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Kermesite

MNHN N°203.32

visu_68 infos

FROM : Wenshan, Hunan area, China
SIZE : 5 x 3.5 cm

general description

This are splendid blood-red crystals of kermesite. The group of crystals of kermesite is on metallic gray pääkkönenite (Sb2 As S2) scattered with brownish yellow crystals of valentinite (Sb2 O3).

This sample comes from Wenshan in Hunan in Chian and measures 5 x 3.5 cm. Acquired thanks to support from Total, it is today kept in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.
3D View: Alain Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire, © MNHN.

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The Species page

Identity card

SPECIE : Kermesite

HISTORY : Name derived from Persan "qurmizq" meaning "purple", in relation to its colour

Species first described in 1843 by Chapman

Type-locality: Freiberg district, Saxony, Germany

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Sb2 S2 O
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Triclinic
COLOR : Dark subblack, reddish-violett to cherry-red
DIAPHANIETY : Translucide to opaque
LUSTER : Adamantine
STREAK : Reddish brown
MORPHOLOGY : Fibrous crystals, radial, acicular
HARDNESS : 1,0-1,5
DENSITY : 4,85

CHEMICAL CLASS : II - Sulfides, arsenides
GROUP : Kermesite
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 2/F.11-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 2.FD.05

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