Samsonite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Samsonite
The mine that gave its name to the mineral
Samson Mine, St Andreasberg, Braunlage, Goslar District, Lower Saxony, Germany
Samson Mine, St Andreasberg, Braunlage, Goslar District, Lower Saxony, Germany
Formula:
Ag4MnSb2S6
Colour:
Black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
5.461 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after its discovery locality, the Samson vein, Andreasberg, Harz, Germany.
This page provides mineralogical data about Samsonite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3516
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3516:9
Similar Names
| Damsonite | A variety of 'Chalcedony' [Quartz] | SiO2 |
IMA Classification of Samsonite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ag1+4Mn2+Sb3+2S2-6
First published:
1910
Classification of Samsonite
2.GA.15
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
3.4.12.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
5.8.1
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
8 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
8 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ssn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Samsonite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Samsonite
Optical Data of Samsonite
Anisotropism:
Weak
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 33.8% | 38.5% |
| 420nm | 33.6% | 34.9% |
| 440nm | 33.2% | 34.5% |
| 460nm | 32.6% | 33.8% |
| 480nm | 31.6% | 33.0% |
| 500nm | 30.6% | 32.2% |
| 520nm | 29.6% | 31.1% |
| 540nm | 28.8% | 30.0% |
| 560nm | 28.1% | 29.0% |
| 580nm | 27.5% | 28.1% |
| 600nm | 26.8% | 27.5% |
| 620nm | 26.3% | 26.9% |
| 640nm | 25.9% | 26.5% |
| 660nm | 25.4% | 26.1% |
| 680nm | 25.1% | 25.8% |
| 700nm | 24.8% | 25.6% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 38.5%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Bluish white
Internal Reflections:
Deep red
Pleochroism:
Weak
Chemistry of Samsonite
Mindat Formula:
Ag4MnSb2S6
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Cu,Fe
Crystallography of Samsonite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.3861(6) Å, b = 8.1108(7) Å, c = 6.663(7) Å
β = 92.639(12)°
β = 92.639(12)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.281 : 1 : 0.821
Unit Cell V:
560.69 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Comment:
P21/n setting
Crystallographic forms of Samsonite
Crystal Atlas:
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Samsonite - Short prismatic {110}
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0004360 | Samsonite | Bindi L, Evain M (2007) Gram-Charlier development of the atomic displacement factors into mineral structures: The case of samsonite, Ag4MnSb2S6 American Mineralogist 92 886-891 |  | 2007 | St. Andreasberg, Hartz Mountains, Germany | 0 | 293 |
| 0004359 | Samsonite | Bindi L, Evain M (2007) Gram-Charlier development of the atomic displacement factors into mineral structures: The case of samsonite, Ag4MnSb2S6 American Mineralogist 92 886-891 | | 2007 | St. Andreasberg, Hartz Mountains, Germany | 0 | 293 |
| 0004358 | Samsonite | Bindi L, Evain M (2007) Gram-Charlier development of the atomic displacement factors into mineral structures: The case of samsonite, Ag4MnSb2S6 American Mineralogist 92 886-891 | | 2007 | St. Andreasberg, Hartz Mountains, Germany | 0 | 293 |
| 0004357 | Samsonite | Bindi L, Evain M (2007) Gram-Charlier development of the atomic displacement factors into mineral structures: The case of samsonite, Ag4MnSb2S6 American Mineralogist 92 886-891 | | 2007 | St. Andreasberg, Hartz Mountains, Germany | 0 | 293 |
| 0004356 | Samsonite | Bindi L, Evain M (2007) Gram-Charlier development of the atomic displacement factors into mineral structures: The case of samsonite, Ag4MnSb2S6 American Mineralogist 92 886-891 | | 2007 | St. Andreasberg, Hartz Mountains, Germany | 0 | 293 |
| 0010764 | Samsonite | Edenharter A, Nowacki W (1974) Verfeinerung der kristallstruktur von samsonit (SbS3)2Ag2Ag2Mn Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 140 87-99 | | 1974 | Andreasberg, Harz, Germany | 0 | 293 |
| 0016151 | Samsonite | Hruskova J, Synecek V (1969) The crystal structure of samsonite, 2 Ag2S*MnS*Sb2S3 Acta Crystallographica B25 1004-1006 |  | 1969 | Andreasberg, Harz, Germany | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.20 Å | (100) |
| 3.01 Å | (90) |
| 2.59 Å | (60) |
| 2.86 Å | (50) |
| 2.43 Å | (50) |
| 2.51 Å | (40) |
| 6.4 Å | (30) |
Comments:
St. Andreasberg, Germany, ICDD 11-74.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
Type Occurrence of Samsonite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
n.d.
Other Language Names for Samsonite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Samsonite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 2 photos of Samsonite associated with 'Proustite-Pyrargyrite Series' | |
| 2 photos of Samsonite associated with Pyrargyrite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 1 photo of Samsonite associated with Argentopyrite | AgFe2S3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.GA. | Pyradoketosite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA. | Arsiccioite | AgHg2Tl(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA. | Eckerite | Ag2CuAsS3 |
| 2.GA.05 | Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 2.GA.05 | Pyrargyrite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.10 | Xanthoconite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 2.GA.10 | Pyrostilpnite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.20 | Bytízite | Cu3SbSe3 |
| 2.GA.20 | Skinnerite | Cu3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.20 | Wittichenite | Cu3BiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Lapieite | NiCuSbS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Lisiguangite | PtCuBiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Malyshevite | PdCuBiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Roterbärite | PdBiCuSe3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Mückeite | NiCu(Bi,Sb)S3 |
| 2.GA.30 | Aktashite | Cu6Hg3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Nowackiite | Cu6Zn3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Zhengminghuaite | Cu6Fe3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Gruzdevite | Cu6Hg3Sb4S12 |
| 2.GA.35 | Laffittite | AgHgAsS3 |
| 2.GA.40 | 'Unnamed (Ag-Fe endmember of Routhierite Group)' | AgFe2TlAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Routhierite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Stalderite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Ralphcannonite | AgZn2TlAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Ferrostalderite | CuFe2TlAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.45 | Erniggliite | Tl2SnAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.50 | Cerromojonite | CuPbBiSe3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Seligmannite | PbCuAsS3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Součekite | CuPbBi(S,Se)3 |
| 2.GA.50 | 'Unnamed (Pb-Cu-Bi Selenide)' | PbCuBiSe3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
| 2.GA.55 | Eldragónite | Cu6BiSe4(Se2) |
Other Information
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 Samsonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3516.html
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References for Samsonite
Reference List:
Palache, Charles (1934) Contributions to crystallography: claudetite; minasragrite; samsonite; native selenium; indium. American Mineralogist, 19 (5) 194-205
Frondel, Clifford (1941) Unit cell and space group of vrbaite (Tl(As,Sb)3S5), seligmannite (CuPbAsS3) and samsonite (Ag4MnSb2S6) American Mineralogist, 26 (1) 25-28
Hrušková, J.; Synećek, U. (1969) The crystal structure of samsonite, 2Ag2S.MnS.Sb2S3. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, 25 (5). 1004-1006 doi:10.1107/s0567740869003414
Localities for Samsonite
Showing 9 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada | |
| 159-161. +1 other reference |
| Traill (1983) |
| Ramdohr (1969) | |
China | |
| Baisheng Zhang (1998) |
Czech Republic | |
| Litochleb et al. (1997) |
Germany (TL) | |
| American Mineralogist |
Japan | |
| Suzuki et al. (2008) |
Sweden | |
| [GFF 118 +2 other references |
USA | |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
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Samson Mine, St Andreasberg, Braunlage, Goslar District, Lower Saxony, Germany