Stibnite

Stibnite
Stibnite in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
General
Category	Sulfide mineral
Formula (repeating unit)	Sb2S3
Strunz classification	2.DB.05a
Crystal symmetry	Orthorhombic - dipyramidal H-M symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space group: Pbnm
Unit cell	a = 11.229 Å, b = 11.31 Å, c = 3.8389 Å; Z = 4
Identification
Color	Lead-gray, tarnishing blackish or iridescent; in polished section, white
Crystal habit	Massive, radiating and elongated crystals. Massive and granular
Crystal system	Orthorhombic
Twinning	Rare
Cleavage	Perfect and easy on {010}; imperfect on {100} and {110}
Fracture	Subconchoidal
Tenacity	Highly flexible but not elastic; slightly sectile
Mohs scale hardness	2
Luster	Splendent on fresh crystals surfaces, otherwise metallic
Streak	Similar to color
Diaphaneity	Opaque
Specific gravity	4.63
Solubility	decomposed with hydrochloric acid
Other characteristics	Anisotropism: Strong
References
Major varieties
Metastibnite	Earthy, reddish deposits

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

Structure

Stibnite has a structure similar to that of arsenic trisulfide, As₂S₃. The Sb(III) centers, which are pyramidal and three-coordinate, are linked via bent two-coordinate sulfide ions. However, recent studies confirm that the actual coordination polyhedra of antimony are in fact SbS₇, with (3+4) coordination at the M1 site and (5+2) at the M2 site. Some of the secondary bonds impart cohesion and are connected with packing. Stibnite is grey when fresh, but can turn superficially black due to oxidation in air.

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  Crystal from Henan Province, China (size: 16.8×5.4×5.4 cm)

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  Needles of stibnite within a transparent crystal of calcite (size: 4.5×3.5×1.8 cm)

Uses

Pastes of Sb₂S₃ powder in fat or in other materials have been used since ca. 3000 BC as eye cosmetics in the Middle East and farther afield; in this use, Sb₂S₃ is called kohl. It was used to darken the brows and lashes, or to draw a line around the perimeter of the eye.

Antimony trisulfide finds use in pyrotechnic compositions, namely in the glitter and fountain mixtures. Needle-like crystals, "Chinese Needle", are used in glitter compositions and white pyrotechnic stars. The "Dark Pyro" version is used in flash powders to increase their sensitivity and sharpen their report. It is also a component of modern safety matches. It was formerly used in flash compositions, but its use was abandoned due to toxicity and sensitivity to static electricity.

The natural sulfide of antimony, stibnite, was known and used ever since protodynastic Ancient Egypt as a medication and a cosmetic. The Sunan Abi Dawood reports, “prophet Muhammad said: 'Among the best types of collyrium is antimony (ithmid) for it clears the vision and makes the hair sprout.'”

The 17th century alchemist Eirenaeus Philalethes, also known as George Starkey, describes stibnite in his alchemical commentary An Exposition upon Sir George Ripley's Epistle. Starkey used stibnite as a precursor to philosophical mercury, which was itself a hypothetical precursor to the Philosopher's stone.

Occurrence

Stibnite occurs in hydrothermal deposits and is associated with realgar, orpiment, cinnabar, galena, pyrite, marcasite, arsenopyrite, cervantite, stibiconite, calcite, ankerite, barite and chalcedony.

Small deposits of stibnite are common, but large deposits are rare. It occurs in Canada, Mexico, Peru, Japan, China, Germany, Romania, Italy, France, England, Algeria, and Kalimantan, Borneo. In the United States it is found in Arkansas, Idaho, Nevada, California, and Alaska.

As of May 2007, the largest specimen on public display (1000 pounds) is at the American Museum of Natural History. The largest documented single crystals of stibnite measured ~60×5×5 cm and originated from different locations including Japan, France and Germany.

See also

• List of minerals

External links

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