Belendorffite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Belendorffite
Klaus Belendorff
Formula:
Cu7Hg6
Colour:
Silvery
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
13.2
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named in honor of Klaus Belendorff (1956– ), mineral collector from Münster, Germany, who discovered the mineral.
Type Locality:
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Belendorffite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
608
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:608:2
IMA Classification of Belendorffite
Approved
Approval year:
1989
First published:
1992
Classification of Belendorffite
1.AD.10
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.:
1.1.13.2
1.1.9.2
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bdf | 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 Belendorffite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Silvery
Comment:
Tarnishing rapidly to blackish brown
Streak:
Silvery
Hardness:
2½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN4=340(8) kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
13.2(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 13.15 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Belendorffite
Anisotropism:
Very weak.
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) |
|---|---|
| 400nm | 66.2% |
| 420nm | 67.0% |
| 440nm | 67.6% |
| 460nm | 68.3% |
| 480nm | 69.7% |
| 500nm | 70.2% |
| 520nm | 71.0% |
| 540nm | 71.9% |
| 560nm | 72.8% |
| 580nm | 73.4% |
| 600nm | 74.1% |
| 620nm | 74.7% |
| 640nm | 75.3% |
| 660nm | 76.0% |
| 680nm | 76.4% |
| 700nm | 76.9% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 76.9%.
Colour in reflected light:
tin white; bright white with a yellowish tint
Chemistry of Belendorffite
Mindat Formula:
Cu7Hg6
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Belendorffite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
R3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.4024(4) Å
Unit Cell V:
0.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0011912 | Belendorffite | Lindahl T, Westman S (1969) The structure of the rhombohedral gamma brass like phase in the copper-mercury system Acta Chemica Scandinavica 23 1181-1190 | 1969 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.523 Å | (100) |
| 2.227 Å | (100) |
| 2.221 Å | (100) |
| 2.208 Å | (100) |
| 2.983 Å | (80) |
| 2.966 Å | (80) |
| 6.68 Å | (60) |
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]) |
Type Occurrence of Belendorffite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Massive
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Institute for Mineralogy, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Belendorffite
Other Language Names for Belendorffite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 11 photos of Belendorffite associated with Cuprite | Cu2O |
| 1 photo of Belendorffite associated with Native Copper | Cu |
| 1 photo of Belendorffite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 1 photo of Belendorffite associated with 'Limonite' |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 1.AD. | Aurihydrargyrumite | Au6Hg5 |
| 1.AD.05 | Native Mercury | Hg |
| 1.AD.10 | Kolymite | Cu7Hg6 |
| 1.AD.15a | Paraschachnerite | Ag3Hg2 |
| 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 Belendorffite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-608.html
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References for Belendorffite
Reference List:
Lindahl, Tommie, Pilotti, Åke, Westman, Sven, Gronowitz, Salo, Christiansen, Harald, Rosén, Ulf (1968) Rhombohedrally Distorted Gamma Phases in the Copper-Mercury and Chromium-Aluminium Systems. Acta Chemica Scandinavica, 22. 748-752 doi:10.3891/acta.chem.scand.22-0748
Localities for Belendorffite
Showing 4 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.
Germany (TL) | |
| Bernhardt (1992) +1 other reference |
Hungary | |
| www.minerals- of-the- carpathians.eu (Editor:Szakáll) |
| GEODA 2010/1 +1 other reference | |
| Peter Kolesar / Rolf Luetcke specimen +1 other reference |
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Landsberg, Obermoschel, Nordpfälzer Land, Donnersbergkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany