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Proustite

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Marienberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
© Rob Lavinsky

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Formula:
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
System:TrigonalColour:Scarlet, Vermilion or ...
Lustre:AdamantineHardness:2 - 2½
Name:After the French chemist, J. L. Proust (1754-1826).
Dimorph of:Xanthoconite


Proustite Group. Proustite-Pyrargyrite Series. Trigonal dimorph of Xanthoconite.

One of the ruby silvers.

Classification of Proustite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/E.07-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.GA.05

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
A : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. without additional S
Dana 8th edition ID:3.4.1.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.2.3

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
2 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Ag
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Occurrences of Proustite

Geological Setting:A late forming mineral in hydrothermal veins, also in the supergene zone.

Physical Properties of Proustite

Lustre:Adamantine
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent on thin edges
Comment:Darkens on exposure to light
Colour:Scarlet, Vermilion or reddish gray
Streak:Vermilion red
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN25=70 - 105 kg/mm2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Distinct on {1011}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):5.57 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.625 g/cm3

Crystallography of Proustite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:R3c (R3 2/c)
Cell Parameters:a = 10.79Å, c = 8.69Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.805
Unit Cell Volume:V 876.18 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:6
Morphology:Prismatic crystals
Twinning:On {1014} to produce trillings, also on {1011}{0001}{0112}
Crystal Atlas:
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Proustite no.18 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Optical Data of Proustite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 3.087 - 3.088 nε = 2.792
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.295 - 0.296

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:Cochineal red to blood red

Chemical Properties of Proustite

Formula:
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
Essential elements:Ag, As, S
All elements listed in formula:Ag, As, S
Common Impurities:Sb

Relationship of Proustite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Pyrargyrite (see here)
Related to:
  • Proustite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    2.Ga.05Pyrargyrite
    Ag
     
    3
    		SbS
     
    3
    2.GA.10Pyrostilpnite
    Ag
     
    3
    		SbS
     
    3
    2.GA.10Xanthoconite
    Ag
     
    3
    		AsS
     
    3
    2.GA.15Samsonite
    Ag
     
    4
    		MnSb
     
    2
    		S
     
    6
    2.GA.20Skinnerite
    Cu
     
    3
    		SbS
     
    3
    2.GA.20Wittichenite
    Cu
     
    3
    		BiS
     
    3
    2.GA.25Lapieite
    NiCuSbS
     
    3
    2.GA.25Mückeite
    NiCu(Bi,Sb)S
     
    3
    2.GA.25IMA2007-003
    PtCuBiS
     
    3
    2.GA.30Aktashite
    Cu
     
    6
    		Hg
     
    3
    		As
     
    4
    		S
     
    12
    2.GA.30Gruzdevite
    Cu
     
    6
    		Hg
     
    3
    		Sb
     
    4
    		S
     
    12
    2.GA.30Nowackiite
    Cu
     
    6
    		Zn
     
    3
    		As
     
    4
    		S
     
    12
    2.GA.35Laffittite
    AgHgAsS
     
    3
    2.GA.40Routhierite
    CuHg
     
    2
    		TlAs
     
    2
    		S
     
    6
    2.GA.40Stalderite
    (Tl,Cu)(Zn,Fe,Hg)AsS
     
    3
    2.GA.45Erniggliite
    Tl
     
    2
    		SnAs
     
    2
    		S
     
    6
    2.GA.50Bournonite
    PbCuSbS
     
    3
    2.GA.50Seligmannite
    PbCuAsS
     
    3
    2.GA.50Součekite
    PbCuBi(S,Se)
     
    3
    2.GA.55Malyshevite
    PdCuBiS
     
    3
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    5.2.1Smithite
    AgAsS
     
    2
    5.2.2Trechmannite
    AgAsS
     
    2
    5.2.4Xanthoconite
    Ag
     
    3
    		AsS
     
    3
    5.2.5Pearceite
    (Ag,Cu)
     
    16
    		(As,Sb)
     
    2
    		S
     
    11
    5.2.6Pearceite-T2ac
    (Ag,Cu)
     
    16
    		(As,Sb)
     
    2
    		S
     
    11
    5.2.7Argentotennantite
    (Ag,Cu)
     
    10
    		(Zn,Fe)
     
    2
    		(As,Sb)
     
    4
    		S
     
    13
    5.2.8Miargyrite
    AgSbS
     
    2
    5.2.9Pyrargyrite
    Ag
     
    3
    		SbS
     
    3
    5.2.10Pyrostilpnite
    Ag
     
    3
    		SbS
     
    3
    5.2.11Stephanite
    Ag
     
    5
    		SbS
     
    4
    5.2.12Polybasite
    (Ag,Cu)
     
    16
    		(Sb,As)
     
    2
    		S
     
    11
    5.2.13Billingsleyite
    Ag
     
    7
    		AsS
     
    6
    5.2.14Polybasite-Tac
    (Ag,Cu)
     
    16
    		(Sb,As)
     
    2
    		S
     
    11
    5.2.15Freibergite
    (Ag,Cu,Fe)
     
    12
    		(Sb,As)
     
    4
    		S
     
    13
    5.2.16Aramayoite
    Ag(Sb,Bi)S
     
    2
    5.2.17Matildite
    AgBiS
     
    2
    5.2.18Schapbachite
    AgBiS
     
    2
    5.2.19Pavonite
    (Ag,Cu)(Bi,Pb)
     
    3
    		S
     
    5
    5.2.20Arcubisite
    Ag
     
    6
    		CuBiS
     
    4
    5.2.21Bohdanowiczite
    AgBiSe
     
    2
    5.2.22Selenostephanite
    Ag
     
    5
    		Sb(Se,S)
     
    4
    5.2.23Benleonardite
    Ag
     
    8
    		(Sb,As)Te
     
    2
    		S
     
    3
    5.2.24Volynskite
    AgBiTe
     
    2

    Other Names for Proustite

    Synonyms:
    Arsenical Red SilverArsenical Silver BlendeLight red silver oreSanguinite
    French names:
    Argent rouge arsenicale
    German names:
    ProustitArseniksilberblendeDurchsichtig RodtguldenerzLichtes RotgültigerzLichtes Rothgültigerz
    Latin names:
    Argentum rudum rubrum
    Russian names:
    Прустит
    Spanish names:
    Proustita

    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 Proustite

    Reference List:Miers and Prior (1887), Mineralogical Magazine: 7: 196.

    Miers (1888), Mineralogical Magazine: 8: 37.

    Ransome (1910), Economic Geology: 5: 211.

    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: 366-369.

    Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1966): 181-184.

    Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (1990) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume I. Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 588pp.: 423.

    Harlov, D.E. (1999): Thermochemistry of Ag-Cu exchange equilibria between proustite, sinnerite, and pearceite; constraints on Ag-Cu and As-Sb mixing in pyrargyrite-proustite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 11, 709-719.

    Internet Links for Proustite

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  • Look for Proustite on Wikipedia
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Proustite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Proustite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Proustite

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