Velikite Mineral Data

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General Velikite Information

Chemical Formula:

Cu2HgSnS4

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 574.66 gm

Copper 22.12 % Cu

Tin 20.66 % Sn

Mercury 34.91 % Hg

Sulfur 22.32 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Cu₂HgSnS₄

Environment:

In veins cutting carboniferous black schists and limestones in a mercury deposit. The mercury dominant analog of cernyite and stannite.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1977

Locality:

Khaidarkan Hg deposit, about 60 km south of Fergana, Kirgizia. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

For A. C. Velikyi (1913-1970), a well known investigator of the ore deposits of Central Asia.

Name Pronunciation:

Velikite

Synonym:

ICSD 27746

IMA1996-052

PDF 45-1420

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Velikite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:1.96417

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.555, c = 10.911, Z = 2; V = 336.69 Den(Calc)= 5.67

Crystal System:

Tetragonal - ScalenohedralH-M Symbol (4 2m) Space Group: I 42m

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.17(1), 1.941(0.8), 1.671(0.4),

Crystal Structure:

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Kaplunnik L N , Pobedimskaya E A , Belov N V , Soviet Physics Crystallography , 22 (1977) p.99-100, Crystal structure of velikite Cu3.75Hg1.75Sn2S8, Locality: Khaidarkan, Kyrgyzstan

Physical Properties of Velikite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Gray, Greenish gray, Light gray.

Density:

5.45

Diaphaneity:

Opaque

Fracture:

Brittle - Uneven - Very brittle fracture producing uneven fragments.

Habit:

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

Hardness:

4 - Fluorite

Luster:

Metallic

Streak:

gray

Optical Properties of Velikite

RL Anisotrophism:

Moderate.

RL Bireflectance:

Insignificant.

RL Color:

Greenish gray to light gray with greenish-brownish tint.

RL Pleochroism:

Weak.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Velikite in Air**
λ	R	∑ R(λ)
470 nm	26.00
546 nm	26.30
589 nm	25.60
650 nm	24.80

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Velikite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	40%	80%	100%	120%	160%	200%	240%	280%	320%	350%
R

Calculated Properties of Velikite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.97 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Velikite =5.67 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.14
Boson Index = 0.86

Photoelectric:

PE_Velikite= 640.11 barns/electron
U=PE_Velikite x rElectron Density=3,183.16 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

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

Velikite Classification

Dana Class:

02.09.02.08 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

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

(02.09.02)Stannite Group (Tetragonal: I-42m) A2BCS type

02.09.02.01 Stannite Cu2FeSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.02 Cernyite Cu2CdSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.03 Briartite Cu2(Zn,Fe)GeS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.04 Kuramite Cu3SnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.05 Sakuraiite (Cu,Zn,Fe,In,Sn)4S4 P 4₃2, P 43m, or P m3m Cubic

02.09.02.06 Hocartite Ag2FeSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.07 Pirquitasite Ag2ZnSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.08 Velikite Cu2HgSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.09 Kesterite Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4 I 4 4

02.09.02.10 Ferrokesterite Cu2(Fe,Zn)SnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.09.02.11 Barquillite! Cu2CdGeS4 I 42m 4 2m

Strunz Class:

02.CB.15a 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.C - Metal Sulfides, M:S = 1:1 (and similar)

02.CB -With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, Au, etc

02.CB.15a Cernyite Cu2CdSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Ferrokesterite Cu2(Fe,Zn)SnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Kesterite Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4 I 4 4

02.CB.15a Hocartite Ag2FeSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Idaite Cu5FeS6 P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

02.CB.15a Kuramite Cu3SnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Pirquitasite Ag2ZnSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Stannite Cu2FeSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

02.CB.15a Velikite Cu2HgSnS4 I 42m 4 2m

Other Velikite Information

References:

NAME( MinRec) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(MinRec, v 29, p 478)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Velikite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Google Images
5 - Google Scholar
6 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
7 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
8 - MinDAT
9 - MinMax(Deutsch)
10 - MinMax(English)
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - QUT Mineral Atlas
13 - Ruff.Info
14 - WWW-MINCRYST

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

Velikite

Cu2HgSnS4
Dana No: 02.09.02.08 Strunz No: 02.CB.15a
Locality:

Notes: