Crystal chemistry of mercury(I) and mercury(I, II) minerals

The crystal structures of 16 mercury(I)- and mercury(I, II)-containing minerals having (Hg-Hg)²⁺ groups are considered. The Hg-Hg and Hg-X bond lengths and the HgHgX angles (X = Cl, Br, I, O, S) are analyzed. A comparative crystal chemical analysis of the environment of Hg atoms is carried out. The Hg-Hg and Hg-X distances vary within 2.43-2.60 and 1.93-2.43 å, respectively; the angles defining the deviation of the X-Hg-Hg-X groups from linearity are from 146 to 177?. In most cases, the coordination environment of the mercury atoms involves the metal atom of the (Hg-Hg)²⁺ dumbbell and the X atom, but in several compounds the coordination number of the mercury atoms increases due to the additional atoms lying 2.5–3.5 å away. In terlinguaite and kuznetsovite, the Hg₃ triangle is rather unusual; in the latter mineral, the Hg-Hg bonds are lengthened to 2.64-2.70 å. The review covers structural data up to May 1997.