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Formula: Hg16Ni6(CO3)12(OH)12(H3O)8.3H2O
Hydrated carbonate containing hydroxyl, mercury- and
nickel- bearing mineral
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 4.86 calculated
Streak: Pale blue
Colour: Light blue-grey (fresh surfaces) darkening to black on exposure to air
Environments
Szymańskiite is a very rare mineral. Although it was approved in 1989, to date (September 2022) it has been
reported only from the type locality.
Localities
At the type locality, the Clear Creek claim, Goat Mountain, New Idria Mining District, San Benito county,
California, USA, szymańskiite is a very rare constituent, found within mm-sized cavities of colourless to
white, well-crystallized quartz, and surrounded by massive amber
edgarbaileyite, which in turn has mm-size needles of red
montroydite perched on it. In addition, disseminated single crystals
and aggregates of szymańskiite and millerite have been identified
within the surrounding massive quartz.
The szymańskiite appears to have formed at low temperature and pressure from CO2-bearing residual
fluids enriched in mercury and
nickel. It is most closely associated with
montroydite, native mercury,
edgarbaileyite, millerite
and euhedral crystals of cinnabar in a matrix composed principally of
quartz, chalcedony,
opal, ferroan magnesite,
goethite, chromite and minor
chlorite and dolomite. Other
mercury-bearing minerals at the Clear Creek claim include
metacinnabar, eglestonite,
calomel, gianellaite,
mosesite, edoylerite and
wattersite
(CM 28.703-707).
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