Hessite Mineral Data

Hessite Mineral Data +

General Hessite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ag2Te

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 235.47 gm

Silver 45.81 % Ag

Tellurium 54.19 % Te

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

AgTe

Environment:

Moderate to low temperature veins.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1843

Locality:

Calaveras, Nevada Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after the Swiss chemist, G. H. Hesse (1802-1850).

Synonym:

ICSD 73230

PDF 34-142

Telluric Silver

Hessite Image

Images:

Hessite

Comments: Metallic crystal of hessite on matrix.
Location: Botes, Zlatna, Transylvania, Romania. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Images:

Hessite Choloalite

Comments: Sparse green crusts of choloalite with metallic hessite.
Location: McAlpine Mine, Tuolumne County, California, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Images:

Hessite

Comments: Complex latticework of hessite with minor white quartz.
Location: Bot?s Mountains, Bot?s, Transilvania Rumania. Scale: Crystal size: 1 x 0.2 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Hessite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.8147:1:1.8058

Cell Dimensions:

a = 8.13, b = 4.48, c = 8.09, Z = 5; beta = 112.9° V = 271.43 Den(Calc)= 7.20

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 2₁/c

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.31(1), 2.87(0.8), 2.25(0.7),

Forms:

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Forms: [ 0 1 1] [ 1 1 1] [ 2 2 3] [ 1 1 1] [ 2 2 3] [ 0 0 1]

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Crystal Structure:

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Schneider J , Schulz H , Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie , 203 (1993) p.1-15, X-ray powder diffraction of Ag2Te at temperatures up to 1123 K, Locality: synthetic, Note: T = 297 K

Physical Properties of Hessite

Cleavage:

[100] Indistinct

Color:

Lead gray, Steel gray.

Density:

7.2 - 7.9, Average = 7.55

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Fracture:

Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.

Habit:

Euhedral Crystals - Occurs as well-formed crystals showing good external form.

Habit:

Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix.

Hardness:

1.5-2 - Talc-Gypsum

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Metallic

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

light gray

Optical Properties of Hessite

RL Anisotrophism:

Distinct, dark orange to dark blue.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Hessite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	42.10	43.50
420 nm	41.00	42.60
440 nm	39.90	41.70
460 nm	39.30	40.80
480 nm	38.90	40.30
500 nm	38.70	40.20
520 nm	38.50	40.50
540 nm	38.40	41.10
560 nm	38.40	41.60
580 nm	38.40	42.00
600 nm	38.40	42.40
620 nm	38.40	42.70
640 nm	38.40	43.00
660 nm	38.50	43.10
680 nm	38.40	43.20
700 nm	38.30	43.20

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Hessite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	30%	60%	90%	100%	120%	150%	180%	210%	230%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Hessite

Electron Density:

r_electron=6.05 gm/cc
note: r_Hessite=7.20 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.04329
Boson Index = 0.95671

Photoelectric:

PE_Hessite= 321.81 barns/electron
U=PE_Hessite x r_electron=1,948.36 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Hessite is Not Radioactive

Hessite Classification

Dana Class:

2.4.2.1 (2)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(2.4)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=2:1

(2.4.2)Dana Group

2.4.2.1 Hessite Ag2Te P 2₁/c 2/m

2.4.2.2 Cervelleite Ag4TeS Unk Cubic

Strunz Class:

II/B.05-40 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

II/B - Sulfides with metal: sulfur, selenium and tellurium > 1:1, Sulfides, Selenides and Tellurides with predominant Copper and Silver/Gold

II/B.05 - Achantite - Empresite series

II/B.05-02 Argentite* Ag2S I m3m 4/m 3 2/m

II/B.05-10 Acanthite Ag2S P 2₁/n 2/m

II/B.05-30 Naumannite Ag2Se P 2₁2₁2₁ 2 2 2

II/B.05-35 Kurilite* (Ag,Au)2(Te,Se,S) P m3n,P 4₃n Cubic

II/B.05-40 Hessite Ag2Te P 2₁/c 2/m

II/B.05-50 Aguilarite Ag4SeS P 2₁2₁2₁ 2 2 2

II/B.05-60 Cervelleite Ag4TeS Unk Cubic

II/B.05-70 Benleonardite Ag8(Sb,As)Te2S3 Tetra Tetra

II/B.05-75 Tsnigriite Ag9SbTe3(S,Se)3 P 2/m,Pm Mono

II/B.05-80 Stutzite Ag5-xTe3,(x=0.24-0.36) P 6/mmm 6/m 2/m 2/m

II/B.05-90 Empressite AgTe Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

Other Hessite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

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Hessite

Ag2Te
Dana No: 2.4.2.1 Strunz No: II/B.05-40
Locality:

Notes: