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Pyrargyrite

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

Show Pyrargyrite Photos (132)
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)

About Crystal Atlas

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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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)
Related to:
  • 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.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
    5.2.3Proustite
    Ag
     
    3
    		AsS
     
    3
    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
    5.2.10Pyrostilpnite
    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 Pyrargyrite

    Synonyms:
    AerositeAntimonial Red SilverAntimonial Silver BlendeArgyrythroseDark Red Silver Ore
    Red Silver Ore
    French names:
    Argent antimonié sulfuréArgent rouge antimonialeMine d'argent rouge
    German names:
    AerositAntimonrotgüldenAntimon-RothgültigerzAntimonsilberblendeDunkles Rotgültigerz
    Gemein RothguldenerzPyrargiritPyrargyritRothgolderz
    Italian names:
    Argento rosso antimonialePirargirite
    Russian names:
    Пираргирит
    Spanish names:
    AerositaPetlanquePirargiritaPyrargyritaRosicler oscuro
    Swedish names:
    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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