Stibnite
| Stibnite | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | |
| Category | Sulfide mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Sb2S3 |
| IMA symbol | Sbn[1] |
| Strunz classification | 2.DB.05a |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Crystal class | Dipyramidal (mmm) H-M symbol:(2/m 2/m 2/m) |
| Space group | Pbnm |
| Unit cell | a = 11.229Å,b = 11.31 Å, c = 3.8389 Å; Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Lead-gray, tarnishing blackish or iridescent; in polished section, white |
| Crystal habit | Massive, radiating and elongated crystals. Massive and granular |
| Twinning | Rare |
| Cleavage | Perfect and easy on {010}; imperfect on {100} and {110} |
| Fracture | Subconchoidal |
| Tenacity | Highly flexible but not elastic; slightlysectile |
| Mohs scalehardness | 2 |
| Luster | Metallic[2] |
| Streak | Lead grey |
| Diaphaneity | Opaque |
| Specific gravity | 4.63 |
| Optical properties | Anisotropic |
| Solubility | Decomposed withhydrochloric acid |
| References | [3][4][5] |
| Major varieties | |
| Metastibnite | Earthy, reddish deposits |
Stibnite,sometimes calledantimonite,is asulfide mineralwith theformulaSb2S3.This soft grey material crystallizes in anorthorhombicspace group.[6]It is the most important source for themetalloidantimony.[7]The name is derived from the Greekστίβιstibithrough the Latinstibiumas the former name for the mineral and the element antimony.[3][4]
Structure
[edit]Stibnite has a structure similar to that of arsenic trisulfide,As2S3.The Sb(III) centers, which are pyramidal and three-coordinate, are linked via bent two-coordinate sulfide ions. However, some studies suggest that the actual coordination polyhedra of antimony are SbS7,with (3+4) coordination at the M1 site and (5+2) at the M2 site. Some of the secondary bonds impart cohesion and are connected with packing.[8]Stibnite is grey when fresh, but can turn superficially black due to oxidation in air.
Properties
[edit]The melting point of Sb2S3is 823 K (550 °C; 1,022 °F).[9]The band gap is 1.88 eV at room temperature and it is a photoconductor.[10]Stibnite is also toxic upon ingestion, with symptoms similar to those ofarsenic poisoning.[11]
Uses
[edit]
Pastes of Sb2S3powder in fat[12]or in other materials have been used since c. 3000 BC as eye cosmetics in the Mediterranean and farther afield; in this use, Sb2S3is calledkohl.It was used to darken the brows and lashes, or to draw alinearound the perimeter of the eye.[13]
Antimony trisulfidefinds use inpyrotechnic compositions,namely in the glitter and fountain mixtures. Needle-like crystals, "Chinese needles", are used in glitter compositions and whitepyrotechnic stars.The "dark pyro" version is used inflash powdersto increase their sensitivity and sharpen their report. It is also a component of modernsafety matches.It was formerly used inflashcompositions, but its use was abandoned due to toxicity and sensitivity tostatic electricity.[14]
Stibnite was used ever since protodynasticancient Egyptas a medication and a cosmetic.[13]TheSunan Abi Dawoodreports, “prophet Muhammad said: 'Among the best types ofcollyriumis antimony (ithmid) for it clears the vision and makes the hair sprout.'"[15]
The 17th century alchemistEirenaeus Philalethes,also known as George Starkey, describes stibnite in his alchemical commentaryAn Exposition upon Sir George Ripley's Epistle.Starkey used stibnite as a precursor to philosophical mercury, which was itself a hypothetical precursor to thephilosopher's stone.[16]
Occurrence
[edit]Stibnite occurs inhydrothermaldeposits and is associated withrealgar,orpiment,cinnabar,galena,pyrite,marcasite,arsenopyrite,cervantite,stibiconite,calcite,ankerite,bariteandchalcedony.[3]
Small deposits of stibnite are common, but large deposits are rare. The world's largest deposit of antimony, theXikuangshan mine,yields high quality crystals inparagenesiswithcalcite.It occurs inCanada,Mexico,Peru,Japan,Germany,Romania,Italy,France,England,Algeria,andKalimantan,Borneo.In theUnited Statesit is found inArkansas,Idaho,Nevada,California,andAlaska.
Historically, theRomansused stibnite mined inDaciato make colourless glass, the making of which ended when this province was lost to the Roman Empire.[17]
As of May 2007, the largest specimen on public display (1000 pounds) is at theAmerican Museum of Natural History.[18][19]The largest documented single crystals of stibnite measured ~60×5×5 cm and originated from different locations including Japan, France and Germany.[20]
-
Stibnite from Herja mine, Romania -
Needles of stibnite within a transparent crystal of calcite (size: 4.5×3.5×1.8 cm) -
Ray of sharp, striated, iridescent metallic stibnite blades -
Structure of stibnite -
Antimonite crystals (longest crystal: 7 cm) intergrown withcalcite(length: 3 cm) fromXikuangshan Mine
See also
[edit]- List of minerals
- Stibnides,compounds of antimony
References
[edit]- ^Warr, L.N. (2021)."IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols".Mineralogical Magazine.85(3): 291–320.Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W.doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43.S2CID235729616.
- ^"Stibnite | Antimony, Sulfide, Ore | Britannica".
- ^abcAnthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C. (2005)."Stibnite"(PDF).Handbook of Mineralogy.Mineral Data Publishing.Retrieved19 July2022.
- ^abStibnite,Mindat.org,retrieved19 July2022
- ^Barthelmy, David (2014)."Stibnite Mineral Data".Webmineral.com.Retrieved27 June2022.
- ^"Circular".United States National Bureau of Standards.1–6(539). U.S. Government Printing Office: 6. 1953.
- ^Sabina C. Grund, K. Hanusch, H. J. Breunig, H. U. Wolf, "Antimony and Antimony Compounds" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2006, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim.doi:10.1002/14356007.a03_055.pub2
- ^Kyono A (2002). "Low-temperature crystal structures of stibnite implying orbital overlap of Sb 5s 2 inert pair electrons".Physics and Chemistry of Minerals.29(4): 254–260.Bibcode:2002PCM....29..254K.doi:10.1007/s00269-001-0227-1.S2CID95067785.
- ^Mills, K. C. (1974).Thermodynamic data for inorganic sulphides, selenides and tellurides.London: Butterworths.ISBN040870537X.OCLC1031663.
- ^Madelung, O. (Otfried) (2004).Semiconductors: data handbook(3rd ed.). Berlin: Springer.ISBN3540404880.OCLC56192440.
- ^"Minerals: Sparkling, sensitive and toxic".
- ^Priesner, Claus; Figala, Karin, eds. (1998).Alchemie. Lexikon einer hermetischen Wissenschaft(in German). München: C. H. Beck.ISBN978-3-406-44106-6.
- ^ab"Ancient Egyptian make-up".Pitt Rivers Museum.Retrieved5 July2023.
- ^*Pyrotechnic Chemical Guide ".PyroUniverse.com.Retrieved on 2011-10-14.
- ^Sunan Abu-Dawud.Book 32, Number 4050.Translated by Ahmad Hasan.
- ^Newman, William R. (1996)."Decknamen or pseudochemical language? Eirenaeus Philalethes and Carl Jung".Revue d'histoire des sciences.49(2–3): 159–188.doi:10.3406/rhs.1996.1254.PMID11618553.
- ^Degryse, P.; Gonzalez, S.N.; Vanhaecke, F.; Dillis, S.; Van Ham-Meert, A. (2024). "The rise and fall of antimony: Sourcing the" colourless "in Roman glass".Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.53:104344.Bibcode:2024JArSR..53j4344D.doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.104344.
- ^"American Museum of Natural History, Spectacular Stibnite".American Museum of Natural History.Retrieved2007-05-27.
- ^"Chinese stibnite crystal on display in US".Retrieved2009-06-06.
- ^P. C. Rickwood (1981)."The largest crystals"(PDF).American Mineralogist.66:885–907.
External links
[edit]
- Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)..Encyclopædia Britannica(11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
