General Information:
Chemical Formula:
Ag2S
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 247.80 gm)
Silver 87.06 % Ag
Sulfur 12.94 % S
Empirical Formula:
Ag2S
Environment:
Low temperature ore veins.
IMA Status:
Not IMA Approved
Locality:
Mexico, Saxony, Great Britain and Kongsberg, Norway are notable localities.
Name Origin:
After the Latin, argentum, meaning "silver". From the Greek, akanta, meaning "arrow." Argentite is stable above 179 C. Acanthite is stable below 179 C.
Physical Properties:
Cleavage:
[001] Poor, [110] Poor
Color:
black or lead gray.
Density:
7.2 - 7.4, Average = 7.3
Diaphaniety:
Opaque
Habits:
Blocky - Crystal shape tends to be equant (e.g. feldspars)., Skeletal - Crystals form crude outlines with missing faces., Arborescent - "Tree like" growths of branched systems (e.g. s ilver).
Hardness:
2-2.5 - Gypsum-Finger Nail
Luminescence:
None.
Luster:
Metallic
Streak:
black
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