probably valid)

Approval history:

Unnamed, but probably valid.

Classification of ArzakiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

2.FC.15a

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
F : Sulfides of arsenic, alkalies; sulfides with halide, oxide, hydroxide, H₂O
C : With Cl, Br, I (halide-sulfides)

Dana 8th ed.:

10.3.4.2

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
3 : A₃(O,OH)₂X_q

Hey's CIM Ref.:

6.5.2

6 : Sulphosalts - Sulphostannates, Sulphogermanates,Sulpharsenates, Sulphantimonates, Sulphovanadates and Sulphohalides
5 : Sulphohalides

Physical Properties of ArzakiteHide

Lustre:

Adamantine, Vitreous

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

Colorless to yellow

Comment:

Pale bog-brown, reddish brown, deepening on exposure to light

Streak:

Greyish yellow

Hardness:

2 - 2½ on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₁₀₀=82 - 103 - Vickers

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

Perfect
Perfect in two directions parallel to elongation.

Density:

7.64 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of ArzakiteHide

Bireflectance:

Very weak, greyish white to grey

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁ (%)	R₂ (%)
546nm	16.5%	17.0%
590nm	15.2%	16.7%
620nm	14.8%	16.0%
656nm	14.5%	16.0%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 17.0%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in red

Colour in reflected light:

Grey

Internal Reflections:

Pale yellow to pale brown

Pleochroism:

Weak

Comments:

Greyish to yellowish brown in thin section

Chemistry of ArzakiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Hg²⁺₃S₂(Br,Cl)₂

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Hg	72.879 %
Br	19.354 %
S	7.767 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Br, Cl, Hg, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of ArzakiteHide

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Cell Parameters:

a = 8.99(4) Å, b = 5.24(1) Å, c = 18.45(8) Å
β = 92.28(15)°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 1.716 : 1 : 3.521

Unit Cell V:

868.45 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Complex intergrowths

Comment:

Possibly triclinic

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
5.05 Å	(3)
3.99 Å	(4)
3.41 Å	(5)
3.02 Å	(6)
2.63 Å	(10)
2.313 Å	(4)
1.594 Å	(4)

Comments:

Arzak deposit, Russia.

Other Language Names for ArzakiteHide

German:Arzakit

Spanish:Arzakita

Relationship of Arzakite to other SpeciesHide

Forms a series with:

Lavrentievite

Arzakite-Lavrentievite Series

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.FC.	Demicheleite-(I)	BiSI	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.FC.05	Djerfisherite	K₆(Fe,Cu,Ni)₂₅S₂₆Cl	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3m
2.FC.05	Owensite	(Ba,Pb)₆(Cu,Fe,Ni)₂₅S₂₇	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3m
2.FC.05	Thalfenisite	Tl₆(Fe,Ni,Cu)₂₅S₂₆Cl	Iso.
2.FC.05	Gmalimite	K₆◻Fe²⁺₂₄S₂₇	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3m
2.FC.05	'Cu-djerfisherite'	K₆(Cu,Fe)₂₅S₂₆Cl
2.FC.05	Zoharite	(Ba,K)₆(Fe,Cu,Ni)₂₅S₂₇	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Pm3m
2.FC.10	Bartonite	K₆Fe₂₀S₂₆S	Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.FC.10	Chlorbartonite	K₆Fe₂₄S₂₆(Cl,S)	Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.FC.15d	Radtkeite	Hg²⁺₃S₂ICl	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.FC.15a	Lavrentievite	Hg₃S₂Cl₂	Mon.
2.FC.15a	Corderoite	Hg²⁺₃S₂Cl₂	Iso. m3(2/m3)
2.FC.15c	Grechishchevite	Hg²⁺₃S₂(Br,Cl,I)₂	Tet.
2.FC.15b	Kenhsuite	Hg²⁺₃S₂Cl₂	Orth.
2.FC.20b	Iltisite	HgAgSCl	Hex.
2.FC.20c	Perroudite	Hg₅Ag₄S₅(I,Br)₂Cl₂	Orth. 222 : P2₁2₁2
2.FC.20a	Capgaronnite	AgHgClS	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.FC.20d	Hanauerite	AgHgSI	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmma
2.FC.25	Demicheleite-(Cl)	BiSCl	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.FC.25	Demicheleite-(Br)	BiSBr	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma

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 ArzakiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-380.html
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References for ArzakiteHide

Reference List:

Vasil’ev, V.I., Pal’chik, N.A., Grechishchev, O.K. (1984) Lavrentievite and arzakite, new natural mercury sulfohalides. Geologiya i Geofizika: 25: 54-63.

Dunn, Pete J., Fleischer, Michael, Langley, Richard H., Shigley, James E., Zilczer, Janet A. (1985) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 70 (7-8) 871-881 pp.873-874

Vasil'ev, V.I., Lavrent'ev, Y.G. and Pal'chik, N.A. (1986): New data on arzakite and lavrentievite. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR, 290, 948–951 (in Russian).

(2005) Arzakite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for ArzakiteHide

Showing 4 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.


Chile
Santiago Metropolitan Region Melipilla Province ⓘ Alhué mining district	Gómez-Gajardo et al. (2024)

Russia
Chelyabinsk Oblast ⓘ Chelyabinsk meteorite (Chebarkul meteorite)	Мороз Т.Н. et al. (in Rus.)
Tuva Pi-Khem District Uyuk Range ⓘ Arzak Hg occurrence (Arzakskoye)	Vasil’ev et al. (1984) +2 other references
Oorash-Khem River Valley ⓘ Kadyrel' Hg occurrence	Pervukhina et al. (2003)

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Arzakite