Pyrargyrite
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Formula:
Ag3SbS3
System:
Trigonal
Colour:
Deep red or red gray
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
2½
Name:
From the Greek, pyr and argyros, "fire-silver" in allusion to its color and silver content.
Dimorph of:
Proustite Group.
Proustite-Pyrargyrite Series.
Trigonal dimorph of Pyrostilpnite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Pyrargyrite.
Proustite-Pyrargyrite Series.
Trigonal dimorph of Pyrostilpnite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Pyrargyrite.
Classification of Pyrargyrite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
2/E.07-20
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
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
3.4.1.2
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
3 : SULFOSALTS
4 : ø = 3
5.2.9
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
2 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Ag
5 : Sulphosalts - Sulpharsenites and Sulphobismuthites (those containing Sn, Ge,or V are in Section 6)
2 : Sulpharsenites etc. of Ag
Physical Properties of Pyrargyrite
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}
Distinct on {1011} very imperfect on {0112}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
5.82 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.855 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Pyrargyrite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 3.084 nε = 2.881
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.203
Image 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:
Ag3SbS3
Elements listed in formula:
Common Impurities:
As
Crystallography of Pyrargyrite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
R3c
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.047 Å, c = 8.719 Å
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}
Crystallographic forms of Pyrargyrite
Crystal Atlas:
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Pyrargyrite no.8 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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Edge Lines | Miller Indicies | Axes
Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent
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Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation
Toggle
Edge Lines | Miller Indicies | Axes
Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent
View
Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Occurrences of Pyrargyrite
Relationship of Pyrargyrite to other Species
Structurally related to group(s):
| 2.GA.05 | Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 2.GA.10 | Pyrostilpnite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.10 | Xanthoconite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 2.GA.15 | Samsonite | Ag4MnSb2S6 |
| 2.GA.20 | Skinnerite | Cu3SbS3 |
| 2.GA.20 | Wittichenite | Cu3BiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Lapieite | NiCuSbS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Mückeite | NiCu(Bi,Sb)S3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Malyshevite | PdCuBiS3 |
| 2.GA.25 | Lisiguangite | PtCuBiS3 |
| 2.GA.30 | Aktashite | Cu6Hg3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Gruzdevite | Cu6Hg3Sb4S12 |
| 2.GA.30 | Nowackiite | Cu6Zn3As4S12 |
| 2.GA.35 | Laffittite | AgHgAsS3 |
| 2.GA.40 | Routhierite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Hg,Zn)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA.40 | Stalderite | Tl(Cu,Ag)(Zn,Fe,Hg)2(As,Sb)2S6 |
| 2.GA.45 | Erniggliite | Tl2SnAs2S6 |
| 2.GA.50 | Bournonite | PbCuSbS3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Seligmannite | PbCuAsS3 |
| 2.GA.50 | Součekite | PbCuBi(S,Se)3 |
| 5.2.1 | Smithite | AgAsS2 |
| 5.2.2 | Trechmannite | AgAsS2 |
| 5.2.3 | Proustite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 5.2.4 | Xanthoconite | Ag3AsS3 |
| 5.2.5 | Pearceite | [Ag9CuS4][(Ag,Cu)6(As,Sb)2S7] |
| 5.2.6 | Pearceite-T2ac | |
| 5.2.7 | Argentotennantite | Ag6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]As4S13 |
| 5.2.8 | Miargyrite | AgSbS2 |
| 5.2.10 | Pyrostilpnite | Ag3SbS3 |
| 5.2.11 | Stephanite | Ag5SbS4 |
| 5.2.12 | Polybasite | [(Ag,Cu)6(Sb,As)2S7][Ag9CuS4] |
| 5.2.13 | Billingsleyite | Ag7AsS6 |
| 5.2.14 | Polybasite-Tac | |
| 5.2.15 | Freibergite | Ag6[Cu4Fe2]Sb4S13-x |
| 5.2.16 | Aramayoite | Ag3Sb2(Bi,Sb)S6 |
| 5.2.17 | Matildite | AgBiS2 |
| 5.2.18 | Schapbachite | Ag0.4Pb0.2Bi0.4S |
| 5.2.19 | Pavonite | AgBi3S5 |
| 5.2.20 | Arcubisite | Ag6CuBiS4 |
| 5.2.21 | Bohdanowiczite | AgBiSe2 |
| 5.2.22 | Selenostephanite | Ag5Sb(Se,S)4 |
| 5.2.23 | Benleonardite | [Ag6(Sb,As)2S6Te] [Ag9Cu(S,Te)2Te2] |
| 5.2.24 | Volynskite | AgBiTe2 |
Other Names for Pyrargyrite
Name in Other Languages:
Other Information
Health Risks:
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.
Laufek, F.; Sejkora, J.; Dušek, M. (2010) The role of silver in the crystal structure of pyrargyrite: single crystal X-ray diffraction study. Journal of Geosciences, 55, 161-167.
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.
Laufek, F.; Sejkora, J.; Dušek, M. (2010) The role of silver in the crystal structure of pyrargyrite: single crystal X-ray diffraction study. Journal of Geosciences, 55, 161-167.
Internet Links for Pyrargyrite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3313.html
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Specimens:
The following Pyrargyrite specimens are currently listed for sale on minfind.com.
St Andreasberg, St Andreasberg District, Harz, Lower Saxony, Germany