Mineral 1.0: Stibnite

Mineral 1.0

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Stibnite on petrified wood (c) Mineral Picture courtesy of www.yuprocks.com
Stibnite on petrified wood
Mineral Picture courtesy of www.yuprocks.com

StibniteSb₂S₃

Class: Sulfide
Hardness: 2
Density: 4.6 - 4.7
Streak: Lead gray
Lustre: Metallic
Habit: Range from fine to medium grains to prismatic crystals (with longitudinal striations). Complex terminations, radiating acicular groups.
Colours: Lead gray, black, iridescent tarnish
   Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Cleavage: Perfect
Fracture: Subconchoidal
Magnetism: None
Reaction with HCl: Weak
Identification in hand sample:
Colour and small subhedral crystals are indicators. Also rather soft.
Associations:
Forms in low-temperature hydrothermal veins, or is deposited from hot mineral springs.
Industrial / ecomonic uses:
Important source of antimony (Sb)



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