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Argentite

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Formula:
Ag2S
Crystal System:
Isometric
Dimorph of:
Acanthite
The name 'argentite' refers to the high-temperature form of silver sulphide, only stable over 177°C. Below this temperature, any samples of 'argentite' convert to acanthite.

The name argentite is therefore used (confusingly) by some to describe pseudo-cubic pseudomorphs of silver sulphide (acanthite) where the original crystal form of the high-temperature cubic argentite has remained. The correct way to label such specimens would be "acanthite, pseudo-cubic" or "acanthite, pseudomorphous after argentite".


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
326
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:326:1

Similar NamesHide

Classification of ArgentiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.BA.52

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au

Chemistry of ArgentiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Ag2S
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Ag87.060 %
S12.940 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Ag, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of ArgentiteHide

Crystal System:
Isometric

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.BA.MakotoiteAg12(Cu3Au)S8Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
2.BA.AlburniteAg8GeTe2S4Iso.
2.BA.DzierżanowskiteCaCu2S2Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
2.BA.XuwenyuaniteAg9Fe3+Te2S4Iso. 43m : F43m
2.BA.'Orileyite'(Fe,Cu)2As
2.BA.JuxingiteBi6Cu+138Cu2+2Fe3+30S125Iso. 43m : F43m
2.BA.05DjurleiteCu31S16Mon. 2/m
2.BA.05GeeriteCu8S5Trig. 3
2.BA.05RoxbyiteCu58S32Tric. 1 : P1
2.BA.05ChalcociteCu2SMon. 2/m : P21/b
2.BA.10DigeniteCu9S5Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
2.BA.10AniliteCu7S4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.BA.15BorniteCu5FeS4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
2.BA.20BellidoiteCu2SeTet. 4/m : P42/n
2.BA.20BerzelianiteCu2-xSe (x ≈ 0.12)Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
2.BA.25AthabascaiteCu5Se4Orth.
2.BA.25UmangiteCu3Se2Tet. 42m : P421m
2.BA.30RickarditeCu7Te5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmmn
2.BA.30WeissiteCu2-xTeHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mmm
2.BA.35AcanthiteAg2SMon. 2/m : P21/m
2.BA.35SpryiteAg8(As3+0.5As5+0.5)S6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
2.BA.40d'UM2003-13-S:AgAuCu'Ag6AuCu2S5
2.BA.40MckinstryiteAg5-xCu3+xS4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.BA.40StromeyeriteAgCuSOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.BA.42HoneaiteAu3TlTe2 Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcm
2.BA.45JalpaiteAg3CuS2Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
2.BA.45SelenojalpaiteAg3CuSe2Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
2.BA.45KuriliteAg8Te3SeTrig. 3 : R3
2.BA.47Spiridonovite(Cu1-xAgx)2TeTrig. 3m(32/m) : P3c1
2.BA.50WuyanzhiiteCu2STet. 422 : P43212
2.BA.50EucairiteAgCuSeOrth.
2.BA.55NaumanniteAg2SeOrth. 222 : P212121
2.BA.55AguilariteAg4SeSMon. 2/m
2.BA.60ChenguodaiteAg9Fe3+Te2S4Orth.
2.BA.60HessiteAg2TeMon. 2/m : P21/b
2.BA.60CervelleiteAg4TeSMon. 2/m
2.BA.65Henryite(Cu,Ag)3+xTe2 , with x ~ 0.40Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3c
2.BA.65StütziteAg5-xTe3, x = 0.24-0.36Hex. 6 : P6
2.BA.70ArgyroditeAg8GeS6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
2.BA.70Putzite(Cu4.7Ag3.3)GeS6Iso. 43m : F43m
2.BA.70CanfielditeAg8SnS6Orth. mm2 : Pna21
2.BA.75FischesseriteAg3AuSe2Iso. 432 : I4132
2.BA.75UytenbogaardtiteAg3AuS2Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
2.BA.75Penzhinite(Ag,Cu)4Au(S,Se)4Hex. 622 : P6322
2.BA.75PetrovskaiteAuAgSMon.
2.BA.75PetziteAg3AuTe2Iso. 432 : I4132
2.BA.80Bezsmertnovite(Au,Ag)4Cu(Te,Pb)Orth.
2.BA.80BilibinskitePbCu2Au3Te2Iso.
2.BA.80Bogdanovite(Au,Te,Pb)3(Cu,Fe)Iso.

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for ArgentiteHide

References for ArgentiteHide

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