Miargyrite

Miargyrite, also silver stibnite or Hemiprismatische ruby orifice is a rarely occurring mineral from the mineral group of sulfides and sulfosalts. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with the chemical composition AgSbS2 and forms thick, solid crystals of up to one centimeter in size from black to gray color.

Etymology and history

The mineral was first in 1824 by Friedrich Mohs in the type locality, the pit found new hope in God Bräunsdorf, today a district of Oberschona in Saxony. Then he separated the new mineral of Rotgültigerz or ruby ​​orifice ( today Pyrargyrite ), he called it first Hemiprismatische ruby visor. The present name Miargyrite got the mineral by Heinrich Rose, who examined it as the first detail. He named it after the Greek words argyros (Silver) and meion (less ) because Miargyrite contains less silver than Pyrargyrite.

Classification

In the classification by Strunz Miargyrite is classified in the sulfides and sulfosalts. It is counted among the sulfides with a ratio of metal to sulfur, selenium or tellurium of 1:1. In the eighth edition, it made with Aramayoit, Baumstarkit, Bohdanowiczit, Cuboargyrit, matildite, Schapbachit and Volynskit a group. In the ninth edition, it is one of the sulfosalts with tin ( II ) sulfide as a model of copper, silver or iron, but do not contain lead.

In the scheme of minerals by Dana Miargyrite forms with Smithit a subset of sulfosalts with the ratio z / y = 2 and the composition (A ) i ( A2 ) j [ Bycz ], A ​​= metals, B = semimetals, C = non-metals.

Modifications and varieties

The connection is AgSbS2 trimorph and can crystallize as Cuboargyrit next Miargyrite in triclinic structure as Baumstarkit and cubic structure.

Education and Locations

Miargyrite formed under hydrothermal conditions at low temperatures. It is associated with Baumstarkit, Proustite, Pyrargyrite, Polybasit, silver, galena, sphalerite, pyrite, quartz, calcite and barite.

The mineral occurs in many mines before, but usually only in small amounts and rarely as major ore. Among the localities include the resin and other sites in Germany, Pribram and Třebsko in the Czech Republic, Baia Sprie in Romania, Hiendelaencina in Spain, the Altai in Russia, Rajasthan in India, on Brandywine Creek in Canada, the U.S. states of Idaho and California, Real de Catorce, Sombrerete and Veta Grande in Mexico, and Copiapo in Chile Huantajaya, Colquechaca and Cerro Rico in Bolivia and Huancavelica and Julcani in Peru.

Morphology

Miargyrite crystals are flattened along { 001 }, { 100} or { 101 }. You are next along and striped.

Crystal structure

Miargyrite crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, space group C2 / c with lattice parameters a = 12.862 Å; b = 4.409 Å; c = 13.218 Å and β = 98.48 ° and eight formula units per unit cell.

Use

With sufficient deposits or together with other ores Miargyrite is a silver ore.