Mineralogy Database

Balkanite Mineral Data

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General Balkanite Information

Help on Chemical Formula: Chemical Formula: Cu9Ag5HgS8
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 1,568.37 gm
   Copper   36.47 %  Cu
   Silver   34.39 %  Ag
   Mercury  12.79 %  Hg
   Sulfur   16.36 %  S
           ______ 
           100.00 % 
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: Cu9Ag5HgS8
Help on Environment: Environment: In high grade copper ores in stratiform Pb-Zn-Cu deposits.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Approved IMA 1973
Help on Locality: Locality: Sedmochislenitsi mine, Vratsa district, Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: Named for the locality.
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Balkanite + Pronunciation Say BALKANITE
 

Balkanite Image

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  Balkanite

Comments: B&W image of a polished section of balkanite with polysynthetic twinning. (AmMin v58:11).
Location: Sedmochislenitsi mine, Vratsa district, in the western part of the Stara Planina, Bulgaria. Scale: 330 X.
© American Mineralogist
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  Balkanite

Comments: Gray aggregate of balkanite on quartz.
Location: Manhattan District, Nye Co., Nevada, USA. Scale: Picture Size 0.4 cm.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Balkanite Crystallography
Help on Axial Ratios: Axial Ratios: a:b:c =1.1273:1:0.4161
Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 10.62, b = 9.42, c = 3.92, Z = 1; V = 392.16 Den(Calc)= 6.64
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Orthorhombic - Disphenoidal H-M Symbol (2 2 2) Space Group: P 222 ?
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 2.55(1), 2.98(1), 1.955(0.9),
 

Physical Properties of Balkanite

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: None
Help on Color: Color: Gray, Steel gray.
Help on Density: Density: 6.318
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Opaque
Help on Habit: Habit: Microscopic Crystals - Crystals visible only with microscopes.
Help on Habit: Habit: Prismatic - Crystals Shaped like Slender Prisms (e.g. tourmaline).
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 3.5 - Copper Penny
Help on Luster: Luster: Metallic
 

Optical Properties of Balkanite

Help on RL Color: RL Color: White gray.
Help on RL Pleochroism: RL Pleochroism: Strong.
Help on Reflectivity Reflectivity
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Balkanite in Air
λ R1 R2  ∑ R1(λ)   ∑ R2(λ) 
 440 nm   35.40   30.60 
   
 460 nm   35.60   31.00 
 480 nm   35.40   31.00 
 500 nm   35.00   30.20 
 520 nm   34.00   28.90 
 540 nm   34.00   28.00 
 560 nm   33.40   27.20 
 580 nm   32.80   26.50 
 600 nm   32.40   26.00 
 620 nm   32.10   25.60 
 640 nm   31.80   25.10 
 660 nm   31.50   24.90 
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Balkanite in Air
Relative
Intensity		    0%   40%   80% 100% 120% 160% 200% 240% 280% 320% 340%
R1                      
R2                      
 

Calculated Properties of Balkanite

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=5.96 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Balkanite =6.64 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.03
Boson Index = 0.97
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PEBalkanite = 306.97 barns/electron
U=PEBalkanite x rElectron Density=1,829.83 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Balkanite is Not Radioactive
 

Balkanite Classification
Help on Dana Class: Dana Class: 02.16.07.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides
  (02.16)with miscellaneous formulae
  (02.16.07)Dana Group
 
02.16.07.01 Balkanite Cu9Ag5HgS8 P 222 ? 2 2 2
 
02.16.07.02 Danielsite (Cu,Ag)14HgS8 Unk Ortho
Help on Strunz Class: Strunz Class: 02.BD.15 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf
  02.B - Metal Sulfides, M:S > 1:1 (mainly 2:1)
  02.BD -With Hg, Tl
 
02.BD.15 Balkanite Cu9Ag5HgS8 P 222 ? 2 2 2
 
02.BD.15 Danielsite (Cu,Ag)14HgS8 Unk Ortho
 

Other Balkanite Information
Help on References: References: NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)
Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Balkanite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Balkanite Specimen Label here :

Balkanite

Cu9Ag5HgS8
Dana No: 02.16.07.01 Strunz No: 02.BD.15
Locality:

 

Notes:

 
 
   
 

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