Kermesite Mineral Data

Kermesite Mineral Data +

General Kermesite Information

Chemical Formula:

Sb2S2O

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 323.63 gm

Antimony 75.24 % Sb

Sulfur 19.82 % S

Oxygen 4.94 % O

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Sb₂S₂O

Environment:

A secondary mineral, as an alteration of stibnite, in antimony deposits

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1843

Locality:

Braunsdorf, near Freiberg, Saxony, Germany. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Name from kermes, a name given from the Persian qurmizq, "crimson" in the older chemistry to red amorphous antimony trisulphide, often mixed with antimony trioxide.

Synonym:

ICSD 68346

PDF 44-1435

Pyrantimonite

Red Antimony

Kermesite Image

Images:

Kermesite

Comments: Reddish brown radiating spray of kermesite crystals on matrix.
Location: Pezinok (Pernek), near Bratislava, Solvakia. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Images:

Kermesite Paakkonenite

Comments: Much of the matrix is the gray metallic paakkonenite with red crystals of kermesite and minute yellow crystals of valentinite.
Location: Cai' ao mine, Danfong Co., Shaanxi Prov., China. Scale: 3x2x2cm.
© Tom Loomis / Dakota Matrix

Kermesite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =2.6633:1:2.5184

Cell Dimensions:

a = 10.84, b = 4.07, c = 10.25, Z = 4; alpha = 90°, beta = 101.53°, gamma = 90° V = 443.09 Den(Calc)= 4.85

Crystal System:

Triclinic - PinacoidalH-M Symbol ( 1) Space Group: P1

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.7(1), 5.3(1), 4.08(0.55),

Crystal Structure:

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Bonazzi P , Menchetti S , Sabelli C , Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte , 1987 (1987) p.557-567, Structure refinement of kermesite: symmetry, twinning, and comparison with stibnite, Locality: Braunsdorf, Czechoslovakia

Physical Properties of Kermesite

Cleavage:

[100] Perfect

Color:

Violet red, Cherry red, Red.

Density:

4.5 - 4.6, Average = 4.55

Diaphaniety:

Translucent to Opaque

Fracture:

Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals.

Habit:

Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals.

Habit:

Fibrous - Crystals made up of fibers.

Habit:

Radial - Crystals radiate from a center without producing stellar forms (e.g. stibnite)

Hardness:

1.5-2 - Talc-Gypsum

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Adamantine

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

brownish red

Optical Properties of Kermesite

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=2.72, b=2.74, g=2.74, bire=0.0200

Pleochroism (x):

cherry red.

Pleochroism (y):

cherry red.

Pleochroism (z):

cherry red.

RL Anisotrophism:

Very strong to extreme.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Kermesite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	31.10	37.50
420 nm	30.00	36.40
440 nm	29.00	35.20
460 nm	28.00	34.00
480 nm	27.20	33.00
500 nm	26.40	32.20
520 nm	25.70	31.30
540 nm	25.20	30.60
560 nm	24.80	30.00
580 nm	24.40	29.40
600 nm	24.00	29.00
620 nm	23.80	28.60
640 nm	23.50	28.20
660 nm	23.40	28.00
680 nm	23.20	27.80
700 nm	23.10	27.70

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Kermesite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	40%	80%	100%	120%	160%	200%	240%	280%	320%	360%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Kermesite

Electron Density:

r_electron=4.26 gm/cc
note: r_Kermesite=4.85 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.0015
Boson Index = 0.9985

Photoelectric:

PE_Kermesite= 253.30 barns/electron
U=PE_Kermesite x r_electron=1,078.08 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Kermesite is Not Radioactive

Kermesite Classification

Dana Class:

2.13.1.1 (2)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(2.13)(Oxysulfides)

(2.13.1)Dana Group

2.13.1.1 Kermesite Sb2S2O P1 1

Strunz Class:

II/F.11-10 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

II/F - Sulfides with nonmetallic properties, Oxisulfides

II/F.11 - Kermesite - Cetineite series

II/F.11-10 Kermesite Sb2S2O P1 1

II/F.11-20 Sarabauite CaSb10O10S6 C 2/c 2/m

II/F.11-30 Cetineite (K,Na)3x(Sb2O3)3(Sb2S3)(OH)x·(2.8-x)(H2O) P 6₃ 6

Other Kermesite Information

References:

NAME( Ford32) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

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Kermesite

Sb2S2O
Dana No: 2.13.1.1 Strunz No: II/F.11-10
Locality:

Notes: