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Samsonite

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Samson Mine, St Andreasberg, St Andreasberg District, Harz Mts, Lower Saxony, Germany
© Van King

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Formula:
Ag
 
4
MnSb
 
2
S
 
6
System:MonoclinicColour:Black
Hardness:2½
Name:Named after its discovery locality, the Samson vein, Andreasberg, Harz, Germany.
This page provides mineralogical data about Samsonite.

Classification of Samsonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/E.07-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.GA.15

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:3.4.12.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.8.1

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
8 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni
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Type Occurrence of Samsonite

Type Locality:Samson Mine, St Andreasberg, St Andreasberg District, Harz Mts, Lower Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1910

Physical Properties of Samsonite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Black
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Density (calculated):5.461 g/cm3

Crystallography of Samsonite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/m {P1 1 21/m} {P21/m} {P1 21/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 10.3861(6) Å, b = 8.1108(7) Å, c = 6.663(7) Å
β = 92.639(12)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.281 : 1 : 0.821
Unit Cell Volume:V 560.69 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Comment:P21/n setting
Crystal Atlas:
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Samsonite - Short prismatic {110}

About Crystal Atlas

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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

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Chemical Properties of Samsonite

Formula:
Ag
 
4
MnSb
 
2
S
 
6
Essential elements:Ag, Mn, S, Sb
All elements listed in formula:Ag, Mn, S, Sb
Common Impurities:Cu,Fe

Relationship of Samsonite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.GA.05Proustite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
2.GA.05Pyrargyrite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
2.GA.10Pyrostilpnite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
2.GA.10Xanthoconite
Ag
 
3
AsS
 
3
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:

- +
5.8.2Uchucchacuaite
AgMnPb
 
3
Sb
 
5
S
 
12
5.8.3Benavidesite
Pb
 
4
(Mn,Fe)Sb
 
6
S
 
14
5.8.4Berthierite
FeSb
 
2
S
 
4
5.8.5Jamesonite
Pb
 
4
FeSb
 
6
S
 
14
5.8.6Parajamesonite
5.8.7Garavellite
FeSbBiS
 
4
5.8.8Izoklakeite
Pb
 
27
(Cu,Fe,Ag)
 
2
(Sb,Bi)
 
19
S
 
57
5.8.9Miharaite
Cu
 
4
FePbBiS
 
6
5.8.10Sakharovaite
5.8.11Arsenohauchecornite
Ni
 
18
Bi
 
3
AsS
 
16
5.8.12Tučekite
Ni
 
9
Sb
 
2
S
 
8
5.8.13Bismutohauchecornite
Ni
 
9
Bi
 
2
S
 
8
5.8.14Parkerite
Ni
 
3
Bi
 
2
S
 
2
5.8.15Hauchecornite
Ni
 
9
Bi(Sb,Bi)S
 
8
5.8.16Tellurohauchecornite
Ni
 
9
Bi(Te,Bi)S
 
8
5.8.17Lapieite
NiCuSbS
 
3
5.8.18Mückeite
NiCu(Bi,Sb)S
 
3
5.8.19Vozhminite
(Ni,Co)
 
4
(As,Sb)S
 
2

Other Names for Samsonite

Other Languages:
German:Samsonit
Russian:Самсонит
Spanish:Samsonita

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 Samsonite

Reference List:Werner and Fraatz (1910), Cbl. Min.: 331.

Palache, Charles (1934), Contributions to crystallography; claudetite, minasragrite, samsonite, native selenium, indium: American Mineralogist: 19: 194-205; …(abstract): American Mineralogist: 19: 128 (1934).

Frondel, C. (1941), American Mineralogist: 26: 25.

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: 393-395.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 140: 87-99.

Picot-Johan (1982): 334.

Bulletin of the National Museum, Prague (1997): 4-5, 172-176.

American Mineralogist, Volume 92, pages 886-891, 2007

Internet Links for Samsonite

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    Localities for Samsonite

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Central Bohemia Region
        • Příbram
    		Litochleb et al. (1997) Bull. Nár. muz. (Praha)
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz Mts
        • St Andreasberg District
          • St Andreasberg
    		American Mineralogist, Volume 92, pages 886-891, 2007
    Sweden
     
    • Dalarna
      • Hedemora
        • Garpenberg
    		[GFF 118, A53; MinRec 33:168]
    USA
     
    • Nevada
      • Mineral Co.
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 3rd Nov 2009 22:18:59