Valentinite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Valentinite
Formula:
Sb2O3
Colour:
Colourless, white, light gray, light yellow
Lustre:
Adamantine, Pearly
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
5.76
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named after Basilius Valentinus (Basil Valentine) [1394 Mainz, Germany - 1450 "Germany?"], who wrote about the properties of antimony. Valentinus may have been a real 15th-century chemist but some historians argue that it was a pseudonym used by one or more 16th-century German authors.
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Valentinite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4135
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4135:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
f1f5417a-eabb-4d38-9428-de242096c945
Classification of Valentinite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
4.CB.55
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
B : With medium-sized cations
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
B : With medium-sized cations
4.3.11.1
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
7.13.4
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
13 : Oxides of As, Sb and Bi
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
13 : Oxides of As, Sb and Bi
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Vln | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Valentinite
Adamantine, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, white, light gray, light yellow
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {110}, imperfect on {010}
on {110}, imperfect on {010}
Density:
5.76 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.76 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Valentinite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 2.180 nβ = 2.350 nγ = 2.350
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.170
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Dispersion:
extreme
Chemical Properties of Valentinite
Crystallography of Valentinite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pccn
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.91 Å, b = 12.46 Å, c = 5.42 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.394 : 1 : 0.435
Unit Cell V:
331.59 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Commonly prismatic either [001] or [100]; also tabular {010}. Prism faces often rounded by striations parallel to [001], and the brachydomes are striated [100]. Fan-shaped or stellate aggregates, in bundles and druses and as aggregates of thin plates. Massive, with lamellar, columnar, or granular structure.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0000015 | Valentinite | Buerger M J (1936) The crystal structure of valentinite American Mineralogist 21 206-207 | 1936 | 0 | 293 | ||
0009500 | Valentinite | Svensson C (1974) The crystal structure of orthorhombic antimony trioxide, Sb2O3 Acta Crystallographica B30 458-461 | 1974 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
0010568 | Valentinite | Buerger M J, Hendricks S B (1938) The crystal structure of valentinite Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 98 1-30 | 1938 | 0 | 293 | ||
0012431 | Valentinite | Whitten A E, Dittrich B, Spackman M A, Turner P, Brown T C (2004) Charge density analysis of two polymorphs of antimony(III) oxide Dalton Transactions 2004 23-29 | 2004 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
4.571 Å | (18) |
3.494 Å | (25) |
3.174 Å | (20) |
3.142 Å | (100) |
3.118 Å | (75) |
2.650 Å | (14) |
1.8046 Å | (20) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] | |
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals | |
56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Valentinite
Synonyms of Valentinite
Other Language Names for Valentinite
Common Associates
Antimony | Sb |
Cervantite | Sb3+Sb5+O4 |
Kermesite | Sb2S2O |
Stibiconite | Sb3+Sb5+2O6(OH) |
Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
172 photos of Valentinite associated with Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
85 photos of Valentinite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
84 photos of Valentinite associated with Kermesite | Sb2S2O |
74 photos of Valentinite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
46 photos of Valentinite associated with Galena | PbS |
45 photos of Valentinite associated with Senarmontite | Sb2O3 |
41 photos of Valentinite associated with Stibiconite | Sb3+Sb5+2O6(OH) |
37 photos of Valentinite associated with Antimony | Sb |
21 photos of Valentinite associated with Sulphur | S8 |
14 photos of Valentinite associated with Metastibnite | Sb2S3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
4.CB. | Sassite | Ti3+2Ti4+O5 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
4.CB. | Ferrohögbomite-2N2S | [(Fe2+,Mg,Zn,Al)3(Al,Ti,Fe3+)8O15(OH)]2 | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
4.CB. | Magnesiohögbomite-6N12S | Mg5Al11TiO23(OH) | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
4.CB. | Griffinite | Al2TiO5 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
4.CB. | Zhenruite | (MoO3)2 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
4.CB. | Pengite | (Pb8Sb3+3)Σ11Sb5+9O35 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
4.CB. | Virgilluethite | MoO3 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
4.CB.05 | Brizziite | NaSb5+O3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.CB.05 | Corundum | Al2O3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
4.CB.05 | Ecandrewsite | (Zn,Fe2+,Mn2+)TiO3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.CB.05 | Eskolaite | Cr2O3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
4.CB.05 | Geikielite | MgTiO3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.CB.05 | Hematite | Fe2O3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
4.CB.05 | Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.CB.05 | Karelianite | V3+2O3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
4.CB.05 | Melanostibite | Mn2+2Fe3+Sb5+O6 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.CB.05 | Pyrophanite | Mn2+TiO3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.CB.05 | Akimotoite | (Mg,Fe2+)SiO3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.CB.05 | Auroantimonate | AuSbO3 | |
4.CB.05 | UM1998-11-O-AuHSb | Au+2Sb3+O2(OH) | |
4.CB.05 | Tistarite | Ti3+2O3 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c |
4.CB.05 | Unnamed (Fe-Cr Oxide) | FeCrO3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.CB.05 | Hemleyite | (Fe2+0.48Mg0.37Ca0.04Na0.04Mn2+0.03Al0.03Cr3+0.01)sum=1.00Si1.00O3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.CB.10 | Avicennite | Tl2O3 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Ia3 |
4.CB.10 | Bixbyite-(Mn) | Mn3+2O3 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Ia3 |
4.CB.10 | Bixbyite-(Fe) | (Fe,Mn)2O3 | Iso. |
4.CB.15 | Armalcolite | (Mg,Fe2+)Ti2O5 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
4.CB.15 | Pseudobrookite | Fe2TiO5 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
4.CB.15 | Ferropseudobrookite | Fe2+Ti2O5 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
4.CB.20 | Zincohögbomite-2N2S | [(Zn,Al,Fe2+)3(Al,Fe3+,Ti)8O15(OH)]2 | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
4.CB.20 | Zincohögbomite-2N6S | [(Zn,Mg)7(Al,Fe3+,Ti)16O31(OH)]2 | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
4.CB.20 | Magnesiohögbomite-6N6S | [(Mg,Fe2+)3(Al,Ti,Fe3+)8O15(OH)]6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
4.CB.20 | Magnesiohögbomite-2N3S | [(Mg,Fe2+,Zn)4(Al,Ti,Fe3+)10O19(OH)]2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1m |
4.CB.20 | Magnesiohögbomite-2N2S | [(Mg,Fe2+)3[Al7(Ti,Fe3+)]O15(OH)]2 | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
4.CB.20 | Ferrohögbomite-6N12S | [(Fe2+,Mg,Zn)5(Al,Ti,Fe3+)12O23(OH)]6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
4.CB.20 | Magnesiohögbomite-2N4S | (Mg8.43Fe2+1.57)sum=10Al22Ti4+2O46(OH)2 | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
4.CB.20 | Magnesiobeltrandoite-2N3S | (Mg6Al2)(Al18Fe3+2)O38(OH)2 | Trig. 3m : P3m1 |
4.CB.20 | Zincovelesite-6N6S | Zn3(Fe3+,Mn3+,Al,Ti)8O15(OH) | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
4.CB.25 | Pseudorutile | Fe2Ti3O9 | Hex. 6 2 2 : P63 2 2 |
4.CB.25 | Kleberite | FeTi6O11(OH)5 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
4.CB.30 | Berdesinskiite | V3+2TiO5 | Mon. |
4.CB.30 | Oxyvanite | V3+2V4+O5 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
4.CB.30 | Kaitianite | Ti3+2Ti4+O5 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
4.CB.35 | Olkhonskite | (Cr,V)2Ti3O9 | Mon. |
4.CB.35 | Schreyerite | V3+2Ti3O9 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
4.CB.35 | Machiite | Al2Ti3O9 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
4.CB.35 | Vestaite | (Ti4+Fe2+)Ti4+3O9 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
4.CB.40 | Kamiokite | Fe2Mo3O8 | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
4.CB.40 | Nolanite | V3+8Fe3+2O14(OH)2 | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
4.CB.40 | Rinmanite | Zn2Sb2Mg2Fe4O14(OH)2 | Hex. 6 : P63 |
4.CB.40 | Iseite | Mn2Mo3O8 | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
4.CB.40 | Majindeite | Mg2Mo3O8 | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
4.CB.45 | Claudetite | As2O3 | Mon. 2/m |
4.CB.45 | Stibioclaudetite | AsSbO3 | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
4.CB.50 | Arsenolite | As2O3 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
4.CB.50 | Senarmontite | Sb2O3 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
4.CB.60 | Bismite | Bi2O3 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
4.CB.65 | Sphaerobismoite | Bi2O3 | Tet. |
4.CB.70 | Sillénite | Bi12SiO20 | Iso. 2 3 : I2 3 |
4.CB.75 | Kyzylkumite | V3+Ti2O5(OH) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
4.CB.80 | Tietaiyangite | Fe3+4Fe2+TiO9 | Hex. |
4.CB.85 | Liuite | FeTiO3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
4.CB.90 | Luogufengite | Fe2O3 | Orth. mm2 : Pna21 |
4.CB.95 | Wangdaodeite | FeTiO3 | Trig. 3m : R3c |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Heated in a closed tube, it fuses and partially sublimates. Before the blowpipe, on charcoal, it fuses easily and gives a white coating.
Notes:
Soluble in HCl.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Valentinite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4135.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Valentinite
Reference List:
Localities for Valentinite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Quick NavTopAbout ValentiniteUnique IdentifiersClassification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemical Properties Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Nador N'Bails Mine, Djebel Nador, Hammam N'Bails District, Guelma Province, Algeria