Class : Oxides and hydroxides
    Subclass : Oxides
    Crystal system : Orthorhombic
    Chemistry : Sb₂O₃
    Rarity : Fairly common

Valentinite is one of the most common oxidation minerals in antimony deposits. It is found in the oxidized superficial parts of these deposits, along with its dimorph, senarmontite, stibiconite and cervantite. It was named in honor of the German Basilius Valentinus, a 15th century alchemist who was responsible for the first work on the properties of antimony. Valentinite forms acicular to prismatic crystals of white to yellowish color, with adamantine luster, pearly on the cleavages. But valentinite most often constitutes fibrous crusts on primary antimony minerals, sometimes pseudomorphing them completely, as well as fibroradiated masses. It is usually too rare to constitute an antimony ore.

Main photo : Valentinite from Xikuangshan, Hunan, China © Molin Lee

Twinning by contact is known on slag crystals.

No fakes listed for this mineral species.