Smithite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Smithite
Formula:
AgAsS2
Colour:
Pale red; red-orange or brownish orange on exposure to light
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
1½ - 2
Specific Gravity:
4.88
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honor of George Frederick Herbert Smith (26 May 1872, Edgbaston, England, UK - 20 April 1953), crystallographer and curator, British Museum of Natural History, London (England). The mineral herbertsmithite is also named after him.
Type Locality:
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Smithite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3687
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3687:6
Similar Names
| Schmidite | A valid IMA mineral species | [Zn2(Fe3+,Mn2+)2Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)3(H2O)6] · 2H2O |
| Schmiederite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Pb2Cu2(Se6+O4)(Se4+O3)(OH)4 |
| Schmitterite | A valid IMA mineral species | (UO2)(TeO3) |
| Smythite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | (Fe,Ni)3+xS4 (x=0-0.3) |
IMA Classification of Smithite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ag1+As3+S2-2
First published:
1905
Classification of Smithite
2.GC.30
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
C : Poly-sulfarsenites
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
C : Poly-sulfarsenites
3.7.3.1
3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
3 : SULFOSALTS
7 : ø = 2
5.2.1
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
2 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Ag
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
2 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Ag
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sth | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Smithite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Pale red; red-orange or brownish orange on exposure to light
Streak:
Vermillion
Hardness:
1½ - 2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{100} perfect
{100} perfect
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
4.88 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.926 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Smithite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
Dispersion:
marked to extreme
Optical Extinction:
Y = b; Z ∧ c = 6.5°.
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 40.7% | 44.0% |
| 420nm | 40.0% | 43.2% |
| 440nm | 39.3% | 42.4% |
| 460nm | 38.7% | 41.5% |
| 480nm | 37.9% | 40.4% |
| 500nm | 37.0% | 39.2% |
| 520nm | 36.0% | 38.0% |
| 540nm | 35.0% | 36.6% |
| 560nm | 33.8% | 35.4% |
| 580nm | 32.7% | 34.7% |
| 600nm | 32.0% | 34.0% |
| 620nm | 31.4% | 33.4% |
| 640nm | 31.0% | 32.9% |
| 660nm | 30.6% | 32.4% |
| 680nm | 30.4% | 31.8% |
| 700nm | 30.1% | 31.4% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 44.0%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Slight in transmitted light.
Chemistry of Smithite
Mindat Formula:
AgAsS2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Sb
Crystallography of Smithite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 17.23 Å, b = 7.78 Å, c = 15.19 Å
β = 101.2°
β = 101.2°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.215 : 1 : 1.952
Unit Cell V:
1,997.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
24
Morphology:
Equant; tabular {100}. Tabular crystals appear hexagonal due to strong zonal developments nearly 60° apart.
Comment:
Space Group: A2/a.
Crystallographic forms of Smithite
Crystal Atlas:
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Smithite - {100}, {101}, {001}, modified
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014690 | Smithite | Hellner E, Burzlaff H (1964) Die struktur des smithits AgAsS2 Naturwissenschaften 51 35-36 | 1964 | Lengenbach quarry, Binnatal, Switzerland | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.82 Å | (100) |
| 3.21 Å | (80) |
| 2.72 Å | (60) |
| 1.953 Å | (50) |
| 1.701 Å | (40) |
| 1.661 Å | (40) |
| 1.608 Å | (40) |
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 Smithite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
n.d.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Smithite
Other Language Names for Smithite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 11 photos of Smithite associated with Quadratite | Ag(Cd,Pb)AsS3 |
| 6 photos of Smithite associated with Wakabayashilite | [(As,Sb)6S9][As4S5] |
| 5 photos of Smithite associated with Jordanite | Pb14As6S23 |
| 3 photos of Smithite associated with Argyrodite | Ag8GeS6 |
| 3 photos of Smithite associated with Freibergite Subgroup | (Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1 |
| 3 photos of Smithite associated with Hutchinsonite | TlPbAs5S9 |
| 2 photos of Smithite associated with Pierrotite | Tl2(Sb,As)10S16 |
| 2 photos of Smithite associated with Rathite | Ag2Pb12-xTlx/2As18+x/2S40 |
| 2 photos of Smithite associated with Marrite | AgPbAsS3 |
| 2 photos of Smithite associated with Dufrénoysite | Pb2As2S5 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.GC.05 | Hatchite | AgTlPbAs2S5 |
| 2.GC.05 | Wallisite | (Cu,Ag)TlPbAs2S5 |
| 2.GC.10 | Sinnerite | Cu6As4S9 |
| 2.GC.15 | Watanabeite | Cu4(As,Sb)2S5 |
| 2.GC.20 | Simonite | TlHgAs3S6 |
| 2.GC.25 | Quadratite | Ag(Cd,Pb)AsS3 |
| 2.GC.25 | Manganoquadratite | AgMnAsS3 |
| 2.GC.35 | Trechmannite | AgAsS2 |
| 2.GC.35 | Debattistiite | Ag9Hg0.5As6S12Te2 |
| 2.GC.40a | Aleksite | PbBi2Te2S2 |
| 2.GC.40d | Saddlebackite | Pb2Bi2Te2S3 |
| 2.GC.40c | Rucklidgeite | PbBi2Te4 |
| 2.GC.40 | Clogauite | PbBi4Te4S3 |
| 2.GC.40e | Babkinite | Pb2Bi2(S,Se)3 |
| 2.GC.40b | Kochkarite | PbBi4Te7 |
| 2.GC.40c | Poubaite | PbBi2(Se,Te,S)4 |
| 2.GC.45 | Tvalchrelidzeite | Hg3SbAsS3 |
| 2.GC.50 | Mutnovskite | Pb4As2S6ICl |
Other Information
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
becoming opaque on exposure to light
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 Smithite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3687.html
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References for Smithite
Reference List:
Solly, R. H. (1905) Some new minerals from the Binnenthal, Switzerland. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 14 (64) 72-82 doi:10.1180/minmag.1905.014.64.03
Hellner, E., Burzlaff, H. (1964) Die Struktur des Smithits AgAsS2. Die Naturwissenschaften, 51 (2). 35-36 doi:10.1007/bf00622577
Localities for Smithite
Showing 13 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.
Chile | |
| Maurizio Dini |
France | |
| Nakai et al. (1983) +1 other reference |
Germany | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
Iran | |
| Topa et al. (2013) |
Ireland | |
| Gasparrini (1978) +4 other references |
| Andrew et al. (2025) | |
Japan | |
| Shimizu et al. (2007) |
Peru | |
| EDS Analysis Frank Keutsch |
Poland | |
| Kucha (1982) |
Spain | |
| Navarro et al. (2009) |
Switzerland (TL) | |
| Solly (1905) +1 other reference |
| 50. (in German) +2 other references |
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Lengenbach Quarry, Fäld, Binn, Goms, Valais, Switzerland