Hanawaltite
Hanawaltite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the halide class, with the chemical formula Hg¹⁺₆Hg²⁺O₃Cl₂.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pbma).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 5; specific gravity 9.51; Black to dark red-brown streak; Metallic luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Hnw, IMA status: approved, named in 1994.
A rare alteration product of cinnabar, in a mercury deposit in silicate-carbonate rock hydrothermally altered from serpentinite.
It is found associated with Calomel, mercury, cinnabar, montroydite, ferroan magnesite, quartz.
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Joseph Donald Hanawalt (1903–1987), American metallurgist, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, for his early work in X-ray powder diffraction.
Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet.
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