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Velikite

A valid IMA mineral species
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06009470017271927354349.jpg
Alexander S. Velikiy
Formula:
Cu2HgSnS4
Colour:
Dark gray
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
5.45 - 5.59
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Stannite Group
Name:
Named in honor of Alexander Semenovich Velikiy (Александр Семёнович Великий) (3 May (20 April) 1913, Kolyshkino, Saratov, Russian Empire - 21 April 1970, Leningrad, USSR), investigator of ore deposits in Soviet central Asia.
Stannite Group.


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
4168
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4168:9

IMA Classification of VelikiteHide

Classification of VelikiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.CB.15a

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.:
2.9.2.8

2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:
6.1.3

6 : Sulphosalts - Sulphostannates, Sulphogermanates,Sulpharsenates, Sulphantimonates, Sulphovanadates and Sulphohalides
1 : Sulphostannates and other sulfides containing Sn

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

Physical Properties of VelikiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Dark gray
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN30=215 - 305 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
5.45 - 5.59 g/cm3 (Measured)    5.450 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured density was for two samples. Calculated density for second sample was 5.537.

Optical Data of VelikiteHide

Anisotropism:
Moderate
Bireflectance:
Weak
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)
470nm26.0%
546nm26.3%
589nm25.9%
650nm24.8%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 26.3%.
Colour in reflected light:
Greenish gray to light gray
Internal Reflections:
None

Chemistry of VelikiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Cu2HgSnS4
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Hg34.906 %
S22.320 %
Cu22.116 %
Sn20.658 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Cu, Hg, S, Sn - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of VelikiteHide

Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4 - Disphenoidal
Space Group:
I4
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.560(5) Å, c = 10.905(10) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.961
Unit Cell V:
337.11 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0015574VelikiteKaplunnik L N, Pobedimskaya E A, Belov N V (1977) Crystal structure of velikite Cu3.75Hg1.75Sn2S8 Soviet Physics Crystallography 22 99-1001977Khaidarkan, Kyrgyzstan0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.17 Å(100)
1.958 Å(25)
1.941 Å(80)
1.671 Å(40)
1.646 Å(35)
1.264 Å(25)

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 VelikiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Khaidarkan Sb-Hg deposit, Aydarken, Kadamjay District, Batken Region, Kyrgyzstan
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small grains and tetragonal-scalenohedral crystals, mostly 0.2–0.4 mm and up to 1 mm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
A. E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow, Russia.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AktashiteFluoriteLivingstoniteMetacinnabarPyrite
QuartzSphaleriteStibnite
Reference:
Kaplunnik, L.N., Pobedimskaya, E.A., Belov, N.V. (1977) Crystal structure of velikite Cu3.75Hg1.75Sn2S8. Soviet Physics - Crystallography: 22: 99-100.

Synonyms of VelikiteHide

Other Language Names for VelikiteHide

Dutch:Velikiet
German:Velikit
Spanish:Velikita

Relationship of Velikite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Stannite Group
Other Members of Stannite Group:
BriartiteCu2FeGeS4Tet.
ČernýiteCu2CdSnS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
FamatiniteCu3SbS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
FerrokësteriteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
HocartiteAg2(Fe2+,Zn)SnS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
KësteriteCu2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
KeutschiteCu2AgAsS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
KuramiteCu3SnS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
LuzoniteCu3AsS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
OmariniiteCu8Fe2ZnGe2S12Orth. 2 2 2 : I2 2 2
PermingeatiteCu3SbSe4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
Petrukite(Cu,Fe,Zn,Ag)3(Sn,In)S4Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
PirquitasiteAg2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
RichardsiteZn2CuGaS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
StanniteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
StannoiditeCu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12Orth. 2 2 2 : I2 2 2
'UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn'Cu2Fe2Sn3S7
'Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)'CuZn2InS4
ZincobriartiteCu2(Zn,Fe)(Ge,Ga)S4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.CB.RichardsiteZn2CuGaS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.OkruginiteCu2SnSe3Mon. m : Bb
2.CB.HanswilkeiteKFeS2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.CB.AuroselenideAuSeMon. 2/m : B2/m
2.CB.Ruizhongite(Ag2◻)Pb3Ge2S8Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d
2.CB.AgmantiniteAg2MnSnS4Orth.
2.CB.TolstykhiteAu3S4Te6Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.GachingiteAu(Te1-xSex)Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.05aHawleyiteCdSIso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05'UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn'Cu2Fe3Zn5S10
2.CB.05aColoradoiteHgTeIso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05aMetacinnabarHgSIso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05aTiemanniteHgSeIso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05aSphaleriteZnSIso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05bSakuraiite(Cu,Zn,Fe)3(In,Sn)S4 Iso.
2.CB.05cPolhemusite(Zn,Hg)STet.
2.CB.05aRudashevskyite(Fe,Zn)SIso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05aStilleiteZnSeIso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05aIshiharaite(Cu,Ga,Fe,In,Zn)SIso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.07a'Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)'Cu2MnSnS4
2.CB.07aShenzhuangiteNiFeS2Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10bTalnakhiteCu9(Fe,Ni)8S16Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m
2.CB.10bHaycockiteCu4Fe5S8Orth. 2 2 2
2.CB.10aLenaiteAgFeS2Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10aGalliteCuGaS2Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10aRoquesiteCuInS2Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10aEskeborniteCuFeSe2Tet. 4 2m : P4 2c
2.CB.10a'UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn'Cu2Fe2Sn3S7
2.CB.10cOmariniiteCu8Fe2ZnGe2S12Orth. 2 2 2 : I2 2 2
2.CB.10aChalcopyriteCuFeS2Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10a'Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)'CuZn2InS4
2.CB.10bMooihoekiteCu9Fe9S16Tet. 4 2m : P4 2m
2.CB.10aLaforêtiteAgInS2Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10bPutoraniteCu1.1Fe1.2S2Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pn3m
2.CB.15c'UM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn'Cu8(Fe,Zn)3Ge2S12 (?)
2.CB.15aHocartiteAg2(Fe2+,Zn)SnS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.15aKësteriteCu2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aPirquitasiteAg2ZnSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aStanniteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.15cStannoiditeCu+6Cu2+2(Fe2+,Zn)3Sn2S12Orth. 2 2 2 : I2 2 2
2.CB.15bMohiteCu2SnS3Mon.
2.CB.15aČernýiteCu2CdSnS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.15aIdaiteCu5FeS6Hex.
2.CB.15aFerrokësteriteCu2FeSnS4Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15aKuramiteCu3SnS4Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.17a v'Arsenic-bearing Renierite'Cu11GeAsFe4S16
2.CB.20MawsoniteCu6Fe2SnS8Tet. 4 2m : P4m2
2.CB.20ChatkaliteCu6FeSn2S8Tet. 4 2m : P4m2
2.CB.30'Frieseite'Ag2Fe5S8 (?)
2.CB.30NekrasoviteCu26V2(Sn,As,Sb)6S32Iso. 4 3m : P4 3n
2.CB.30'Argyropyrite'near Ag2Fe7S11
2.CB.30MaikainiteCu20(Fe,Cu)6Mo2Ge6S32Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m)
2.CB.30ColusiteCu13VAs3S16Iso. 4 3m : P4 3n
2.CB.30GermaniteCu13Fe2Ge2S16Iso. 4 3m : P4 3n
2.CB.30GermanocolusiteCu26V2(Ge,As)6S32Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m
2.CB.30StibiocolusiteCu13V(Sb,Sn,As)3S16Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m
2.CB.30Ovamboite Cu20(Fe,Cu,Zn)6W2Ge6S32Iso. 4 3m : P4 3n
2.CB.35aMorozeviczite(Pb,Fe)3Ge1-xS4Iso.
2.CB.35aRenierite(Cu1+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16Tet. 4 2m : P4 2c
2.CB.35aHemusiteCu6SnMoS8Iso.
2.CB.35bCatamarcaiteCu6GeWS8Hex. 6mm : P63mc
2.CB.35aVincienniteCu+7Cu2+3Fe2+2Fe3+2Sn(As,Sb)S16Tet.
2.CB.35aKiddcreekiteCu6SnWS8Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.35aPolkovicite(Fe,Pb)3(Ge,Fe)1-xS4Iso.
2.CB.40LautiteCuAsSOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/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 (3 2/m) : P3 1c
2.CB.50'Zincselenide'ZnSe
2.CB.50WassoniteTiSTrig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
2.CB.52'Dzhezkazganite'ReMoCu2PbS6 ?Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.55bIsocubaniteCuFe2S3Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m
2.CB.55aCubaniteCuFe2S3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.60RaguiniteTlFeS2Orth.
2.CB.60PicotpauliteTlFe2S3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm
2.CB.65ArgentopyriteAgFe2S3Mon. 2/m
2.CB.65SternbergiteAgFe2S3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.70SulvaniteCu3VS4Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m
2.CB.75VulcaniteCuTeOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.80EmpressiteAgTeOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/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 VelikiteHide

References for VelikiteHide

Reference List:
Kaplunnik, L.N., Pobedimskaya, E.A., Belov, N.V. (1977) Crystal structure of velikite Cu3.75Hg1.75Sn2S8. Kristallografiya: 22(1): 175-177. (in Russian)
Kaplunnik, L.N., Pobedimskaya, E.A., Belov, N.V. (1977) Crystal structure of velikite Cu3.75Hg1.75Sn2S8. Soviet Physics - Crystallography: 22: 99-100.
Fleischer, Michael, Cabri, Louis J., Pabst, and Adolf (1977) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 62 (11-12) 1259-1262
Kaplunnik, L.N., Pobedimskaya, E.A., Belov, N.V. (1977) Crystal structure of velikite Cu3.75Hg1.75Sn2S8. Soviet Physics - Crystallography: 22: 99-100.
Burkart-Baumann, I., Amstutz, G.C. (1982) New ore microscopic observations on a Hg-rich Cu-Sn sulfide from Quiruvilca/Peru. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen: 144: 307-309.
Gruzdev, V.S., Volgin, V.Y., Spiridonov, E.M., Kaplunnik, L.N., Pobedimskaya, Y.A., Chvileva, T.N., Chernitsova, N.M. (1988) Velikite Cu2HgSnS4 - the mercury member of the stannite group. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 300: 432-435.
Jambor, John L., Grew, Edward S. (1990) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 75 (7-8) 931-937
Gruzdev V.S., Volgin, V.Y., Spiridonov, E.M., Evstigneeva, T.L., Kabalov, Y.K., Sorokin, V.I., Osadchyi, E.G., Chvileva, T.N., Chernizova, N.M. (1997) Velikite Cu2HgSnS4 (mercurian member of the stannite group) – the new mineral. Zapiski Vserossijskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 126(4): 71-75.
Mandarino, Joseph A. (1998) Abstracts of New Mineral Descriptions. The Mineralogical Record, 29 (5) 467-479
Kabalov, Yu.K., Yevstigneeva, T.L., Spiridinov, E.M. (1998) Crystal structure of Cu2HgSnS4 - synthetic analogue of velikite. Kristallografiya: 43(1): 21-25.
Jambor, John L.; Kovalenker, Vladimir A.; Roberts, Andrew C. (1998) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 83. 1117-1121
(2005) Velikite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for VelikiteHide

Showing 6 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.
Kyrgyzstan (TL)
 
  • Batken Region
    • Kadamjay District
      • Aydarken
Kaplunnik et al. (1977) +2 other references
Kolesar et al. (1993)
Peru
 
  • La Libertad
    • Santiago de Chuco Province
Moh et al. (1982)
Taiwan
 
  • New Taipei City
    • Ruifang District
HENLEY et al. (2012)
USA
 
  • Arizona
    • Cochise County
Graeme (1993)
Graeme (1993) +1 other reference
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