Stibnite

Stibnite
General
CategorySulfide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Sb2S3
IMA symbolSbn[1]
Strunz classification2.DB.05a
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space groupPbnm
Unit cella = 11.229 Å, b = 11.31 Å,
c = 3.8389 Å; Z = 4
Identification
ColorLead-gray, tarnishing blackish or iridescent; in polished section, white
Crystal habitMassive, radiating and elongated crystals. Massive and granular
TwinningRare
CleavagePerfect and easy on {010}; imperfect on {100} and {110}
FractureSubconchoidal
TenacityHighly flexible but not elastic; slightly sectile
Mohs scale hardness2
LusterMetallic[2]
StreakLead grey
DiaphaneityOpaque
Specific gravity4.63
Optical propertiesAnisotropic
SolubilityDecomposed with hydrochloric acid
References[3][4][5]
Major varieties
MetastibniteEarthy, reddish deposits

Stibnite, sometimes called antimonite, is a sulfide mineral with the formula Sb2S3. This soft grey material crystallizes in an orthorhombic space group.[6] It is the most important source for the metalloid antimony.[7] The name is derived from the Greek στίβι stibi through the Latin stibium as the former name for the mineral and the element antimony.[3][4]

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ "Stibnite | Antimony, Sulfide, Ore | Britannica".
  3. ^ a b Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C. (2005). "Stibnite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineral Data Publishing. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b Stibnite, Mindat.org, retrieved 19 July 2022
  5. ^ Barthelmy, David (2014). "Stibnite Mineral Data". Webmineral.com. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Circular". United States National Bureau of Standards. 1–6 (539). U.S. Government Printing Office: 6. 1953.
  7. ^ Sabina C. Grund, K. Hanusch, H. J. Breunig, H. U. Wolf, "Antimony and Antimony Compounds" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2006, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a03_055.pub2