Argentite Mineral Data

Argentite Mineral Data +

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General Argentite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ag2S

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 247.80 gm

Silver 87.06 % Ag

Sulfur 12.94 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Ag₂S

Environment:

Low temperature ore veins.

IMA Status:

Not Approved IMA

Locality:

Mexico, Saxony, Great Britain and Kongsberg, Norway are notable localities. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

After the Latin, argentum, meaning "silver". From the Greek, akanta, meaning "arrow." Argentite is stable above 179 C. Acanthite is stable below 179 C.

Synonym:

ICSD 9586

PDF 4-774

Silver Glance

Argentite Image

Images:

Argentite Acanthite

Comments: Dark metallic acanthite crystals up to 3 mm. Most of the crystals are a cubic habit, so the acanthite is pseudomorphing the original argentite.
Location: San Juan de Rayas Mine (Rayas Mine), Guanajuato, Mun. de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. Scale: 18x12x12 mm.
© John Betts - Fine Minerals

Argentite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 4.89, Z = 2; V = 116.93 Den(Calc)= 7.04

Crystal System:

Isometric - HexoctahedralH-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: I m3m

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By Intensity(I/I_o): 1.819(1), 2.24(1), 3.17(1),

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Physical Properties of Argentite

Cleavage:

[001] Poor, [110] Poor

Color:

Black, Lead gray.

Density:

7.2 - 7.4, Average = 7.3

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Fracture:

Sectile - Curved shavings or scrapings produced by a knife blade, (e.g. graphite).

Habit:

Arborescent - "Tree like" growths of branched systems (e.g. silver).

Habit:

Blocky - Crystal shape tends to be equant (e.g. feldspars).

Habit:

Skeletal - Crystals form crude outlines with missing faces.

Hardness:

2-2.5 - Gypsum-Finger Nail

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Metallic

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

black

Calculated Properties of Argentite

Electron Density:

r_electron=6.25 gm/cc
note: r_Argentite=7.04 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00097
Boson Index = 0.99903

Photoelectric:

PE_Argentite= 224.26 barns/electron
U=PE_Argentite x r_electron=1,401.66 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Argentite is Not Radioactive

Argentite Classification

Dana Class:

2.0.0.0 (2)Sulfide Minerals

(2.0)Without Dana Classification Numbers

(Chalcocite Group)

Strunz Class:

II/B.05-02 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

II/B - Sulfides with metal: sulfur, selenium and tellurium > 1:1, Sulfides, Selenides and Tellurides with predominant Copper and Silver/Gold

II/B.05 - Achantite - Empresite series

II/B.05-02 Argentite Ag2S I m3m 4/m 3 2/m

II/B.05-10 Acanthite Ag2S P 2₁/n 2/m

II/B.05-30 Naumannite Ag2Se P 2₁2₁2₁ 2 2 2

II/B.05-35 Kurilite* (Ag,Au)2(Te,Se,S) P m3n,P 4₃n Cubic

II/B.05-40 Hessite Ag2Te P 2₁/c 2/m

II/B.05-50 Aguilarite Ag4SeS P 2₁2₁2₁ 2 2 2

II/B.05-60 Cervelleite Ag4TeS Unk Cubic

II/B.05-70 Benleonardite Ag8(Sb,As)Te2S3 Tetra Tetra

II/B.05-75 Tsnigriite Ag9SbTe3(S,Se)3 P 2/m,Pm Mono

II/B.05-80 Stutzite Ag5-xTe3,(x=0.24-0.36) P 6/mmm 6/m 2/m 2/m

II/B.05-90 Empressite AgTe Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

Other Argentite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

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Argentite

Ag2S
Dana No: Unknown Strunz No: II/B.05-02
Locality:

Notes: