Kleinite

Kleinite
Kleinite atop quartz from the McDermitt Mine
General
Category Mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		 (Hg2N)(Cl,SO4) · nH2O
Strunz classification 3.DD.35
Crystal system Hexagonal
Crystal class Dihexagonal dipyramidal 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m)
Unit cell a = 6.762(2) Å, c = 11.068(3) Å, Z=4
Identification
Color Light to canary-yellow, orange
Crystal habit Short prismatic to equant crystals exhibiting prominent {1010}, {2021}, and {0001}
Cleavage Uneven on {0001}, imperfect on {1010}
Tenacity Brittle
Mohs scale hardness 3.5
Luster Adamantine to greasy
Streak Sulfur yellow
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Specific gravity 7.9-8.0
Optical properties Uniaxial (+) (Biaxial below 130 °C (biaxial negative) and uniaxial above 130 °C (uniaxial positive). Isotropic above ~ 190 °C)
Refractive index nω = 2.190 nε = 2.210
Birefringence δ = 0.020
Other characteristics Color deepens on exposure to daylight, original color returns in darkness
References [1][2]

Kleinite is a rare mineral that has only been found in the United States and Germany that occurs in hydrothermal mercury deposits.[2] It occurs associated with calcite, gypsum and (rarely) barite or calomel.[3] Its color can range from pale yellow/canary yellow to orange, and it is transparent to translucent.[2] As a photosensitive mineral, its coloration darkens when exposed to light.[4]

It has been hypothesized that kleinite formed through a "reaction of cinnabar with oxidized meteoric water", with this reaction being the source of kleinite's nitrogen.[4]

Etymology

Kleinite is named after Carl Klein (1842–1907), who was a professor of mineralogy at the University of Berlin.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kleinite data on Mindat
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Kleinite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. 2005. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  3. ↑ United States Geological Survey (1909). Bulletin. Bulletin. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 10. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  4. 1 2 Castor, S.B.; Ferdock, G.C. (2004). Minerals of Nevada. Minerals of Nevada. University of Nevada Press. p. 304. ISBN 978-0-87417-540-0. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
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