Montroydite

Mercury(II) oxide mineral, HgO
(repeating unit)HgOIMA symbolMtyd[1]Strunz classification4.AC.15Crystal systemOrthorhombicCrystal classDipyramidal (mmm)
H-M Symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)Unit cella = 5.52 Å, b = 6.6 Å, c = 3.52 Å; Z=4IdentificationColorDeep red, brownish red to brownCrystal habitLong prismatic, equant, rarely flattened; striated; massive to vermicular clustersCleavagePerfect {010}TenacitySectileMohs scale hardness1.5 - 2.0LusterSub-adamantine, vitreousStreakYellow brownDiaphaneityTransparent to translucentSpecific gravity11.23Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)Refractive indexnα = 2.370 nβ = 2.500 nγ = 2.650Birefringenceδ = 0.280PleochroismDeep red-orange to yellowish brown (visible in thick sections)2V angleLargeReferences[2][3]

Montroydite is the mineral form of mercury(II) oxide with formula HgO. It is a rare mercury mineral. It was first described for an occurrence in the mercury deposit at Terlingua, Texas and named for Montroyd Sharp who was an owner of the deposit.[2]

Montroydite occurs in mercury deposits of hydrothermal origin. Associated minerals include: native mercury, cinnabar, metacinnabar, calomel, eglestonite, terlinguaite, mosesite, kleinite, edgarbaileyite, gypsum, calcite and dolomite.[3]

References

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ a b Mindat.org
  3. ^ a b "Handbook of Mineralogy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-07-02. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
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