Aktashite

aktashite

chalcostibite

luzonite

dickite

Images

Formula: Cu₆Hg₃As₄S₁₂
Sulpharsenite, forms a series with gruzdevite, mercury- and arsenic- bearing mineral
Specific gravity: 5.5 measured, 5.72 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Streak: Black
Colour: Grey-black
Luminexcence: Not fluorescent
Solubility: Soluble in alkalis, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid
Common impurities: Zn,Sb
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Localities

At the type locality, the Aktashskoye Sb-Hg deposit, Ulagansky District, Altai Republic, Russia, aktashite occurs mainly as xenomorphic grains, rarely in crystals up to 0.2 mm resembling trigonal pyramids. Associated minerals include quartz, pyrite, calcite, sphalerite, stibnite, chalcostibite, mercury-bearing tetrahedrite, tennantite, realgar, luzonite, enargite, chalcopyrite, cinnabar, dickite and orpiment.
Aktashite is uncommon, and of hydrothermal origin in the complex polymetallic silver-mercury bearing deposit (AM 56.358-359, Mindat).

Back to Minerals