Valentinite
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Basil Valentine
Formula:
Sb2O3
System:
Orthorhombic
Colour:
Colourless, white, light ...
Lustre:
Adamantine, Pearly
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Name:
Named after Basilius Valentinus (Basil Valentine), 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.
This page provides mineralogical data about Valentinite.
Classification of Valentinite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
4/C.01-20
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
Physical Properties of Valentinite
Adamantine, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, white, light gray, light yellow
Streak:
White
Hardness (Mohs):
2½ - 3
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.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Dispersion:
extreme
Chemical Properties of Valentinite
Formula:
Sb2O3
Elements listed in formula:
Common Impurities:
As
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 Volume:
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.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.571 | (18) |
| 3.494 | (25) |
| 3.174 | (20) |
| 3.142 | (100) |
| 3.118 | (75) |
| 2.650 | (14) |
| 1.8046 | (20) |
Type Occurrence of Valentinite
Relationship of Valentinite to other Species
Common Associates:
| 4.CB.05 | Brizziite | NaSbO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Corundum | Al2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Ecandrewsite | ZnTiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Eskolaite | Cr2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Geikielite | MgTiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Ilmenite | Fe2+Ti4+O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Karelianite | V2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Melanostibite | Mn2+(Sb5+,Fe3+)O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Pyrophanite | Mn2+TiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Akimotoite | MgSiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Auroantimonate | AuSbO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | UM1998-11-O-AuHSb | Au2+Sb3+O2(OH) |
| 4.CB.05 | Tistarite | Ti2O3 |
| 4.CB.10 | Avicennite | Tl2O3 |
| 4.CB.10 | Bixbyite | Mn23+O3 |
| 4.CB.15 | Armalcolite | (Mg,Fe2+)Ti2O5 |
| 4.CB.15 | Pseudobrookite | Fe23+TiO5 |
| 4.CB.20 | Zincohögbomite-2N2S | (Zn,Al,Fe)3(Al,Fe,Ti)8O15(OH) |
| 4.CB.20 | Zincohögbomite-2N6S | (Zn,Al)7(Al,Fe3+,Ti,Mg)16O31(OH) |
| 4.CB.20 | Magnesiohögbomite-6N6S | (Mg,Al,Fe)3(Al,Ti)8O15(OH) |
| 4.CB.20 | Magnesiohögbomite-2N3S | (Mg,Fe,Zn,Ti)4(Al,Fe)10O19(OH) |
| 4.CB.20 | Magnesiohögbomite-2N2S | (Al,Mg,Fe,Ti)22(O,OH)32 |
| 4.CB.20 | Ferrohögbomite-6N12S | [(Fe2+,Mg,Zn)5(Al,Ti,Fe3+)12O23(OH)]6 |
| 4.CB.25 | Pseudorutile | Fe23+Ti34+O9 |
| 4.CB.25 | Kleberite | FeTi6O11(OH)5 |
| 4.CB.30 | Berdesinskiite | V23+TiO5 |
| 4.CB.30 | Oxyvanite | V3O5 |
| 4.CB.35 | Olkhonskite | Cr2Ti3O9 |
| 4.CB.35 | Schreyerite | V23+Ti34+O9 |
| 4.CB.40 | Kamiokite | Fe22+Mo34+O8 |
| 4.CB.40 | Nolanite | (V3+,Fe3+,Fe2+,Ti)10O14(OH)2 |
| 4.CB.40 | Rinmanite | Mg2Fe4Zn2Sb2O14(OH)2 |
| 4.CB.40 | Iseite | Mn2Mo3O8 |
| 4.CB.40 | Majindeite | Mg2Mo3O8 |
| 4.CB.45 | Claudetite | As2O3 |
| 4.CB.45 | Stibioclaudetite | AsSbO3 |
| 4.CB.50 | Arsenolite | As2O3 |
| 4.CB.50 | Senarmontite | Sb2O3 |
| 4.CB.60 | Bismite | Bi2O3 |
| 4.CB.65 | Sphaerobismoite | Bi2O3 |
| 4.CB.70 | Sillénite | Bi12SiO20 |
| 4.CB.75 | Kyzylkumite | Ti2V3+O5(OH) |
| 4.CB.80 | Tietaiyangite | Fe43+Fe2+TiO9 |
| 7.13.1 | Arsenolite | As2O3 |
| 7.13.2 | Claudetite | As2O3 |
| 7.13.3 | Senarmontite | Sb2O3 |
| 7.13.5 | Cervantite | Sb3+Sb5+O4 |
| 7.13.6 | Stibiconite | (Sb,O,OH) ? |
| 7.13.7 | Bahianite | Al5Sb35+O14(OH)2 |
| 7.13.8 | Cualstibite-1M | (Cu,Al)3(OH)6[Sb5+(OH)6] |
| 7.13.9 | Bismutostibiconite | Bi(Sb5+,Fe3+)2O7 |
| 7.13.107.13.11 | Stibivanite | Sb23+V4+O5 |
| 7.13.12 | Bismite | Bi2O3 |
| 7.13.13 | Sillénite | Bi12SiO20 |
Other Names for Valentinite
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 Valentinite
Reference List:
Klaproth, M.H. (1802) Chemische Untersuchung des Weiß-Spießglanzerzes, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Dritter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 183-186.
Haidinger, W. (1845) Zweite Klasse: Geogenide. II. Ordnung. Baryte VIII. Antimonbaryt. Valentinit. in Handbuch der Bestimmenden Mineralogie, Bei Braumüller and Seidel (Wien): 499-506.
Brezina (1886), Ann Mus. Wien: 1: 145.
Buerger, M.J., Hendricks, S.B. (1938) The crystal structure of valentinite (orthorhombic Sb2O3). Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 98: 1-30.
Schaller, W.T. (1937) Crystallography of valentinite (Sb2O3) and andorite (?) (2PbS - Ag2S - 3Sb2S3) from Oregon. American Mineralogist: 22: 651.
Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (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: 547-550.
Mason, B., Vitaliano, C.J. (1952) The mineralogy of the antimony oxides and antimonates. Mineralogical Magazine: 30: 100-112.
Svensson, C. (1974) The crystal structure of orthorhombic antimony trioxide, Sb2O3. Acta Crystallographica: B30: 458-461.
International Mineralogical Association (1980) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on new minerals and mineral names. Mineralogical Magazine: 43: 1053-1055.
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.
Haidinger, W. (1845) Zweite Klasse: Geogenide. II. Ordnung. Baryte VIII. Antimonbaryt. Valentinit. in Handbuch der Bestimmenden Mineralogie, Bei Braumüller and Seidel (Wien): 499-506.
Brezina (1886), Ann Mus. Wien: 1: 145.
Buerger, M.J., Hendricks, S.B. (1938) The crystal structure of valentinite (orthorhombic Sb2O3). Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 98: 1-30.
Schaller, W.T. (1937) Crystallography of valentinite (Sb2O3) and andorite (?) (2PbS - Ag2S - 3Sb2S3) from Oregon. American Mineralogist: 22: 651.
Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (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: 547-550.
Mason, B., Vitaliano, C.J. (1952) The mineralogy of the antimony oxides and antimonates. Mineralogical Magazine: 30: 100-112.
Svensson, C. (1974) The crystal structure of orthorhombic antimony trioxide, Sb2O3. Acta Crystallographica: B30: 458-461.
International Mineralogical Association (1980) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on new minerals and mineral names. Mineralogical Magazine: 43: 1053-1055.
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.
Internet Links for Valentinite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4135.html
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The following Valentinite specimens are currently listed for sale on minfind.com.
Nador n'Bails Mine, Djebel Nador, Guelma, Constantine Province, Algeria