Named in honor of Vyacheslav Sergeyevich Gruzdev (Вячеслав Сергеевич Груздев) (1938-1977), a mineralogist with the Institute of Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Rare Elements (IMGRE), Moscow. He studied antimony-mercury deposits and died during geological research.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Chauvai (Chauvay) Sb-Hg Deposit, Kadamjay District, Batken Region, Kyrgyzstan

Isostructural with:

Aktashite, Nowackiite

Sb analogue of aktashite. HgSb-analogue of nowackiite and zhengminghuaite.

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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

1759

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:1759:2

GUID
(UUID V4):

17be4758-e96c-4eed-b86f-457fcd59b4e6

IMA Classification of GruzdeviteHide

IMA status:

Approved

Approval year:

1980

First published:

1981

Type description reference:

Spiridonov, E.P., Krapiva, L.Y., Gapeev, A.K., Stepanov, V.I., Prushinskaya, E.Y., Volgin, V.Y. (1981) Gruzdevite Cu6Hg3Sb4S12 — a new mineral from the Chauvai antimony-mercury deposit, Central Asia. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 261: 971-976.

Classification of GruzdeviteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

2.GA.30

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S

Dana 8th ed.:

3.4.13.3

3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3

Hey's CIM Ref.:

5.4.7

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
4 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Zn and Hg

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Gzd	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of GruzdeviteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Grey-black

Hardness:

4 - 4½ on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₃₅=295(5) kg/mm² - Vickers

Cleavage:

None Observed

Density:

5.88 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of GruzdeviteHide

Anisotropism:

Weak

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R
460nm	33.1%
540nm	32.8%
580nm	32.7%
660nm	31.9%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 33.1%.

Colour in reflected light:

White

Chemistry of GruzdeviteHide

Mindat Formula:

Cu₆Hg₃Sb₄S₁₂

Elements listed:

Cu, Hg, S, Sb - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Fe,As

Crystallography of GruzdeviteHide

Crystal System:

Trigonal

Class (H-M):

3 - Pyramidal

Space Group:

Cell Parameters:

a = 13.90(2) Å, c = 9.432 Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 0.679

Unit Cell V:

1,578.21 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Massive

Comment:

space group by analogy to aktashite

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.16 Å	(100)
1.929 Å	(90)
1.645 Å	(80)
1.113 Å	(60)
1.251 Å	(50)
2.12 Å	(30)
1.363 Å	(30)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of GruzdeviteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Chauvai (Chauvay) Sb-Hg Deposit, Kadamjay District, Batken Region, Kyrgyzstan

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow, Russia.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Low temperature hydrothermal

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Wurtzite	Stilbite Subgroup	Metacinnabar	Fluorite	Cinnabar
Calcite	Baryte	Aktashite

Reference:

Download:

https://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/DANS261_971.pdf

Synonyms of GruzdeviteHide

IMA1980-053

Other Language Names for GruzdeviteHide

German:Gruzdevit

Spanish:Gruzdevita

Relationship of Gruzdevite to other SpeciesHide

Forms a series with:

Aktashite

Aktashite-Gruzdevite Series

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.GA.	Arsiccioite	AgHg₂Tl(As,Sb)₂S₆	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.GA.	Eckerite	Ag₂CuAsS₃	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.GA.	Pyradoketosite	Ag₃SbS₃	Mon. 2/m
2.GA.05	Proustite	Ag₃AsS₃	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
2.GA.05	Pyrargyrite	Ag₃SbS₃	Trig. 3m : R3c
2.GA.10	Pyrostilpnite	Ag₃SbS₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.GA.10	Xanthoconite	Ag₃AsS₃	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.GA.15	Samsonite	Ag₄MnSb₂S₆	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
2.GA.20	Skinnerite	Cu₃SbS₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
2.GA.20	Wittichenite	Cu₃BiS₃	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
2.GA.20	Bytízite	Cu₃SbSe₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.GA.25	Lapieite	NiCuSbS₃	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
2.GA.25	Mückeite	NiCu(Bi,Sb)S₃	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
2.GA.25	Malyshevite	PdCuBiS₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmm
2.GA.25	Lisiguangite	PtCuBiS₃	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
2.GA.25	Roterbärite	PdBiCuSe₃	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
2.GA.30	Aktashite	Cu₆Hg₃As₄S₁₂	Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.30	Nowackiite	Cu₆Zn₃As₄S₁₂	Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.30	Zhengminghuaite	Cu₆Fe₃As₄S₁₂	Trig. 3 : R3
2.GA.35	Laffittite	AgHgAsS₃	Mon. 2/m
2.GA.40	Routhierite	Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)₂(As,Sb)₂S₆	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.GA.40	Stalderite	Tl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)₂(As,Sb)₂S₆	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.GA.40	Ralphcannonite	AgZn₂TlAs₂S₆	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.GA.40	Ferrostalderite	CuFe₂TlAs₂S₆	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.GA.40	Unnamed (Ag-Fe endmember of Routhierite Group)	AgFe₂TlAs₂S₆
2.GA.45	Erniggliite	Tl₂SnAs₂S₆	Trig. 3 : P3
2.GA.50	Bournonite	PbCuSbS₃	Orth. mm2 : Pmn2₁
2.GA.50	Seligmannite	PbCuAsS₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
2.GA.50	Součekite	PbCuBi(S,Se)₃	Orth. mm2
2.GA.50	Unnamed (Pb-Cu-Bi Selenide)	PbCuBiSe₃
2.GA.50	Cerromojonite	CuPbBiSe₃	Orth.
2.GA.55	Eldragónite	Cu₆BiSe₄(Se₂)	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for GruzdeviteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-1759.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for GruzdeviteHide

Reference List:

Fleischer, Michael, Chao, George Y., Mandarino, Joseph A. (1982) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 67. 854-860 p.855

(2023) Gruzdevite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for GruzdeviteHide

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Kyrgyzstan (TL)
Batken Region Kadamjay District ⓘ Chauvai (Chauvay) Sb-Hg Deposit (TL)	Spiridonov et al. (1981) +3 other references
ⓘ Khaidarkan Sb-Hg deposit	...

Mexico
Sonora Moctezuma Municipality ⓘ Moctezuma	Lapis 2001 (1)
ⓘ Moctezuma Mine	Excalibur 1983
ⓘ San Miguel Mine	Mineralogical Society of America - ...

Russia
Sverdlovsk Oblast Serovsky District Turya river Tur'insk ⓘ Vorontsovskoe deposit (Vorontsovsk gold deposit; Vorontsovka deposit)	Stepanov S. Yu. et al. (2017)

Taiwan
New Taipei City Ruifang District ⓘ Chinkuashih mine	Henley et al. (2012)

USA
Nevada ⓘ Goldstrike Mines	Castor et al. (2004)

Gruzdevite