Beige crystal aggregates of the extremely rare Hg arsenate kuznetsovite from the TL in Kyrgyzstan (Khaidarkan Sb-Hg deposit (Chaidarkan; Hajdarkan), Batken Region, Kyrgyzstan). Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kuznetsovite
Kuznetsovite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the arsenate class, with the chemical formula Hg¹⁺₂Hg²⁺(AsO₄)Cl.
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group P2_13).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5–3; specific gravity 8.64–8.82; Yellow-orange streak; Vitreous to adamantine luster.
IMA symbol Kzn, IMA status: approved, named in 1980.
Found in the oxidation zone of hydrothermal mercury deposits.
It is found associated with Cinnabar, calomel, eglestonite, corderoite, mercury (Arzak deposit, Russia); cinnabar, calomel, eglestonite, corderoite, mercury, livingstonite, montroydite.
The mineral was named to honor Academician Valerii Alekseevich Kuznetsov (1906–1985), Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Novosibirsk, Russia, student of mercury deposits.