Wattersite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Wattersite
Lou Watters
Formula:
[Hg2]2+2Hg2+[CrO4]O2
Colour:
Dark red-brown to black
Lustre:
Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
8.91 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named by Andrew C. Roberts, Maurizio Bonardi, Richard C. Erd, Alan J. Criddle, and Yvon Le Page in 1991 in honor of Lucius "Lou" Watters (19 December 1911, Santa Cruz, California, USA – 5 November 1989, Santa Rosa, California, USA), mineral collector, jazz trumpeter, and environmentalist. He specialized in the mineralogy of the California Coast Ranges.
This page provides mineralogical data about Wattersite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4248
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4248:8
IMA Classification of Wattersite
Classification of Wattersite
7.FB.15
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
F : Chromates
B : With additional O,V, S, Cl
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
F : Chromates
B : With additional O,V, S, Cl
Dana 7th ed.:
35.4.1.1
35.4.2.1
35 : ANHYDROUS CHROMATES
4 : Miscellaneous
35 : ANHYDROUS CHROMATES
4 : Miscellaneous
7.14.11
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
14 : Oxides of Cr
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
14 : Oxides of Cr
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wte | 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 Wattersite
Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Dark red-brown to black
Streak:
Dark brick-red
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Parting:
Not Observed
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
8.91 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Wattersite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
nα = 2.44 - 2.52 nγ = 2.7 - 2.86
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.260 - 0.340
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Anisotropism:
Strong; purple, dark blue, bottle-green, bottle-blue, turquoise-blue, dull greenish-blue
Dispersion:
r > v strong
Colour in reflected light:
light greenish white, to lilac-gray
Internal Reflections:
bright deep red
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
R1 darker lilac-gray by comparison with the bright, slightly greenish, white of R2.
Chemistry of Wattersite
Mindat Formula:
[Hg2]2+2Hg2+[CrO4]O2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Wattersite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.274(2) Å, b = 11.669(2) Å, c = 6.603(1) Å
β = 98.19(2)°
β = 98.19(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.966 : 1 : 0.566
Unit Cell V:
859.81 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Prismatic, aggregates, massive.
Large {110}, {010}; medium {310}, {130}; small to medium {021}; small {100}, {101}, {403}, {011}, {342}; very small {311}; tiny {001}, {111}, {742}, {112}, {312}.
Large {110}, {010}; medium {310}, {130}; small to medium {021}; small {100}, {101}, {403}, {011}, {342}; very small {311}; tiny {001}, {111}, {742}, {112}, {312}.
Twinning:
About [001], contact twins on {100}.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005429 | Wattersite | Groat L A, Roberts A C, Le Page Y (1995) The crystal structure of wattersite, Hg4HgCrO6 The Canadian Mineralogist 33 41-46 |  | 1995 | type sample from Clear Creek mercury mine, San Benito County, California, USA | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.655 Å | (100) |
| 8.06 Å | (80) |
| 3.300 Å | (60) |
| 3.260 Å | (60) |
| 5.58 Å | (50) |
| 3.60 Å | (50) |
| 2.948 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Geological Setting:
Altered serpentinite.
Type Occurrence of Wattersite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Thin shell-like aggregates and discrete crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Geological Survey, Ottawa, Canada, 65141.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 165271.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 165271.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Mercury deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Wattersite
Other Language Names for Wattersite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 17 photos of Wattersite associated with Native Mercury | Hg |
| 13 photos of Wattersite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 12 photos of Wattersite associated with Cinnabar | HgS |
| 6 photos of Wattersite associated with Montroydite | HgO |
| 5 photos of Wattersite associated with Edgarbaileyite | [Hg2]2+3[Si2O7] |
| 5 photos of Wattersite associated with 'CCUK-8' | (Hg, CrO4, S, H2O)? |
| 4 photos of Wattersite associated with Eglestonite | [Hg2]2+3OCl3(OH) |
| 1 photo of Wattersite associated with 'Chalcedony' | SiO2 |
| 1 photo of Wattersite associated with Edoylerite | Hg2+3(CrO4)S2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.FB.05 | Georgerobinsonite | Pb4(CrO4)2(OH)2FCl |
| 7.FB.05 | Phoenicochroite | Pb2(CrO4)O |
| 7.FB.10 | Santanaite | Pb11(CrO4)O12 |
| 7.FB.20 | Deanesmithite | [Hg2]2+Hg2+3[CrO4]S2O |
| 7.FB.25 | Edoylerite | Hg2+3(CrO4)S2 |
| 7.FB.30 | Reynoldsite | Pb2Mn4+2O5(CrO4) |
Fluorescence of Wattersite
None
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 Wattersite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4248.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Wattersite
Reference List:
Erd, Richard C., Bonardi, Maurizio, Criddle, Alan J., Roberts, Andrew C., Page, Yvon Le (1991) Wattersite, Hg+14Hg+2Cr+6O6, a new mineral from the Clear Creek Claim, San Benito County, California. The Mineralogical Record, 22 (4) 269-272
Localities for Wattersite
Showing 3 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.
USA (TL) | |
| Erd et al. (1991) +2 other references |
| Dunning et al. (2005) |
| Erd (1990) |
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Clear Creek claim, Goat Mountain, San Benito County, California, USA