Polybasite Explained

Polybasite
Category:Sulfosalt minerals
Imasymbol:Plb[1]
Strunz:2.GB.15
System:Monoclinic and trigonal polytypes
Class:Prismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Symmetry:C2/c
Colour:steel black
Cleavage:poor on (001)
Fracture:uneven
Mohs:1.5–2
Lustre:metallic, adamantine or glimmering
Streak:black with reddish tint
Gravity:6–6.2
References:[2] [3] [4] [5]

Polybasite is a sulfosalt mineral of silver, copper, antimony and arsenic. Its chemical formula is .

It forms black monoclinic crystals (thin, tabular, with six corners) which can show dark red internal reflections. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 to 3. It is found worldwide and is an ore of silver. The name comes from the number of base metals in the mineral.

Notes and References

  1. Warr. L.N.. 2021. IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine. 85. 3 . 291–320. 10.1180/mgm.2021.43 . 2021MinM...85..291W . 235729616 . free.
  2. http://www.mindat.org/min-3256.html Polybasite: mindat.org
  3. http://www.webmineral.com/data/Polybasite.shtml Webmineral.com
  4. Web site: Handbook of Mineralogy . 2011-05-16 . 2016-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171441/http://www.handbookofmineralogy.com/pdfs/polybasite.pdf . dead .
  5. Book: Minerals of the World. 1990. 0-517-68030-0. Rudolf Dǔd'a and Luboš Rejl. Arch Cape Press. 40.