Stibnite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored by Ruggy Holloway
About Stibnite
Formula:
Sb2S3
Colour:
Lead-gray with pale blue tint
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
4.63
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Renamed in 1832 by François Sulpice Beudant. According to Dioscorides, the original Greek names for the mineral were Στιβι "stibi", Στιμμι "stimmi", and Πλατνόπθαλμου "platnopthalmos". The former name became the Latin "stibium" and the old name for the element antimony (Sb). Named spiessglas in 1430 by Basil Valentine, who showed the mineral contained sulphur. Also known as antimony glance, antimonite, and stibine.
Dimorph of:
Bismuthinite-Stibnite Series. Possibly also polymorphous with UM1996-35-S:Sb.
The most common antimony sulphide. An important Sb ore mineral.
The most common antimony sulphide. An important Sb ore mineral.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3782
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3782:8
Similar Names
| Stibianite | A synonym of Stibiconite |
IMA Classification of Stibnite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Sb3+2S2-3
Classification of Stibnite
2.DB.05
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
B : M:S = 2:3
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
D : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 3 :4 and 2:3
B : M:S = 2:3
2.11.2.1
2 : SULFIDES
11 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:3
2 : SULFIDES
11 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:3
3.7.14
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, 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.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Sbn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Sbn | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Stibnite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Lead-gray with pale blue tint
Streak:
Lead grey
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=71 - 86 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Comment:
VHN on (010) section
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {010}, imperfect on {100}{110}
Perfect on {010}, imperfect on {100}{110}
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
4.63 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.625 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Stibnite
Anisotropism:
Strong
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 31.1% | 53.3% |
| 420nm | 30.8% | 53.2% |
| 440nm | 30.6% | 53.0% |
| 460nm | 30.7% | 52.8% |
| 480nm | 31.0% | 52.2% |
| 500nm | 31.2% | 51.1% |
| 520nm | 31.4% | 49.7% |
| 540nm | 31.2% | 48.5% |
| 560nm | 30.8% | 47.2% |
| 580nm | 30.3% | 45.8% |
| 600nm | 29.7% | 44.5% |
| 620nm | 29.3% | 43.5% |
| 640nm | 29.2% | 42.6% |
| 660nm | 29.4% | 41.8% |
| 680nm | 29.6% | 41.1% |
| 700nm | 29.4% | 40.3% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 53.3%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
white
Chemistry of Stibnite
Mindat Formula:
Sb2S3
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Stibnite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.234(3) Å, b = 11.314(2) Å, c = 3.837(2) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.993 : 1 : 0.339
Unit Cell V:
487.69 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Slender to stout crystals
Twinning:
Rare {130}{120}{310}
Comment:
Space Group: P bnm.
Crystallographic forms of Stibnite
Crystal Atlas:
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Stibnite no.9 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Stibnite no.10 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Stibnite no.12 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Stibnite no.31 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Stibnite no.55 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Stibnite no.110 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Stibnite no.115 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010587 | Stibnite | Scavnicar S (1960) The crystal structure of stibnite. A redetermination of atomic positions Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 114 85-97 |  | 1960 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0008966 | Stibnite | Caracas R, Gonze X (2005) First-principles study of the electronic properties of A2B3 minerals, with A=Bi,Sb and B=S,Se Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 32 295-300 | 2005 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0003557 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-940 | | 2004 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0003556 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-940 | | 2004 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0003555 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-940 | | 2004 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0003554 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-940 | | 2004 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0003553 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 American Mineralogist 89 932-940 | | 2004 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0003552 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 Sample #4 American Mineralogist 89 932-940 | | 2004 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0003551 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 Sample #3 American Mineralogist 89 932-940 | | 2004 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0003550 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 Sample #2 American Mineralogist 89 932-940 | | 2004 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0003549 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3 Sample #1 American Mineralogist 89 932-940 | | 2004 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0008825 | Stibnite | Lundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-468 | 2003 | 0.0001 | 293 | ||
| 0008636 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M, Matsuhisa M, Miyashita Y, Okamoto K (2002) Low-temperature crystal structures of stibnite implying orbital overlap of Sb 5s2 inert pair electrons Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 254-260 | 2002 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0008635 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M, Matsuhisa M, Miyashita Y, Okamoto K (2002) Low-temperature crystal structures of stibnite implying orbital overlap of Sb 5s2 inert pair electrons Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 254-260 | 2002 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0008634 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M, Matsuhisa M, Miyashita Y, Okamoto K (2002) Low-temperature crystal structures of stibnite implying orbital overlap of Sb 5s2 inert pair electrons Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 254-260 | 2002 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0008633 | Stibnite | Kyono A, Kimata M, Matsuhisa M, Miyashita Y, Okamoto K (2002) Low-temperature crystal structures of stibnite implying orbital overlap of Sb 5s2 inert pair electrons Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29 254-260 | 2002 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0010729 | Stibnite | Bayliss P, Nowacki W (1972) Refinement of the crystal structure of stibnite, Sb2S3 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 135 308-315 | | 1972 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0010513 | Stibnite | Hofmann W (1933) Die struktur der minerale der animonitgruppe Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 86 225-245 | | 1933 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0008826 | Stibnite | Lundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-468 | 2003 | 1.115 | 293 | ||
| 0008827 | Stibnite | Lundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-468 | 2003 | 1.591 | 293 | ||
| 0008828 | Stibnite | Lundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-468 | 2003 | 2.118 | 293 | ||
| 0008829 | Stibnite | Lundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-468 | 2003 | 3.235 | 293 | ||
| 0008830 | Stibnite | Lundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-468 | 2003 | 7.406 | 293 | ||
| 0008831 | Stibnite | Lundegaard L F, Miletich R, Balic-Zunic T, Makovicky E (2003) Equation of state and crystal structure of Sb2S3 between 0 and 10 GPa Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 30 463-468 | 2003 | 7.832 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.052 Å | (55) |
| 3.573 Å | (65) |
| 3.556 Å | (70) |
| 3.053 Å | (95) |
| 2.764 Å | (100) |
| 2.680 Å | (50) |
| 2.525 Å | (45) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) |
Synonyms of Stibnite
Other Language Names for Stibnite
Varieties of Stibnite
Relationship of Stibnite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Stibnite Group:
| Antimonselite | Sb2Se3 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Bismuthinite | Bi2S3 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Guanajuatite | Bi2Se3 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1,373 photos of Stibnite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 1,195 photos of Stibnite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 702 photos of Stibnite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 290 photos of Stibnite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 281 photos of Stibnite associated with Stibiconite | Sb3+Sb5+2O6(OH) |
| 234 photos of Stibnite associated with Siderite | FeCO3 |
| 216 photos of Stibnite associated with Valentinite | Sb2O3 |
| 191 photos of Stibnite associated with Realgar | As4S4 |
| 176 photos of Stibnite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 165 photos of Stibnite associated with Marcasite | FeS2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.DB. | Stangersite | SnGeS3 |
| 2.DB.05 | Antimonselite | Sb2Se3 |
| 2.DB.05 | Metastibnite | Sb2S3 |
| 2.DB.05 | Pääkkönenite | Sb2AsS2 |
| 2.DB.05 | Bismuthinite | Bi2S3 |
| 2.DB.05 | Guanajuatite | Bi2Se3 |
| 2.DB.10 | Suredaite | PbSnS3 |
| 2.DB.10 | Ottemannite | Sn2S3 |
| 2.DB.15 | Kashinite | Ir2S3 |
| 2.DB.15 | Bowieite | Rh2S3 |
| 2.DB.20 | Montbrayite | (Au,Ag,Sb,Bi,Pb)23(Te,Sb,Bi,Pb)38 |
| 2.DB.25 | Edgarite | FeNb3S6 |
| 2.DB.30 | Tarkianite | (Cu,Fe)(Re,Mo)4S8 |
| 2.DB.35 | Cameronite | Cu5-x(Cu,Ag)3+xTe10 (x = 0.43) |
| 2.DB.40 | 'Schreibersite (of Shephard)' | Cr2S3 |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Melts at 546°C. Fuses very easily, at 1, coloring the flame greenish blue. Heated in an open tube gives sulphurous and antimonial fumes. The latter condenses as a white sublimate.
Notes:
Soluble in HCl. Decomposed in nitric acid, with separation of antimony pentoxide.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Stibnite is a very soft delicate mineral and should be kept in a container with a very soft cushion like cotton and not allowed to rub up against the sides of the box. Stibnite is a bit like graphite in that it will leave a streak when rubbed against paper. Over a period of many years, brilliant surfaces of freshly mined stibnite will become less shiny.
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 Stibnite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3782.html
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References for Stibnite
Reference List:
Beudant, François-Sulpice (1830) Traité élémentaire de minéralogie. Deuxiéme Edition [Elementary Treatise on Mineralogy. Second Edition] (2nd ed.) Vol. 1 - Tome Premier [Volume One]. Chez Verdière. pp.421-424
Hutchinson, A. (1903) On the diathermancy of Antimonite. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 13 (62) 342-347 doi:10.1180/minmag.1903.013.62.09
Hutchinson, A. (1907) The optical characters of Antimonite. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 14 (66) 199-203 doi:10.1180/minmag.1907.014.66.02 (as antimonite)
Palache, Charles, Modell, David (1930) Crystallography of stibnite and orpiment from Manhattan, Nevada. American Mineralogist, 15 (8) 365-374
Cissarz, Arnold (1931) Beiträge zur Kenntnis der komplexen Indikatrix von Antimonglanz. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 78 (1-6). p.445-461. doi:10.1524/zkri.1931.78.1.445
Šćavničar, S. (1960) The crystal structure of stibnite. A redetermination of atomic positions. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 114 (1-6). 85-97 doi:10.1524/zkri.1960.114.1-6.85
Bayliss, Peter; Nowacki, Werner (1972) Refinement of the crystal structure of stibnite, Sb2S3. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 135 (3-4). 308-315 doi:10.1524/zkri.1972.135.3-4.308
Brookins, D. G. (1972) Stability of Stibnite, Metastibnite, and Some Probable Dissolved Antimony Species at 298.15° K and 1 Atmosphere. Economic Geology, 67 (3). 369-372 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.67.3.369
Kyono, A., Kimata, M., Matsuhisa, M., Miyashita, Y., Okamoto, K. (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 doi:10.1007/s00269-001-0227-1
Kyono, Atsushi, Kimata, Mitsuyoshi (2004) Structural variations induced by difference of the inert pair effect in the stibnite-bismuthinite solid solution series (Sb,Bi)2S3. American Mineralogist, 89 (7) 932-940 doi:10.2138/am-2004-0702
Kuze, Satoru, Du Boulay, Douglas, Ishizawa, Nobuo, Saiki, Atsushi, Pring, Allan (2004) X-ray diffraction evidence for a monoclinic form of stibnite, Sb2S3, below 290 K. American Mineralogist, 89 (7) 1022-1025 doi:10.2138/am-2004-0712
Localities for Stibnite
Showing 4,222 localities.
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Kremnica Au-Ag deposit, Kremnica, Žiar nad Hronom District, Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia