Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Saint Pons, Alps, France

Here is a spectacular association of chalcostibite crystals and zinkenite crystals on a matrix made of siderite among others.

The chalcostibite has tabular, striated crystals colored in metallic gray. Crystals measure about 4 cm, which is outstanding. The zinkenite has the same dimension, but it has thin and more elongated crystals, it is also metallic.

This sample was discovered in June 1994 by Jean-Marc Fourcault during a prospecting near Saint-Pons in Alps, France. This sample entered the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle collection thanks to an exchange whith an amateur collector.

This sample is currently exposed in the Treasure Room, within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle.

Photography: A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire,
© MNHN.

SPECIE : Chalcostibite

HISTORY : Name derived from Greek "χαλκοσ" [khalkos] meaning "copper" and from Latin "stibium" meaning "antimoine"

Species described in 1847 by Ernst Friedrich Glocker (1793-1858), German mineralogist

Locality-type: Wolfberg, Harz, Germany

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Cu Sb S2
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Orthorhombic
COLOR : Gray lead to deep gray
DIAPHANIETY : Opaque
LUSTER : Metallic
STREAK : Gray black, black
MORPHOLOGY : Lamellars crystals, flattened, massives
HARDNESS : 3,0-4,0
DENSITY : 5,011

CHEMICAL CLASS : II - Sulfures, sulfosels
GROUP : Chalcostibite
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 2/E.04-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 2.HA.05

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Chalcostibite

Chalcostibite

MNHN N°196.126

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