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Stibnite (Photo)

Year of discovery: 1832 (World), 1875 (Japan)

Locality list: 312 localities of stibnite

• Sb₂S₃
• [Sb³⁺₂][S₃]^6-

• Class: Stibnite group
• Class: Sulfide
• Soluble in: HCl
• Alter to Cervantite.
• Substitution pseudomorph: Replaced by Hydroxystibioroméite (Hydroxystibioromeite).
• Distinguish from Berthierite: Melted balls of berthierite has magnetism, whereas stibnite (above 546 degree) not.
• Distinguish from Berthierite: Weathered surface of berthierite shows rainbow colored by stain, whereas stibnite not.

• Polymorph: Metastibnite (Amorphous)

• Sb₂ => AsSb: Getchellite

• Sb => Bi: Bismuthinite
• Sb => As: Orpiment
• Sb => Sn: Ottemannite
• Sb => Cr: Schreibersite
• Sb => Rh: Bowieite
• Sb => Ir: Kashinite

• S₃ => AsS₂: Pääkkönenite

• S => Se: Antimonselite
• S => Te: Tellurantimony

• Color: Light gray with a blue tint
• Tarnish: Dark gray
• Streak: Light gray
• Luster: Metallic
• Diaphaneity: Opaque

• Habit: Prismatic, Acicular, Platy elongated to [001]
• Aggregate: Radial, Columnar
• Striation: [001]

• Cleavage: Perfect on {010} (1 plane), Imperfect on {100} and {110} (3 planes)
• Hardness: 2
• Density: 4.6

• System: Orthorhombic
• Group: mmm, Pbnm
• Lattice: a=11.2, b=11.3, c=3.8

Etymology: Stibi (Antimony) in Greek