Terlinguaite

Terlinguaite
Terlinguaite, collected from Mariposa Mine, Terlingua District, Brewster County, Texas, United States
General
Category Halide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		 Hg2ClO
Strunz classification 3.DD.20
Crystal system Monoclinic
Crystal class Prismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space group C2/c
Unit cell a = 19.51 Å, b = 5.91 Å
c = 9.47 Å; β = 143.81°; Z = 4
Identification
Color Sulfur-yellow, greenish yellow, brown
Crystal habit Aggregates of equant to elongated crystals, powdery, massive
Cleavage Perfect on [101]
Tenacity Brittle
Mohs scale hardness 2.5
Luster Brilliant adamantine
Streak Lemon-yellow, turning olive-green
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Specific gravity 9.22
Optical properties Biaxial (-)
Refractive index nα = 2.350 nβ = 2.640 nγ = 2.660
Birefringence δ = 0.310
Pleochroism Weak, green and yellow
2V angle Measured: 20°
Alters to turns olive-green on exposure to light
References [1][2][3]

Terlinguaite is the naturally occurring mineral with formula Hg2ClO. It is formed by the weathering of other mercury-containing minerals. Discovered in 1900 in the Terlingua District of Brewster County, Texas for which it is named.[4] Its color is yellow, greenish yellow, brown or olive green.

References

  1. ↑ Handbook of Mineralogy
  2. ↑ Mindat.org
  3. ↑ Webmineral data
  4. ↑ Hillebrand, W. F.; W. T. Schaller (1907). "Art. XXVI. "The Mercury Minerals from Terlingua, Texas: Kleinite, Terlinguaite, Eglestonite, Montroydite, Calomel, Mercury"". The American Journal of Science (139): 259–274. Retrieved 2009-05-21.


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