Mineral - Antimony
Antimony
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Elements
Toxicity
none
Formula
Sb
Unit Cell
a=4.31 c=11.27 Z=6
Physical Properties
Hardness
3 - 3.5
Streak
gray
Density
Very Heavy (>6)
Cleavage
Perfect after {001}, distinct {101}, imperfect after {104}, indistinct after {110}
Fracture
uneven
Tenacity
Brittle
Optical Properties
Color
blackgraygray blacksilver
Birefringence
Luster
Metallic
Transparency
opaque
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
trigonal
Point Group
ditrigonal-scalenohedral - 3 m
Space Group
R 3 m (166)
Habit
dendritic, coarse, earthy, massive, Octahedron, pyramidal, Rhombohedral, tabular, Cube
Formation
In hydrothermal veins
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rotation twins (quadruplets, sextuplets) after {014}
Rarity
Rather rare
Synonyms
Antimony
Composition
Elements
Mass
Sb
99.20
As
0.20
Germany (Palache et al. 1952)
Groups and Members
Arsenic-Group
Name and first discovery : Named after the Greek word "antimonium", with today unknown origin and meaning
Chemistry :
Synonyms : Native antimony
Varieties :
Abbreviation : Sb
literature
Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1952). Dana's system of mineralogy. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholm Förhandlingar , 74 (2), 218-219.