Chemistry:Wattersite

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Wattersite
Wattersite-edgarbaileyite-662509.jpg
Black crystals of wattersite with yellowish zones of edgarbaileyite. Locality: Clear Creek claim (Clear Creek Mine), Picacho Peak, New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA. Dimensions: 6.6 cm x 4.8 cm x 4.1 cm
General
CategoryChromate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Hg+14Hg+2Cr+6O6
Strunz classification7.FB.15
Dana classification35.4.2.1
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal class2/m
Space groupC2/c (number 15)
Unit cell859.81 ų
Identification
ColorDark red-brown to black
Crystal habitPrismatic, aggregates, massive
Twinning[001], contact twins on {100}
CleavageNone
FractureConchoidal
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness4.5
|re|er}}Sub-Metallic
StreakBrick red
DiaphaneityOpaque
Specific gravity8.91
Optical propertiesBiaxial
Refractive indexnα = 2.440 - 2.520 nγ = 2.700 - 2.860
Birefringenceδ = 0.260 - 0.340
PleochroismVisible
Dispersionr > v strong
References[1][2][3]

Wattersite is a rare mercury chromate mineral with the formula Hg+14Hg+2Cr+6O6.[1] It occurs in association with native mercury and cinnabar in a hydrothermally altered serpentinite.[2] It was first described from Clear Creek claim, San Benito County, California , USA in 1961.[5] It was named to honor Californian mineral collector Lucius "Lu" Watters.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Wattersite". https://www.mindat.org/min-4248.html. Retrieved 29 April 2017. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Handbook of Mineralogy". http://www.handbookofmineralogy.com/pdfs/wattersite.pdf. 
  3. Groat, L.A.; Roberts, A.C.; Le Page, Y. (1995). "The crystal structure of wattersite, Hg4HgCrO6". The Canadian Mineralogist 33: 41–46. 
  4. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine 85 (3): 291–320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. Bibcode2021MinM...85..291W. 
  5. Roberts, Andrew C.; Bonardi, Maurizio; Erd, Richard C.; Criddle, Alan J.; Le Page, Yvon (1991). "Wattersite Hg+14Hg+2Cr+6O6 a new mineral from the Clear Creek claim San Benito Country, California". The Mineralogical Record 22: 269–272.