Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
    Subclass : Sulfosalts
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : Ag₃AsS₃
    Rarity : Rare

Xanthoconite is a rare sulfosalt from silver-bearing hydrothermal deposits, in which it modestly accompanies silver minerals that are much more abundant than it (pearceite, polybasite, acanthite, etc...) as well as other sulfides. Xanthoconite is the isomorph of pyrostilpnite. Its name comes from the Greek xanthos (yellow) and konis (powder) in reference to the color of its trace. Xanthoconite forms rare crystals that do not exceed 5 mm. Sometimes twinned, they are cinnamon brown in color and have a pseudohexagonal habitus. Its lamellar crystal structure is responsible for its cleavage on {001}, it has a strong adamantine luster.

Main photo : Xanthoconite from Imiter mine, Morocco © Christian Rewitzer

Twinning is known on {001} giving pseudo-orthorhombic facies.

No fakes listed for this mineral species.