TY - JOUR
T1 - The crystal structure of tvalchrelidzeite, Hg3SbAsS3, and a revision of its chemical formula
AU - Yang, Hexiong
AU - Downs, Robert T.
AU - Costin, Gelu
AU - Eichler, Carla M.
PY - 2007/12
Y1 - 2007/12
N2 - We have determined the crystal structure of tvalchrelidzeite, Hg3SbAsS3, for the first time with single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It is monoclinic, with space group P21In and unit-cell parameters a 11.5526(4), b 4.3852(1), c 15.6373(5) Å, β 91.845(2)°, V 791.79(5) Å3. There are eight symmetrically distinct sites in the structure, three occupied by Hg, one by Sb, one by As, and three by S. There is no disorder between Sb and As. Each Sb is surrounded by six S2- anions, with three at distances shorter than 2.51 Å and three at distances longer than 3.20 Å. In contrast, each As is coordinated by six Hg2+ cations, with three at distances shorter than 2.51 Å and three at distances longer than 3.31 Å. All three independent Hg ions are situated in considerably distorted octahedral sites, with two opposite bonds (one Hg-S and one Hg-As) shorter than 2.51 Å and four equatorial bonds longer than 2.98 Å. The structure of tvalchrelidzeite can be viewed as a sequence of sheets parallel to (′101). These sheets are composed of [Hg6Sb2 As2S6] ribbon-like units (extending along the b axis) linked together by the short Hg 1-As bonds (2.494 Å). The linkage between sheets is achieved through the weak Hg-S (>3.0 Å) and Sb-S (>3.2 Å) bonds, accounting for the observed perfect cleavage in one direction. Tvalchrelidzeite represents one of very few sulfosalt minerals that contain both Sb and As, with the latter behaving as an anion.
AB - We have determined the crystal structure of tvalchrelidzeite, Hg3SbAsS3, for the first time with single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It is monoclinic, with space group P21In and unit-cell parameters a 11.5526(4), b 4.3852(1), c 15.6373(5) Å, β 91.845(2)°, V 791.79(5) Å3. There are eight symmetrically distinct sites in the structure, three occupied by Hg, one by Sb, one by As, and three by S. There is no disorder between Sb and As. Each Sb is surrounded by six S2- anions, with three at distances shorter than 2.51 Å and three at distances longer than 3.20 Å. In contrast, each As is coordinated by six Hg2+ cations, with three at distances shorter than 2.51 Å and three at distances longer than 3.31 Å. All three independent Hg ions are situated in considerably distorted octahedral sites, with two opposite bonds (one Hg-S and one Hg-As) shorter than 2.51 Å and four equatorial bonds longer than 2.98 Å. The structure of tvalchrelidzeite can be viewed as a sequence of sheets parallel to (′101). These sheets are composed of [Hg6Sb2 As2S6] ribbon-like units (extending along the b axis) linked together by the short Hg 1-As bonds (2.494 Å). The linkage between sheets is achieved through the weak Hg-S (>3.0 Å) and Sb-S (>3.2 Å) bonds, accounting for the observed perfect cleavage in one direction. Tvalchrelidzeite represents one of very few sulfosalt minerals that contain both Sb and As, with the latter behaving as an anion.
KW - Crystal structure
KW - Mercury-bearing sulfosalt
KW - Tvalchrelidzeite
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U2 - 10.3749/canmin.45.6.1529
DO - 10.3749/canmin.45.6.1529
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:39649107733
VL - 45
SP - 1529
EP - 1533
JO - Canadian Mineralogist
JF - Canadian Mineralogist
SN - 0008-4476
IS - 6
ER -