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⇱ Pinchite: Mineral information, data and localities.

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Pinchite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About PinchiteHide

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Formula:
Hg2+5Cl2O4
Colour:
Dark brown, black
Lustre:
Adamantine
Specific Gravity:
9.5
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honour of William [Bill] Wallace Pinch (1940 - 2017) of Rochester, New York. An experienced private collector and amateur mineralogist. The Pinch medal, issued by the Mineralogical Association of Canada, was established 2001 and named in the honour of Bill Pinch in recognition of his enormous and selfless contributions to mineralogy through the identification of ideal specimens for study, and by making them available to the academic community.

http://www.williampinch.com/about
This page provides mineralogical data about Pinchite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

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Mindat ID:
3216
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3216:8

Similar NamesHide

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FinchiteA valid IMA mineral speciesSr(UO2)2(V2O8) · 5H2O
PanichiiteA valid IMA mineral species(NH4)2SnCl6
WinchiteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered◻{CaNa}{Mg4Al}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Winchite (of Fermor)A synonym of Ferri-winchite◻[CaNa][Mg4(Fe3+,Al)]Si8O22(OH)2
Winchite (of Leake)

IMA Classification of PinchiteHide

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Approved
IMA Formula:
Hg5O4Cl2
First published:
1974

Classification of PinchiteHide

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3.DD.25

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
D : With Hg
10.5.3.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
5 : Am(O,OH)pXq
8.5.5

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
5 : Halides of Zn and Hg

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
PinIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of PinchiteHide

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Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Dark brown, black
Streak:
Red-brown
Density:
9.5 g/cm3 (Measured)    9.25 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of PinchiteHide

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Type:
Biaxial
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
From red to almost opaque black
Comments:
Refractive indices could not be measured but are > 2.

Chemistry of PinchiteHide

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Mindat Formula:
Hg2+5Cl2O4
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Hg88.144 %
Cl6.232 %
O5.624 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of PinchiteHide

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Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Ibam
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.619(3) Å, b = 6.105(2) Å, c = 11.710(3) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.903 : 1 : 1.918
Unit Cell V:
830.6 ų
Morphology:
Blocky to tabular. Forms {001}, {010}, {100}, and {012}.
Comment:
Hawthorne et al. (1994)

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0001692PinchiteHawthorne F C, Cooper M A, Sen Gupta P K (1994) The crystal structure of pinchite, Hg5Cl2O4 American Mineralogist 79 1199-1203👁 Image
19940293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.837 Å(100)
2.695 Å(80)
3.94 Å(60)
2.919 Å(50)
3.256 Å(35)
2.169 Å(20)
1.791 Å(15)

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Paragenetic Mode(s):

Type Occurrence of PinchiteHide

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General Appearance of Type Material:
Euhedral crystals up to 1 mm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada.
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, M33258.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 119858.
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 128440, 132391, 160256.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of PinchiteHide

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Other Language Names for PinchiteHide

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Dutch:Pinchiet
German:Pinchit
Russian:Пинчит
Spanish:Pinchita

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

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3.DD.Mikecoxite[CHg4]OCl2Mon. 2/m
3.DD.05Eglestonite[Hg2]2+3OCl3(OH)Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d
3.DD.05Kadyrelite[Hg2]2+3OBr3(OH)Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d
3.DD.10Poyarkovite[Hg2]2+3Cl2O2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
3.DD.15Hanawaltite[Hg2]2+3Hg2+(Cl,OH)2O3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
3.DD.20Terlinguaite[Hg3]4+Hg2+Cl2O2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
3.DD.30Gianellaite[(Hg2N)2](SO4)(H2O)xIso. 43m : F43m
3.DD.30Mosesite(Hg2N)(Cl,SO4,MoO4) · H2OIso. 43m : F43m
3.DD.35Kleinite(Hg2N)(Cl,SO4) · nH2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
3.DD.40Tedhadleyite[Hg2]2+5Hg2+I2(Cl,Br)2O4Tric. 1
3.DD.45Vasilyevite[Hg2]2+10I3Br2Cl[CO3]O6Tric. 1 : P1
3.DD.50Aurivilliusite[Hg2]2+Hg2+2(I,Br,Cl)2O2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
3.DD.55TerlinguacreekiteHg2+3Cl2O2Orth.
3.DD.60Kelyanite[Hg]2+6Sb3+BrCl2O6Trig. 3 : P3
3.DD.65ComancheiteHg2+55N3-24(NH2,OH)4(Cl,Br)34Orth.
3.DD.70GaildunningiteHg2+3[NHg2+2]18(Cl,I,OH,Br,S)24Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)

Other InformationHide

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Health Risks:
Contains mercury - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest.

Internet Links for PinchiteHide

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mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3216.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

References for PinchiteHide

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Localities for PinchiteHide

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Showing 3 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 👁 Image
symbol to view information about a locality. The 👁 Image
symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

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👁 Image
- This locality has map coordinates listed. 👁 Image
- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 👁 Image
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 👁 Image
- 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.
Spain
  • Extremadura
    • Badajoz
      • Usagre
Salván et al. (2024)
USA
  • Texas
    • Brewster County
Smith (1991)
Sturman et al. (1974) +1 other reference
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