Xanthoconite Mineral Data

General Xanthoconite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ag3AsS3

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 494.72 gm

Silver 65.41 % Ag

Arsenic 15.14 % As

Sulfur 19.44 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Ag₃AsS₃

Environment:

Usually associated with other silver sulfosalts in hydrothermal veins.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1840

Locality:

Freiberg, Germany. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Greek xanthos, "yellow" and konis "powder."

Name Pronunciation:

Xanthoconite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 36352

PDF 21-1455

Rittingerite

Xanthoconite Image

Images:

Xanthoconite

Comments: Wine-colored, tabular crystal of xanthoconite on matrix.
Location: Schlema, Schlema-Hartenstein area, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany. Scale: Picture size 2.5 mm.
© Thomas Witzke / Abraxas-Verlag

Xanthoconite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =2.7342:1:1.9307

Cell Dimensions:

a = 16.98, b = 6.21, c = 11.99, Z = 8; beta = 110.167° V = 1,186.78 Den(Calc)= 5.54

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: A2/a

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3(1), 2.82(0.6), 3.14(0.3),

Forms:

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Forms: ( 5 5 1) ( 5 0 1) ( 1 1 0) ( 1 0 0) ( 0 0 1)

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Crystal Structure:

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Engel P , Nowacki W , Acta Crystallographica, Section B , 24 (1968) p.77-81, Die kristallstruktur von Ag3AsS3

Physical Properties of Xanthoconite

Cleavage:

{001} Distinct

Color:

Dark crimson red, Dark orange, Brown, Lemon yellow.

Density:

5.5 - 5.6, Average = 5.55

Diaphaneity:

Subtranslucent to opaque

Fracture:

Sub Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by semi-curving surfaces.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Habit:

Reniform - "Kidney like" in shape (e.g.. hematite).

Habit:

Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.

Hardness:

2.5-3 - Finger Nail-Calcite

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Adamantine

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

orange yellow

Optical Properties of Xanthoconite

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), b=3, 2V(Meas)=34. Dispersion r < v.

RL Color:

Lemon yellow.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Xanthoconite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	33.70	37.10
420 nm	32.20	36.10
440 nm	30.70	35.10
460 nm	29.10	33.70
480 nm	27.60	32.10
500 nm	26.10	30.10
520 nm	24.80	28.50
540 nm	23.70	27.30
560 nm	22.70	26.30
580 nm	22.00	25.50
600 nm	21.50	24.80
620 nm	21.30	24.40
640 nm	21.00	24.10
660 nm	20.80	23.80
680 nm	20.60	23.60
700 nm	20.40	23.50

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Xanthoconite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	40%	80%	100%	120%	160%	200%	240%	280%	320%	360%	390%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Xanthoconite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.97 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Xanthoconite =5.54 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.001458358
Boson Index = 0.998541642

Photoelectric:

PE_Xanthoconite= 178.15 barns/electron
U=PE_Xanthoconite x rElectron Density= 885.75 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Xanthoconite is Not Radioactive

Xanthoconite Classification

Dana Class:

03.04.02.01 (03)Sulfides - Sulfosalts

(03.04)where z/y > 3 - (A+)i (A++)j [By Cz], A=metals, B=semi-metals, C=non-metals

(03.04.02)Xanthoconite Group (Ruby Silver)

03.04.02.01 Xanthoconite Ag3AsS3 A2/a 2/m

03.04.02.02 Pyrostilpnite Ag3SbS3 P 2₁/c 2/m

Strunz Class:

02.GA.10 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.G - Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites

02.GA -Neso-sulfarsenites, etc., without additional S

02.GA.10 Pyrostilpnite Ag3SbS3 P 2₁/c 2/m

02.GA.10 Xanthoconite Ag3AsS3 A2/a 2/m

Other Xanthoconite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Xanthoconite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
15 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Ask about Xanthoconite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
Original Rockhounds Discussion Group
Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Español

Print or Cut-and-Paste your Xanthoconite Specimen Label here :

Xanthoconite

Ag3AsS3
Dana No: 03.04.02.01 Strunz No: 02.GA.10
Locality:

Notes: