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| Stephanite
is named in honor of the Archduke Victor Stephan (1817–1867),
former Mining Director of Austria.
| Discovered
in 1845;
IMA
status:
Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered) |
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Chemistry
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Chemical
Formula: |
Ag5SbS4
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Silver
Antimony Sulfide |
Molecular
Weight: |
789.36 gm |
Composition: |
Silver |
68.33 % |
Ag |
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Antimony |
15.42 % |
Sb |
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Sulfur |
16.25 % |
S |
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Oxygen |
45.99 % |
O |
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100.00 % |
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Classification
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Mineral
Classification: |
Sulfides
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Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
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2/E.06-10
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Nickel-Strunz 10th
Ed. ID:
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2.GB.10
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2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides,
tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites,
sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.) G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites B : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. with additional S
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Related
to: |
Stephanite
Series
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Varieties: |
None
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Synonyms: |
Argento mineralisatum nigrum,
Black Silver, Brittle Silver Ore, Goldschmidtine, Melane-glance,
Melanglance, Psaturose, Röschwächs, Schwarzgülden (of Wallerius)
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Crystal
Data
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Crystallography:
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Orthorhombic
- Pyramidal
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Crystal
Habit:
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Crystals
short prismatic to tabular [001], to 6 cm, also elongated
along [100], with {110} striated parallel to [114];
massive, compact and disseminated.
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Twinning:
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On
{110}, commonly repeated to form pseudohexagonal groups;
less common on {130}, {100} and {010}, with composition
plane {001}.
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Physical
Properties
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Cleavage: |
Imperfect
on {010} and {021}
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Fracture: |
Sub-Conchoidal
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Tenacity:
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Brittle
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Moh's
Hardness: |
2.0
- 2.5
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Density:
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6.26 (g/cm3)
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Luminescence:
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None
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Radioactivity:
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Not
Radioactive
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Optical
Properties
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Color: |
Iron-Black;
in polished section, pale Gray
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Transparency: |
Opaque
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Luster: |
Metallic
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Refractive
Index: |
R1–R2:
(400) 32.0–33.0, (420) 32.1–33.2, (440) 32.2–33.4, (460)
31.5–33.2, (480) 30.7–32.6, (500) 30.0–32.0, (520) 29.0–31.3,
(540) 28.4–30.6, (560) 28.0–30.2, (580) 27.6–29.8, (600)
27.5–29.6, (620) 27.6–29.6, (640) 27.8–29.5, (660) 28.0–29.2,
(680) 28.5–28.7, (700) 28.2–28.2
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Birefringence: |
0.00
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Dispersion: |
n/a
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Pleochroism: |
Very
Weak; white to pale pink
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Anisotrophism: |
Strong;
in vivid colors
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Occurances
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Geological
Setting: |
A
late-stage mineral in hydrothermal silver deposits.
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Common
Associations: |
Proustite,
Acanthite, Silver, Tetrahedrite, Galena, Sphalerite,
Pyrite |
Common
Impurities: |
As,
Cu, Fe |
Type
Locality: |
Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
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Year
Discovered: |
1845
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View
mineral photos: |
Stephanite
Mineral Photos and Locations |
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More
Information
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Mindat.org Webmineral.com
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Stephanite
is a somewhat rare silver bearing mineral. It is not
a well known ore of silver but is a locally important
ore in some mines. It is rarely available as a faceted
gem and is for collectors of rare oddities, Black
Gems or Metallic
Gems.
Stephanite typically forms as nicely shaped crystals
that are tabular to short prismatic.
Stephanite
is available from many silver mining localities, typically
in small amounts, and only rarely in fine specimens.
In Germany, at the Type Locality of Freiberg, Schneeberg,
and Marienberg, Saxony; and as exceptional crystals
from St. Andreasberg, Harz Mountains. In Slovakia, at
Banská Hodrusa and from Banská Stiavnica (Schemnitz).
In the Czech Republic, at Jáchymov (Joachimsthal), Príbram,
and Trebsko. In Italy, fine twins from Monte Narba,
near Sarrabus, Sardinia. In England, as twinned crystals
from Wheal Boys, St. Endellion, Cornwall. At Espedalen,
Norway. From Azegour, Morocco. At Altyn-Topkan, Tadjikistan.
In Canada, in the Cobalt district, Ontario; at United
Keno Hill Mines, and fine examples from the Husky mine,
Elsa, Yukon Territory. In the USA, in Nevada, as an
important ore mineral in the Comstock Lode, Virginia
City, Storey County In Mexico, large crystals from Arizpe,
Sonora; at Guanajuato; from Fresnillo, Zacatecas. At
Chañarcillo, south of Copiapó, Atacama, Chile. In Bolivia,
from Colquechaca, Potosí. At San Cristobal, Peru. From
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia.
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Stephanite
gems for sale:
We
have not photographed our Stephanite gems. Please
check back soon.
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