| Polybasite | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | |
| Category | Sulfosalt minerals |
| Formula | [(Ag,Cu)6(Sb,As)2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| IMA symbol | Plb1 |
| Strunz classification | 2.GB.15 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic and trigonal polytypes |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | C2/c |
| Identification | |
| Colour | steel black |
| Cleavage | poor on (001) |
| Fracture | uneven |
| Mohs scale hardness | 1.5–2 |
| Lustre | metallic, adamantine or glimmering |
| Streak | black with reddish tint |
| Specific gravity | 6–6.2 |
| References | 2345 |
Polybasite is a sulfosalt mineral of silver, copper, antimony and arsenic. Its chemical formula is [(Ag,Cu)6(Sb,As)2S7][Ag9CuS4].
It forms black monoclinic crystals (thin, tabular, with six corners) which can show dark red internal reflections. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 to 3. It is found worldwide and is an ore of silver. The name comes from the number of base metals in the mineral.
Images
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Unusual polybasite specimen from Mayo Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada.
References
References
- Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- Polybasite: mindat.org
- Webmineral.com
- "Handbook of Mineralogy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
- Rudolf Dǔd'a and Luboš Rejl (1990). Minerals of the World. Arch Cape Press. p. 40. ISBN 0-517-68030-0.