Hessite Mineral Data

General Hessite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ag2Te

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 343.34 gm

Silver 62.84 % Ag

Tellurium 37.16 % Te

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Ag₂Te

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).

Name Pronunciation:

Hessite

Synonym:

ICSD 73230

Kurilite - hessite or petzite (?)

PDF 34-142

Telluric Silver

Hessite Image

Images:

Hessite Kurilite

Comments: Metallic crystal of hessite on matrix. Hessite is also known as kurilite.
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: BotÃ©s Mountains, BotÃ©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)= 10.50

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

Diaphaneity:

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:

Non-fluorescent.

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:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=8.93 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Hessite =10.5 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.02
Boson Index = 0.98

Photoelectric:

PE_Hessite= 302.40 barns/electron
U=PE_Hessite x rElectron Density=2,700.45 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Hessite is Not Radioactive

Hessite Classification

Dana Class:

02.04.02.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

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

(02.04.02)Dana Group

02.04.02.01 Hessite Ag2Te P 2₁/c 2/m

02.04.02.02 Cervelleite Ag4TeS Unk Cubic

Strunz Class:

02.BA.30c 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.B - Metal Sulfides, M:S > 1:1 (mainly 2:1)

02.BA -With Cu, Ag, Au

02.BA.30c Hessite Ag2Te P 2₁/c 2/m

Other Hessite Information

References:

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

See Also:

Links to other databases for Hessite :
1 - Alkali-Nuts(English)
2 - Alkali-Nuts(Francais)
3 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
4 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
5 - Athena
6 - EUROmin Project
7 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
8 - GeoScienceWorld
9 - Google Images
10 - Google Scholar
11 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
12 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
13 - HyperPhysics
14 - MinDAT
15 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
16 - Online Mineral Museum
17 - QUT Mineral Atlas
18 - Ruff.Info
19 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Ask about Hessite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
Original Rockhounds Discussion Group
Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Español

Print or Cut-and-Paste your Hessite Specimen Label here :

Hessite

Ag2Te
Dana No: 02.04.02.01 Strunz No: 02.BA.30c
Locality:

Notes: