The open encyclopedia of minerals
GlossaryCite the database
Mineralogist.org
Minerals A–ZSearchCollectionsBrowse by PropertyIdentify a SpecimenCompare MineralsLocalities MapGlossaryContribute Search the Database →
Sulfosalt

Tennantite-(Hg)

Cu₆(Cu₄Hg₂)As₄S₁₃
Hardness3.5–4
Crystal systemCubic
ClassSulfosalt
←PrevTennantite-(Fe)NextTennantite-(Mn)→
Tennantite-(Hg) specimen

Tennantite-(Hg), tetrahedral crystals up to 0.1 mm, with realgar. Lengenbach, Binn Valley, Switzerland. Collection T. Raber, photo M. Crumbach. The image is published in an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). — Photo: M. Crumbach · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tennantite-(Hg)

Tennantite-(Hg) is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula Cu₆(Cu₄Hg₂)As₄S₁₃.

It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group I-43m). It is a member of the Tetrahedrite structural group.

Key properties: Mohs hardness 3.5–4; specific gravity 4.838; Black streak; Metallic luster.

IMA symbol Tnt-Hg, IMA status: approved, named in 2020.

Formed by late-stage hydrothermal fluids within metadolostone.

It is found associated with Sinnerite, realgar (Lengenbach); gold, bismuth, covellite, hessite, spionkopite, chalcocite, bornite (Chandolin Alp); tennantite-(Zn) (Nibao).

The mineral was named to honor the English chemist Smithson Tennant (1761-1815) with a suffix for the dominant divalent cation in the C site.

Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet. Browse more T minerals or help write this entry.