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Pyrargyrite

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St Andreasberg, St Andreasberg District, Harz Mts, Lower Saxony, Germany
© Rob Lavinsky

Show Pyrargyrite Photos (209)
Formula:
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
System:TrigonalColour:Deep red or red gray
Lustre:AdamantineHardness:2½
Name:From the Greek, pyr and argyros, "fire-silver" in allusion to color and silver content.
Dimorph of:Pyrostilpnite


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

Classification of Pyrargyrite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/E.07-20
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:3.4.1.2

3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.2.9

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 Pyrargyrite

Geological Setting:Hydrothermal veins as a late stage, low temperature mineral; also formed by secondary processes.

Physical Properties of Pyrargyrite

Lustre:Adamantine
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Comment:Darkens with exposure to light
Colour:Deep red or red gray
Streak:Purplish red
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Distinct on {1011} very imperfect on {0112}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):5.82 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.855 g/cm3

Crystallography of Pyrargyrite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:R3c
Cell Parameters:a = 11.047Å, c = 8.719Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.789
Unit Cell Volume:V 921.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:6
Morphology:Prismatic crystals
Twinning:On {1014}, less commonly on {1011}{1120} rarely {0120}
Crystal Atlas:
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Pyrargyrite no.8 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Pyrargyrite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 3.084 nε = 2.881
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.203

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 in yellow white and grey blue
Pleochroism:Weak

Chemical Properties of Pyrargyrite

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

Relationship of Pyrargyrite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Proustite (see here)
Member of Group:
Proustite Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.GA.05Proustite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
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.25Malyshevite
PdCuBiS
 
3
2.GA.25Lisiguangite
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
Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
6
2.GA.40Stalderite
Tl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
6
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
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
5.2.1Smithite
AgAsS
 
2
5.2.2Trechmannite
AgAsS
 
2
5.2.3Proustite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
5.2.4Xanthoconite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
5.2.5Pearceite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
5.2.6Pearceite-T2ac
5.2.7Argentotennantite
(Ag,Cu)
 
10
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
13
5.2.8Miargyrite
AgSbS
 
2
5.2.10Pyrostilpnite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
5.2.11Stephanite
Ag
 
5
SbS
 
4
5.2.12Polybasite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
5.2.13Billingsleyite
Ag
 
7
AsS
 
6
5.2.14Polybasite-Tac
5.2.15Freibergite
(Ag
 
4+2x
Cu
 
2-2x
)[(Cu, Ag)
 
4
(Fe, Zn)
 
2
]Sb
 
4
S
 
12
S
 
1-x
 (0 < x < 1)
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 Pyrargyrite

Synonyms:
AerositeAntimonial Red SilverAntimonial Silver BlendeArgyrythroseDark Red Silver Ore
Red Silver Ore
Other Languages:
French:Argent antimonié sulfuré
Argent rouge antimoniale
Mine d'argent rouge
German:Aerosit
Antimonrotgülden
Antimon-Rothgültigerz
Antimonsilberblende
Dunkles Rotgültigerz
Gemein Rothguldenerz
Pyrargirit
Pyrargyrit
Rothgolderz
Italian:Argento rosso antimoniale
Pirargirite
Russian:Пираргирит
Spanish:Aerosita
Petlanque
Pirargirita
Pyrargyrita
Rosicler oscuro
Swedish:Rothgylden

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 Pyrargyrite

Reference List: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: 362-366.

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.: 425.

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.

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