MOSCHELLANDSBERGITE

    Class : Elements
    Subclass : Metals
    Crystal system : Cubic
    Chemistry : Ag2Hg3
    Rarity : Very rare

Moschellandsbergite is a natural amalgam of silver. It is an extremely rare mineral, which forms in low-temperature silver and mercury hydrothermal veins. It takes its name from its place of discovery : Moschellandsberg in Germany. Moschellandsbergite occurs in small masses, rarely in fine dodecahedral crystals modified by the cube and the octahedron, of a silver-white color and with a very strong metallic luster.

Main photo : Moschellandsbergite from Landsberg, Germany © Joy Desor

Moschellandsbergite in the World

Moschellandsbergite only seems to be known in a handful of mines in the world : Landsberg (formerly Moschellandsberg, Germany) where the best specimens come from, Sala (Sweden), Chañarcillo near Copiapo (Chile) and Svätá Trojica (Slovakia).

Moschellandsbergite in France

In France, moschellandsbergite is only known in Chalanches (Isère).

Twinning

No twin known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 3.5
Density : 13.48 to 13.71
Fracture : Conchoidal
Streak : Silver gray

TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : 0
Optical character : None
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Nitric acid

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None