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Stibnite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored by Ruggy Holloway
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About StibniteHide

Formula:
Sb2S3
Colour:
Lead-gray with pale blue tint
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
4.63
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Renamed in 1832 by François Sulpice Beudant. According to Dioscorides, the original Greek names for the mineral were Στιβι "stibi", Στιμμι "stimmi", and Πλατνόπθαλμου "platnopthalmos". The former name became the Latin "stibium" and the old name for the element antimony (Sb). Named spiessglas in 1430 by Basil Valentine, who showed the mineral contained sulphur. Also known as antimony glance, antimonite, and stibine.
Dimorph of:
Bismuthinite-Stibnite Series. Possibly also polymorphous with UM1996-35-S:Sb.

The most common antimony sulphide. An important Sb ore mineral.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3782
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3782:8

Similar NamesHide

IMA Classification of StibniteHide

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Sb3+2S2-3

Classification of StibniteHide

2.DB.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
B : M:S = 2:3
2.11.2.1

2 : SULFIDES
11 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:3
3.7.14

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
SbnIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
SbnThe Canadian Mineralogist (2019)The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Physical Properties of StibniteHide

Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Lead-gray with pale blue tint
Streak:
Lead grey
Hardness:
Hardness:
VHN100=71 - 86 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Comment:
VHN on (010) section
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {010}, imperfect on {100}{110}
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
4.63 g/cm3 (Measured)    4.625 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of StibniteHide

Anisotropism:
Strong
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
400nm31.1% 53.3%
420nm30.8% 53.2%
440nm30.6% 53.0%
460nm30.7% 52.8%
480nm31.0% 52.2%
500nm31.2% 51.1%
520nm31.4% 49.7%
540nm31.2% 48.5%
560nm30.8% 47.2%
580nm30.3% 45.8%
600nm29.7% 44.5%
620nm29.3% 43.5%
640nm29.2% 42.6%
660nm29.4% 41.8%
680nm29.6% 41.1%
700nm29.4% 40.3%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 53.3%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
white

Chemistry of StibniteHide

Mindat Formula:
Sb2S3
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Sb71.684 %
S28.316 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of StibniteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.234(3) Å, b = 11.314(2) Å, c = 3.837(2) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.993 : 1 : 0.339
Unit Cell V:
487.69 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Slender to stout crystals
Twinning:
Rare {130}{120}{310}
Comment:
Space Group: P bnm.

Crystallographic forms of StibniteHide

Crystal Atlas:
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Stibnite no.9 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
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Stibnite no.10 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
View 3D crystal model
Stibnite no.12 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
View 3D crystal model
Stibnite no.31 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
View 3D crystal model
Stibnite no.55 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
View 3D crystal model
Stibnite no.110 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
View 3D crystal model
Stibnite no.115 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

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Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0010587StibniteScavnicar S (1960) The crystal structure of stibnite. A redetermination of atomic positions Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 114 85-971960synthetic0293
0008966StibniteCaracas R, Gonze X (2005) First-principles study of the electronic properties of A2B3 minerals, with A=Bi,Sb and B=S,Se Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 32 295-30020050293
0003557StibniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-94020040293
0003556StibniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-94020040293
0003555StibniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-94020040293
0003554StibniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-94020040293
0003553StibniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-94020040293
0003552StibniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 Sample #4 American Mineralogist 89 932-94020040293
0003551StibniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 Sample #3 American Mineralogist 89 932-94020040293
0003550StibniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 Sample #2 American Mineralogist 89 932-94020040293
0003549StibniteKyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 Sample #1 American Mineralogist 89 932-94020040293
0008825StibniteLundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-46820030.0001293
0008636StibniteKyono A, Kimata M, Matsuhisa M, Miyashita Y, Okamoto K (2002) Low-temperature crystal structures of stibnite implying orbital overlap of Sb 5s2 inert pair electrons Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 254-26020020293
0008635StibniteKyono A, Kimata M, Matsuhisa M, Miyashita Y, Okamoto K (2002) Low-temperature crystal structures of stibnite implying orbital overlap of Sb 5s2 inert pair electrons Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 254-26020020293
0008634StibniteKyono A, Kimata M, Matsuhisa M, Miyashita Y, Okamoto K (2002) Low-temperature crystal structures of stibnite implying orbital overlap of Sb 5s2 inert pair electrons Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 254-26020020293
0008633StibniteKyono A, Kimata M, Matsuhisa M, Miyashita Y, Okamoto K (2002) Low-temperature crystal structures of stibnite implying orbital overlap of Sb 5s2 inert pair electrons Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 254-26020020293
0010729StibniteBayliss P, Nowacki W (1972) Refinement of the crystal structure of stibnite, Sb2S3 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 135 308-31519720293
0010513StibniteHofmann W (1933) Die struktur der minerale der animonitgruppe Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 86 225-24519330293
0008826StibniteLundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-46820031.115293
0008827StibniteLundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-46820031.591293
0008828StibniteLundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-46820032.118293
0008829StibniteLundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-46820033.235293
0008830StibniteLundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-46820037.406293
0008831StibniteLundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-46820037.832293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Loading XRD data...
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
5.052 Å(55)
3.573 Å(65)
3.556 Å(70)
3.053 Å(95)
2.764 Å(100)
2.680 Å(50)
2.525 Å(45)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere<0.6
50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals<0.36
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals<10 Ka
54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56)

Synonyms of StibniteHide

Other Language Names for StibniteHide

Varieties of StibniteHide

Relationship of Stibnite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Other Members of Stibnite Group:
AntimonseliteSb2Se3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
BismuthiniteBi2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
GuanajuatiteBi2Se3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
Forms a series with:

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1,373 photos of Stibnite associated with QuartzSiO2
1,195 photos of Stibnite associated with CalciteCaCO3
702 photos of Stibnite associated with BaryteBaSO4
290 photos of Stibnite associated with PyriteFeS2
281 photos of Stibnite associated with StibiconiteSb3+Sb5+2O6(OH)
234 photos of Stibnite associated with SideriteFeCO3
216 photos of Stibnite associated with ValentiniteSb2O3
191 photos of Stibnite associated with RealgarAs4S4
176 photos of Stibnite associated with FluoriteCaF2
165 photos of Stibnite associated with MarcasiteFeS2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.DB.StangersiteSnGeS3Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.DB.05AntimonseliteSb2Se3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.DB.05MetastibniteSb2S3Amor.
2.DB.05PääkköneniteSb2AsS2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.DB.05BismuthiniteBi2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.DB.05GuanajuatiteBi2Se3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.DB.10SuredaitePbSnS3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.DB.10OttemanniteSn2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.DB.15KashiniteIr2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcn
2.DB.15BowieiteRh2S3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcn
2.DB.20Montbrayite(Au,Ag,Sb,Bi,Pb)23(Te,Sb,Bi,Pb)38Tric. 1 : P1
2.DB.25EdgariteFeNb3S6Hex. 6 : P63
2.DB.30Tarkianite(Cu,Fe)(Re,Mo)4S8Iso. 43m : F43m
2.DB.35CameroniteCu5-x(Cu,Ag)3+xTe10 (x = 0.43)Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.DB.40'Schreibersite (of Shephard)'Cr2S3

Other InformationHide

Thermal Behaviour:
Melts at 546°C. Fuses very easily, at 1, coloring the flame greenish blue. Heated in an open tube gives sulphurous and antimonial fumes. The latter condenses as a white sublimate.
Notes:
Soluble in HCl. Decomposed in nitric acid, with separation of antimony pentoxide.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Stibnite is a very soft delicate mineral and should be kept in a container with a very soft cushion like cotton and not allowed to rub up against the sides of the box. Stibnite is a bit like graphite in that it will leave a streak when rubbed against paper. Over a period of many years, brilliant surfaces of freshly mined stibnite will become less shiny.
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 StibniteHide

References for StibniteHide

Reference List:

Localities for StibniteHide

Showing 4,222 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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