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Samsonite

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

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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}

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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.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:
5.8.2Uchucchacuaite
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
(Cu,Fe)
 
2
Pb
 
27
(Sb,Bi)
 
19
S
 
57
5.8.9Miharaite
Cu
 
4
FePbBiS
 
6
5.8.10Sakharovaite
5.8.11Arsenohauchecornite
Ni
 
9
BiAsS
 
8
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

German names:
Samsonit
Russian names:
Самсонит
Spanish names:
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

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    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.
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    (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
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