Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Stephanite

Big Photo

Husky Mine, Elsa, Galena Hill, Mayo Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada
© RWMW

Show Stephanite Photos (87)
Formula:
Ag
 
5
SbS
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Lead gray or black
Lustre:MetallicHardness:2 - 2½
Name:Named after the Austrian Mining Director / engineer, Archduke Stephan (1817-1867).
This page provides mineralogical data about Stephanite.

Classification of Stephanite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/E.06-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.GB.10

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
G : Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
B : Neso-sulfarsenites, etc. with additional S
Dana 8th edition ID:3.2.4.1

3 : SULFOSALTS
2 : ø = 4
Hey's CIM Ref.:5.2.11

5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
2 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Ag
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3764.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Stephanite

Type Locality:Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1845

Occurrences of Stephanite

Geological Setting:Late stage mineral in hydrothermal silver deposits.

Physical Properties of Stephanite

Lustre:Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Lead gray or black
Streak:Iron Black
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
[010] Imperfect, [021] Poor
Fracture:Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):6.26 g/cm3
Density (calculated):6.28 g/cm3

Crystallography of Stephanite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:Cmc21
Cell Parameters:a = 7.837(3) Å, b = 12.467(6) Å, c = 8.538(2) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.629 : 1 : 0.685
Unit Cell Volume:V 834.20 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals short prismatic to tabular
Twinning:On {110} Less common on {130}{100}{010}
Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Stephanite no.10 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Stephanite no.82 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

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

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3


Note: You will not be able to switch between different crystal models using the Opera 8.5x web browser due to a bug in Opera - you need to use either Firefox or Internet Explorer 6/7 or Opera 9.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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 Stephanite

Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong
Colour in reflected light:white-grey
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:white to pink-white

Chemical Properties of Stephanite

Formula:
Ag
 
5
SbS
 
4
Essential elements:Ag, S, Sb
All elements listed in formula:Ag, S, Sb
Common Impurities:As,Cu,Fe

Relationship of Stephanite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.GB.05Argentotennantite
(Ag,Cu)
 
10
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.05Freibergite
(Ag
 
4+2x
Cu
 
2-2x
)[(Cu, Ag)
 
4
(Fe, Zn)
 
2
]Sb
 
4
S
 
12
S
 
1-x
 (0 < x < 1)
2.GB.05Giraudite
(Cu,Zn,Ag)
 
12
(As,Sb)
 
4
(Se,S)
 
13
2.GB.05Goldfieldite
Cu
 
12
(Te,Sb,As)
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.05Hakite
(Cu,Hg,Ag)
 
12
Sb
 
4
(Se,S)
 
13
2.GB.05Tennantite
(Cu,Ag,Fe,Zn)
 
12
As
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.05Tetrahedrite
(Cu,Fe,Ag,Zn)
 
12
Sb
 
4
S
 
13
2.GB.10Selenostephanite
Ag
 
5
Sb(Se,S)
 
4
2.GB.15Pearceite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
2.GB.15Polybasite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(Sb,As)
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
2.GB.15UM2003-14
Ag
 
16
FeBiTe
 
3
S
 
8
2.GB.15Selenopolybasite
[(Ag,Cu)
 
6
(Sb,As)
 
2
(S,Se)
 
7
][Ag
 
9
Cu(S,Se)
 
2
Se
 
2
]
2.GB.15Cupropearceite
[Cu
 
6
As
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
2.GB.15Cupropolybasite
[Cu
 
6
Sb
 
2
S
 
7
][Ag
 
9
CuS
 
4
]
2.GB.15UM1979-17-S:BiCuFe
Cu
 
18
Fe
 
4
BiS
 
16
2.GB.20Galkhaite
(Cs,Tl)(Hg,Cu,Zn)
 
6
(As,Sb)
 
4
S
 
12
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
5.2.9Pyrargyrite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
5.2.10Pyrostilpnite
Ag
 
3
SbS
 
3
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 Stephanite

Synonyms:
Argento mineralisatum nigrumBlack SilverBrittle Silver OreGoldschmidtineMelane-glance
MelanglancePsaturoseRöschwächsSchwarzgülden (of Wallerius)
Other Languages:
French:Argent fragile
Argent noir
Argent sulfuré fragile
German:Antimonsilberglanz
Melanglanz
Prismatischer Melanglanz
Schwarzgültigerz
Schwarzsilberglanz
Sprödes Silberglanzerz (of Emmerling)
Stephanit
Tigererz
Italian:Stefanite
Latin:Argentum mineralisatum nigrum
Russian:Стефанит
Spanish:Estefanita
Plata agria
Rosicler negro
Stephanita
Swedish:Svartgylden

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.
Industrial Uses:Silver ore

References for Stephanite

Reference List:Murdoch, Joseph (1942), Crystallographic notes, cristobalite, stephanite, natrolite: American Mineralogist: 27: 500-506.

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: 358-360.

Ribar B., Nowacki W. (1970), Acta Crystallographica (1970), B26, 201.

Internet Links for Stephanite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Stephanite on Google
  • Look for Stephanite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Stephanite on Webmineral
  • Look for Stephanite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Stephanite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Stephanite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Stephanite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Stephanite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Search for Stephanite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Search for Stephanite on minvision.com
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Stephanite

    Show Locality List (451 Items)
    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    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.