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Kermesite

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Globe and Phoenix Mine (Phoenix and Globe Mine), Kwekwe (Que Que), Gweru (Gwelo) District, Midlands, Zimbabwe
© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals

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Formula:
Sb
 
2
S
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Red
Lustre:AdamantineHardness:1 - 1½
Name:Name from kermes, a name given from the Persian qurmizq, "crimson" in the older chemistry to red amorphous antimony trisulphide, often mixed with antimony trioxide


Crusts and coatings may be confused with metastibnite.

Classification of Kermesite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/F.11-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.FD.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
F : Sulfides of arsenic, alkalies; sulfides with halide, oxide, hydroxide, H2O
D : With O, OH, H2O
Dana 7th edition ID:2.13.1.1
Dana 8th edition ID:2.13.1.1

2 : SULFIDES
13 : Oxysulfides
Hey's CIM Ref.:4.2

4 : Oxysulphides
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Type Occurrence of Kermesite

Type Locality:Neue Hoffnung Gottes Mine, Bräunsdorf, Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1843

Physical Properties of Kermesite

Lustre:Adamantine
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Red
Streak:Brownish Red
Hardness (Mohs):1 - 1½
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on the {100}
Density (measured):4.5 - 4.6 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.85 g/cm3

Crystallography of Kermesite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 10.84Å, b = 4.07Å, c = 10.25Å
α = 90°, β = 101.53°, γ = 90°
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.663 : 1 : 2.518
Unit Cell Volume:V 443.09 ų
Z:4

Optical Data of Kermesite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 2.720 nβ = 2.740 nγ = 2.740
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.020

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:relatively strong

Chemical Properties of Kermesite

Formula:
Sb
 
2
S
 
2
O
Essential elements:O, S, Sb
All elements listed in formula:O, S, Sb

Relationship of Kermesite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.FD.UKI-2004-(OS:BiCuPb)
PbCu
 
4
Bi
 
4
S
 
2
O
 
16
 (?)
2.FD.10Viaeneite
(Fe,Pb)
 
4
S
 
8
O
2.FD.20Erdite
NaFeS
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
2.FD.25Coyoteite
NaFe
 
3
S
 
5
 · 2H
 
2
O
2.FD.30Haapalaite
(Fe
2+
 
,Ni)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
1.61
S
 
2
(OH)
 
3.22
2.FD.30Valleriite
(Fe
2+
 
,Cu)
 
4
(Mg,Al)
 
3
S
 
4
(OH,O)
 
6
2.FD.30Yushkinite
(Mg,Al)V
4+
 
S
 
2
(OH)
 
2
2.FD.35Tochilinite
Fe
2+
5-6
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
S
 
6
(OH)
 
10
2.FD.40Wilhelmramsayite
Cu
 
3
FeS
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
2.FD.45Vyalsovite
FeCaAlS(OH)
 
5
2.FD.50Bazhenovite
Ca
 
8
S
 
2
(S
 
3
)(S
 
2
O
 
3
)(OH)
 
12
 · 20H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
4.1Bazhenovite
Ca
 
8
S
 
2
(S
 
3
)(S
 
2
O
 
3
)(OH)
 
12
 · 20H
 
2
O
4.3Sarabauite
CaSb
3+
10
S
 
6
O
 
10
4.4Schöllhornite
Na
 
0.3
CrS
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
4.5Yushkinite
(Mg,Al)V
4+
 
S
 
2
(OH)
 
2
4.6Vyalsovite
FeCaAlS(OH)
 
5
4.7Valleriite
(Fe
2+
 
,Cu)
 
4
(Mg,Al)
 
3
S
 
4
(OH,O)
 
6
4.8Tochilinite
Fe
2+
5-6
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
S
 
6
(OH)
 
10
4.9Haapalaite
(Fe
2+
 
,Ni)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
1.61
S
 
2
(OH)
 
3.22
4.10Apuanite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
4
Sb
3+
4
O
 
12
S
4.11Versiliaite
Fe
 
2
Fe
 
4
Sb
 
6
O
 
16
S

Other Names for Kermesite

Synonyms:
Antimony BlendePyrostibite
Other Languages:
German:Kermesit
Antimonblende
Antimonzinnober
Goldschwefel
Pyrostibit
Rotspießglanz (of Klaproth)
Rotspießglaserz (of Emmerling)
Italian:Kermesite
Russian:Кермезит
Simplified Chinese:红锑矿
Slovak:kermezit
Spanish:Kermesita
Pirostibita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Kermesite

Reference List:

- +
Klaproth, M.H. (1802): Chemische Untersuchung des faserigen Roth-Spießglanzerzes, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Dritter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 178-182

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 279-280.

Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1987): 12: 557-567.

Internet Links for Kermesite

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