7/11/2017 Acanthite: Acanthite mineral information and data.

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Acanthite
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Photos of Acanthite (878)

Acanthite Acanthite, etc. Acanthite

Himmelsfrst Mine, Brand-Erbisdorf, Freiberg District, Gottesehre Mine, Urberg, St Blasien, Black Forest, Baden- Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province, Lima
Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany Wrttemberg, Germany Department, Peru

Acanthite Acanthite, etc. Acanthite

Himmelsfrst Mine, Brand-Erbisdorf, Gottesehre Mine, Urberg, St Blasien, Black Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon
Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Forest, Baden-Wrttemberg, Germany Province, Lima Department,
Germany Peru

Acanthite Acanthite, etc.

Gottesehre Mine, Urberg, St Blasien, Black Forest,
Himmelsfrst Mine, Brand-Erbisdorf, Freiberg District,
Baden-Wrttemberg, Germany
Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany

Formula: Ag 2 S

System: Monoclinic Colour: lead grey, black

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Lustre: Metallic Hardness: 2 - 2

Member of: Acanthite Group

Name: Named in 1855 by Gustav Adolf Kenngott from the Greek ("akantha") meaning "thorn", in
allusion to its crystal shape.

Isostructural with: Aguilarite

Acanthite is the low-temperature modification of silver sulphide.

All natural silver sulphide specimens at room temperature are acanthite.
The structure of Argentite, the high-temperature cubic (isometric) form cannot be quenched. At atmospheric pressure, pure argentite is stable above
177C and acanthite is stable below 177C. The tarnish on sterling silver is chemically the same as acanthite.

Classification of Acanthite
IMA status: Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

Strunz 8th ed.: 2/B.05-10

Strunz 9th ed.: 2.BA.35

Nickel-Strunz 2.BA.35
10th (pending)
ed.: 2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites,
etc.)
B : Metal Sulfides, M: S > 1: 1 (mainly 2: 1)
A : With Cu, Ag, Au

Dana 7th ed.: 2.4.1.1

Dana 8th ed.: 2.4.1.1

2 : SULFIDES
4 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 2:1

Hey's CIM Ref.: 3.2.1

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are
included in Section 1)
2 : Sulphides etc. of Ag

Physical Properties of Acanthite

Lustre: Metallic

Diaphaneity Opaque
(Transparency):
Colour: lead grey, black

Streak: lead grey

Hardness 2 - 2
(Mohs):
Hardness VHN50=21 - 25 kg/mm2
(Vickers):
Hardness Data: Measured

Tenacity: Sectile

Cleavage: None Observed

Fracture: Sub-Conchoidal

Density: 7.2 - 7.4 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.24 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of Acanthite

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Type: Anisotropic

Anisotropism: Weak

Reflectivity: 400nm R=32.8%

420nm R=32.9%
440nm R=33.0%
460nm R=33.1%
480nm R=33.0%
500nm R=32.7%
520nm R=32.0%
540nm R=31.2%
560nm R=30.5%
580nm R=29.9%
600nm R=29.2%
620nm R=28.7%
640nm R=28.2%
660nm R=27.6%
680nm R=27.0%
700nm R=26.4%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 33.1%.

Chemical Properties of Acanthite

Formula: Ag 2 S

Elements listed Ag, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

in formula:
CAS Registry 21548-73-2
number:
CAS Registry numbers are published by the American Chemical Society

Common Se
Impurities:

Crystallography of Acanthite
Crystal System: Monoclinic

Class (H-M): 2/m - Prismatic

Space Group: P21/m

Cell Parameters: a = 4.229 , b = 6.931 , c = 7.862
= 99.61

Ratio: a:b:c = 0.61 : 1 : 1.134

Unit Cell V 227.21 (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Volume:
Z: 4

Morphology: Typically found as pseudo-cubic and pseudo-octahedral crystals, paramorphic after argentite. Also found as thorn-shaped monoclinic crystals,
usually small to microscopic in size. Primary crystals are rare, prismatic to long prismatic, elongated along [001], to 2.5 cm, may be tubular;
massive.

Crystallographic forms of Acanthite

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Crystal Atlas: Click on an icon to view

Argentite no.11 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

Argentite - {100}, modified

{111}, {100} 3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

Locality: Freiberg, Sachsen, Germany
Mohs-Haidinger, 1825, and others. In: V.M. Goldschmidt, Toggle
Atlas der Krystallformen, 1913-1923 ('Silberglanz'). Edge Lines | Miller Indicies | Axes

Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent

View
Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation

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X-Ray Powder d-spacing Intensity

Diffraction Data: 3.96 (10)
3.571 (6)
3.437 (35)
3.383 (20)
3.080 (60)
2.836 (70)
2.664 (45)
2.606 (100)
2.583 (70)
2.456 (70)
2.440 (80)
2.421 (60)
2.383 (80)
2.213 (45)
2.093 (16)
2.083 (45)
2.072 (16)
2.047 (16)
1.995 (16)
1.963 (20)
1.935 (4)
1.918 (4)
1.903 (14)
1.866 (16)
1.816 (4)
1.798 (4)
1.733 (12)
1.718 (20)
1.691 (6)
1.610 (4)
1.587 (14)
1.579 (10)
1.554 (8)
1.540 (8)
1.513 (12)
1.483 (10)
1.470 (10)
1.459 (14)
1.379 (6)

Comments: ICDD 14-72

Occurrences of Acanthite
Type Occurrence of Acanthite
Type Locality: Jchymov (St Joachimsthal), Jchymov District (St Joachimsthal), Krun Hory Mts (Erzgebirge), Karlovy Vary Region, Bohemia (Bhmen; Boehmen),
Czech Republic

Relationship of Acanthite to other Species

Member of: Acanthite Group

Other Members Aguilarite Ag 4 SeS

of Group:
Cervelleite Ag 4 TeS

Common Aguilarite Galena Pyrargyrite Sphalerite

Associates: Calcite Polybasite Quartz Stephanite
Chalcopyrite Proustite Silver

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Related Minerals 2.BA.05 Chalcocite Cu 2 S

- Nickel-Strunz
Grouping): 2.BA.05 Djurleite Cu 31 S 16

2.BA.05 Geerite Cu 8 S 5

2.BA.05 Roxbyite Cu 9 S 5

2.BA.10 Anilite Cu 7 S 4

2.BA.10 Digenite Cu 9 S 5

2.BA.15 Bornite Cu 5 FeS 4

2.BA.20 Bellidoite Cu 2 Se

2.BA.20 Berzelianite Cu 2 Se

2.BA.25 Athabascaite Cu 5 Se 4

2.BA.25 Umangite Cu 3 Se 2

2.BA.30 Rickardite Cu 7 Te 5

2.BA.30 Weissite Cu 2-x Te

2.BA.40 Mckinstryite Ag 5-x Cu 3+x S 4

2.BA.40 Stromeyerite AgCuS

2.BA.40d UM2003-13-S:AgAuCu Ag 6 AuCu 2 S 5

2.BA.45 Jalpaite Ag 3 CuS 2

2.BA.45 Selenojalpaite Ag 3 CuSe 2

2.BA.50 Eucairite AgCuSe

2.BA.55 Aguilarite Ag 4 SeS

2.BA.55 Naumannite Ag 2 Se

2.BA.60 Cervelleite Ag 4 TeS

2.BA.60 Hessite Ag 2 Te

3+
2.BA.60 Chenguodaite Ag 9 Fe Te 2 S 4

2.BA.65 Henryite (Cu,Ag) 3+x Te 2 , with x ~ 0.40

2.BA.65 Sttzite Ag 5-x Te 3 , x = 0.24-0.36

2.BA.70 Argyrodite Ag 8 GeS 6

2.BA.70 Canfieldite Ag 8 SnS 6

2.BA.70 Putzite (Cu 4.7 Ag 3.3 )GeS 6

2.BA.75 Fischesserite Ag 3 AuSe 2

2.BA.75 Penzhinite (Ag,Cu) 4 Au(S,Se) 4

2.BA.75 Petrovskaite AuAg(S,Se)

2.BA.75 Petzite Ag 3 AuTe 2

2.BA.75 Uytenbogaardtite Ag 3 AuS 2

2.BA.80 Bezsmertnovite (Au,Ag) 4 Cu(Te,Pb)

2.BA.80 Bilibinskite PbCu 2 Au 3 Te 2

2.BA.80 Bogdanovite (Au,Te,Pb) 3 (Cu,Fe)

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Related Minerals 3.2.3 Naumannite Ag 2 Se

- Hey's Index
Grouping: 3.2.4 Aguilarite Ag 4 SeS

3.2.5 Hessite Ag 2 Te

3.2.6 Empressite AgTe

3.2.7 Sttzite Ag 5-x Te 3 , x = 0.24-0.36

3.2.8 Cervelleite Ag 4 TeS

3.2.9 Dervillite Ag 2 AsS 2

3.2.10 Stromeyerite AgCuS

3.2.11 Mckinstryite Ag 5-x Cu 3+x S 4

3.2.12 Jalpaite Ag 3 CuS 2

3.2.13 Eucairite AgCuSe

3.2.14 Cameronite Cu 5-x (Cu,Ag) 3+x Te 10 (x = 0.43)

3.2.15 Henryite (Cu,Ag) 3+x Te 2 , with x ~ 0.40

3.2.16 Sternbergite AgFe 2 S 3

3.2.17 Argentopyrite AgFe 2 S 3

3.2.18 Geffroyite (Cu,Fe,Ag) 9 (Se,S) 8

3.2.19 Argentopentlandite Ag(Fe,Ni) 8 S 8

Other Names for Acanthite

Synonyms: Acantite Argentite-beta Beta-Argentite Para-Silberglanz
Akanthite Argentite- -Argentite Silver Glance

-Argentite Argyrite Daleminzite Vitreous Silver

Argentite Argyrose Henkelite Weicherz

Beta-Argentite Para-Silberglanz

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Name in Other Catalan: Argentita

Languages:
Croatian: Argentit

Dutch: Argentiet

French: Acanthite

German: Argentit
Acanthit
Akanthit
-Argentit
Argyrit
-Argentit
Glanzerz
Glaserz
Henkelit
Silberglanz
Silberschwrze

Hungarian: Argentit

Italian: Argentite

Japanese:

Latvian: Argentts

Lithuanian: Argentitas

Low Saxon: Argentit

Norwegian Akantitt
(Bokml): Slvglans

Polish: Argentyt

Russian:

Simplified Chinese:

Slovak: Argentit

Spanish: Argentita
Acanthita
Akanthita
-Argentita
Argyrita
-Argentita
Henkelita

Swedish: Silverglans

Traditional
Chinese:
Ukrainian:

Varieties: Zincian Acanthite

Other Information
Fluorescence in Not fluorescent in UV
UV light:
Health Risks: No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

External Links Search for toxicity information at the United States National Library of Medicine

Acanthite in petrology
Common component of (items highlighted in red)

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Ore
Silver ore

References for Acanthite

Reference List: Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften (1855) IV, 447-468.
Kenngott, A. (1855) Ueber den Akanthit, eine neue Species in dem Geschlechte der Silber-Glanze. Annalen der Physik und Chemie: 95: 462-464.
Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (1944) The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-
1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 834pp.: 191-192.
Frueh, A. J. (1957) The crystal structure, polymorphism and twinning of acanthite (Ag2S). Acta Crystallographica: 10: 764-764.
Frueh, A. J. (1958) The crystallography of silver sulfide, Ag2S. Zeitschrift fr Kristallographie: 110: 136-144.
Sadanaga, R., Sueno, S. (1967) X-ray study on the alpha-beta transition of Ag2S Locality: Innai mine, Akita, Japan. Mineralogical Journal (Japan):
5: 124-148.

Petruk, W., Owens, D. R., Stewart, J.M., Murray, E.J. (1974) Observations on acanthite, aguilarite and naumannite. The Canadian Mineralogist: 12:
365-369.

Cava, R.J., Reidinger, F., Wuensch, B.J. (1980) Single-crystal neutron diffraction study of the fast-ion conductor -Ag2S between 186 and 325C.
Journal of Solid State Chemistry: 31: 69-80.
Pingitore, N.E,, Ponce, B.F., Estrada, L., Eastman, M.P., Yuan, H.L., Porter, L.C., Estrada, G. (1993) Calorimetric analysis of the system Ag2S-
Ag2Se between 25 and 250C. Journal of Material Research: 8: 3126-3130.

Gaines, Richard V., H. Catherine W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, Abraham Rosenzweig, Vandall King (1997) Dana's New Mineralogy:
The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, 8th. edition, p. 42.

Internet Links for Acanthite

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Localities for Acanthite

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