Antimony
Sb [CNMNC approved formula]
Named from the medieval latin 'antimonium', originally applied to Stibnite.
| IMA status : | Valid species (Pre-IMA 1748) Grandfathered |
| CLASSIFICATION | |
| Dana (8th edition) : |
01.03.01.02 |
| (01) Native Elements | |
| (01.03) with semi-metallic and non-metallic elements | |
| (01.03.01) Arsenic group | |
| Nickel-Strunz (10th edition) : |
01.CA.05 |
| (01) Elements | |
| (01.C) Metalloids and Nonmetals | |
| (01.CA) Arsenic group elements | |
| Crystal system: | Trigonal System |
| Point group (H-M): | 3m (or 3 2/m) — hexagonal-scalenohedral |
| Unit cell: | a = 4.307 Å, c = 11.27 Å |
| Crystal Habit: | Crystals pseudo-cubic or thick tabular; massive, lamellar, radiated |
| Twinning: | Common on {10-14}, polysynthetic or cyclic (fourlings, sixlings) |
| Color: | Tin-white |
| Diaphaneity: | Opaque |
| Luster: | Metallic |
| Hardness (Mohs): | 3 to 3.5 |
| Measured Density: | 6.69 g/cm3 |
| Cleavage: | 4; {0001} perfect, {1011} distinct, {1014} imperfect, {1020} indistinct |
| Tenacity: | Brittle |
| Fracture: | Uneven |
| Streak: | Grey |
| Geologic Setting: | In hydrothermal Sb–Ag veins |
| Mineral Association: | Silver, stibnite, allemontite, sphalerite, pyrite, galena, quartz |
Origin: JapanSample size: 2.5 x 2.1 x 1.6 cm
Photo: Rob Lavinsky
Origin: JapanSample size: 2.5 x 2.1 x 1.6 cm
Photo: Rob Lavinsky
Origin: Arechuybo, Chihuahua, MexicoSample size: 3.5 x 3 x 2 cm
Photo: Tom Loomis
(zoom-in of above)