Aktashite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Aktashite
Formula:
Cu6Hg3As4S12
Colour:
Gray-black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
5.5
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named after its discovery locality in Russia.
Published without approbation, but recognized as valid species by the IMA CNMNC Sulfosalts Subcommittee (2008).
Published without approbation, but recognized as valid species by the IMA CNMNC Sulfosalts Subcommittee (2008).
Isostructural with:
Hg analogue of nowackiite and zhengminghuaite; As analogue of gruzdevite.
Compare UM1990-33-S:AsCuHg.
Compare UM1990-33-S:AsCuHg.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
74
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:74:7
IMA Classification of Aktashite
Approved
IMA status notes:
Renamed by the IMA
IMA Formula:
Cu1+6Hg2+3As3+4S2-12
Approval history:
Renamed by IMA: 2008
Classification of Aktashite
2.GA.30
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
3.4.13.2
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
5.4.3
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
4 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Zn and Hg
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
4 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Zn and Hg
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ats | 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 Aktashite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Gray-black
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN50=300 - 346 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
5.5 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.72 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Aktashite
Anisotropism:
Weak, in shades of blue
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) |
|---|---|
| 472nm | 30.7% |
| 496nm | 30.7% |
| 527nm | 30.8% |
| 546nm | 30.7% |
| 579nm | 29.9% |
| 608nm | 29.3% |
| 640nm | 28.5% |
| 670nm | 27.6% |
| 691nm | 27.2% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 30.8%.
Colour in reflected light:
White
Chemistry of Aktashite
Mindat Formula:
Cu6Hg3As4S12
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Zn,Sb
Crystallography of Aktashite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
R3
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.730(3) Å, c = 9.329(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.679
Unit Cell V:
1,523.02 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Rarely in crystals resembling trigonal pyramids, to 0.2 mm, which may be zoned with gruzdevite; as xenomorphic grains and granular aggregates.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0018863 | Aktashite | Vasil'ev V I, Pervukhina N V, Borisov S V, Magarill S A, Naumov D Y, Kurat'eva N V (2010) Aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 from the Aktash Deposit, Altai, Russia: Refinement and crystal chemical analysis of the structure Geology of Ore Deposits 52 656-661 | 2010 | Aktash deposit, Gorny Altai, Russia | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018891 | Aktashite | Nowacki W (1982) Isotypy in aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 and nowackiite Cu6Zn3As4S12 Soviet Physics Crystallography 27 26-27 | 1982 | not given | 0 | 293 | |
| 0012465 | Aktashite | Kaplunik L N, Pobedimskaya E A, Belov N V (1980) Kristallicheskaya struktura aktashimita Cu6Hg3As4S12 Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 251 96-98 | 1980 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.04 Å | (20) |
| 3.10 Å | (100) |
| 2.69 Å | (70) |
| 1.903 Å | (100) |
| 1.621 Å | (100) |
| 1.554 Å | (20) |
| 1.345 Å | (30) |
| 1.236 Å | (40) |
| 1.204 Å | (20) |
Comments:
Gal-Khaya, Yakutia, Russia (ICDD 25-298).
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]) |
Geological Setting:
Hydrothermal veins
Type Occurrence of Aktashite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small (0.01-0.2 mm) euhedral crystals and granular aggregates.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Central Siberian Geological Museum, Novosibirsk, Russia, III-14/1; National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Uncommon, of hydrothermal origin in complex polymetallic As–Hg-bearing deposits.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Aktashite
Relationship of Aktashite to other Species
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Aktashite associated with Realgar | As4S4 |
| 3 photos of Aktashite associated with Trechmannite | AgAsS2 |
| 3 photos of Aktashite associated with Arsiccioite | AgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 1 photo of Aktashite associated with Tlapallite | (Ca,Pb)3CaCu6[Te4+3Te6+O12]2(Te4+O3)2(SO4)2 · 3H2O |
| 1 photo of Aktashite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.GA. | Pyradoketosite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA. | Arsiccioite | AgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA. | Eckerite | Ag2CuAsS3 |
| 2.GA.05 | Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 2.GA.05 | Pyrargyrite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.10 | Xanthoconite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 2.GA.10 | Pyrostilpnite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.15 | Samsonite | Ag4MnSb2S6 |
| 2.GA.20 | Bytízite | Cu3SbSe3 |
| 2.GA.20 | Skinnerite | Cu3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.20 | Wittichenite | Cu3BiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Lapieite | NiCuSbS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Lisiguangite | PtCuBiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Malyshevite | PdCuBiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Roterbärite | PdBiCuSe3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Mückeite | NiCu(Bi,Sb)S3 |
| 2.GA.30 | Nowackiite | Cu6Zn3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Zhengminghuaite | Cu6Fe3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Gruzdevite | Cu6Hg3Sb4S12 |
| 2.GA.35 | Laffittite | AgHgAsS3 |
| 2.GA.40 | 'Unnamed (Ag-Fe endmember of Routhierite Group)' | AgFe2TlAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Routhierite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Stalderite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Ralphcannonite | AgZn2TlAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Ferrostalderite | CuFe2TlAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.45 | Erniggliite | Tl2SnAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.50 | Cerromojonite | CuPbBiSe3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Seligmannite | PbCuAsS3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Součekite | CuPbBi(S,Se)3 |
| 2.GA.50 | 'Unnamed (Pb-Cu-Bi Selenide)' | PbCuBiSe3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
| 2.GA.55 | Eldragónite | Cu6BiSe4(Se2) |
Fluorescence of Aktashite
Not fluorescent.
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in alkalis, H2SO4, HCl, and HF.
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 Aktashite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-74.html
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References for Aktashite
Reference List:
Vasil’ev, V. I., Pervukhina, N. V., Borisov, S. V., Magarill, S. A., Naumov, D. Yu., Kurat’eva, N. V. (2010) Aktashite Cu6Hg3As4S12 from the Aktash deposit, Altai, Russia: Refinement and crystal chemical analysis of the structure. Geology of Ore Deposits, 52 (7) 656-661 doi:10.1134/s1075701510070184
Localities for Aktashite
Showing 27 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.
Canada | |
| - (n.d.) |
| Harris et al. (1988) +2 other references |
| Sabina (1991) | |
| Barrick Gold Corporation | |
China | |
| Gu et al. (2024) |
| www.idm.gov.vn (n.d.) |
France | |
| Anthony et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
Georgia | |
| Vasil’ev et al. (2009) +1 other reference |
| Anthony et al. (2016) |
Iran | |
| Asadi +3 other references |
Italy | |
| Biagioni et al. (2014) +1 other reference |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| Kolesar et al. (1993) +1 other reference |
| Spiridonov et al. (1981) +2 other references | |
Mexico | |
| Braith et al. (2001) |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... | |
Romania | |
| HÎRTOPANU et al. (2025) |
Russia (TL) | |
| Clark (1993) +2 other references |
| Anthony et al. (1990) |
| Bryzgalov et al. (1999) |
| Vikent'eva et al. (2016) |
| American Mineralogist +15 other references |
Spain | |
| Martín-Izard et al. (2009) |
Switzerland | |
| www.fglb.clubdesk.com (2020) |
Taiwan | |
| HENLEY et al. (2012) |
USA | |
| Barrick Gold Corporation |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Clark (2012) |
Quick NavTopAbout AktashiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Jas Roux, La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France