PYROSTILPNITE

    Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
    Subclass : Sulfosalts
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : Ag3SbS3
    Rarity : Rare

Pyrostilpnite is a primary mineral of silver-bearing hydrothermal deposits; it plays the role of modest accompaniment of other much more abundant silver minerals (pearceite, polybasite, acanthite, etc...). It is the isomorph of xanthoconite and the dimorph of pyrargyrite. Its name comes from the Greek pûr (fire) and stilpnos (brilliant), thus evoking the color and shine of the mineral. Pyrostilpnite forms elongated lamellar crystals, it has perfect cleavage on {001} and a strong adamantine luster. It is a dark red mineral that is too scarce to constitute a silver ore.

Main photo : Pyrostilpnite from the Clara Mine, Germany © Carsten Slotta

Pyrostilpnite from the Clara Mine, Germany © Christophe Boutry
Pyrostilpnite from St. Andreasberg, Germany © Christian Rewitzer
Pyrostilpnite from the Clara Mine, Germany © Michael Förch
Pyrostilpnite from Rivet, Poeyrebrune, Tarn, France © Jean-Pierre Barral

Pyrostilpnite in the World

Crystals larger than 1 mm are exceptional ; these are elongated and striated individuals which come from Freiberg (Saxony, Germany), Pribram (Czech Republic) and Broken Hill (Australia) from where the largest known specimens (12 mm maximum) were extracted.

Pyrostilpnite in France

In France, pyrostilpnite is known at the La Lande quarry (Morbihan) as well as at Rivet near Peyrebrune (Tarn).

Twinning

Twins on {100} are known.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes listed for this mineral species.


Hardness : 2
Density : 5.94
Fracture : Conchoidal
Streak : Yellow-orange

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : Very high
Birefringence : -
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : Visible
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Nitric acid

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None

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