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orthorhombiccommonSulfides

Stibnite

Sb₂S₃

This specimen displays a radiating cluster of elongated, prismatic, steel-gray to silvery-white crystals with a distinct metallic luster. The crystals are well-formed and show the characteristic acicular habit of stibnite.

Stibnite Physical Properties

Mohs Hardness

Crystal System

orthorhombic

Luster

metallic

Streak Color

lead-gray to black

Cleavage

perfect on {010}

Fracture

subconchoidal to uneven

Specific Gravity

4.52

Colors

lead-gray, steel-gray, silvery-white

Transparency

opaque

Type Locality

Herja Mine, Maramureș County, Romania

Mineral Group

Sulfides

Uses

ore of antimony, alloys, flame retardants, semiconductors, collector

Associated Minerals

quartz, calcite, barite, cinnabar, galena

Rarity

common

Geological Context

Stibnite typically forms in low-temperature hydrothermal veins, often associated with hot springs, volcanic activity, or in replacement deposits within sedimentary rocks. It is a primary ore mineral for antimony.

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