Szymańskiite
Szymańskiite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the carbonate class, with the chemical formula Hg₁₆Ni₆(CO₃)₁₂(OH)₁₂(H₃O)₈·3H₂O.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group P6_3).
Key properties: specific gravity 4.86; Pale blue streak; Vitreous luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Szy, IMA status: approved, named in 1989.
A very rare secondary mineral found in the oxidized zone of a mercury–nickel-bearing sulfide deposit in silicate–carbonate rock hydrothermally altered from serpentinite.
It is found associated with Cinnabar, montroydite, mercury, edgarbaileyite, millerite, cinnabar, quartz.
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Jan T. Szymański (1938–), X-ray crystallographer, Canadian Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET), Ottawa, Canada.