Pyrargyrite
Mineral Ag3SbS3
Also called Dark ruby silver and Ruby silver
Take care.
- Toxic: Wash your hands after handling it, don't lick or taste it, and don't make dust.
- Fades or changes in light: Keep it in the dark, out of sunlight and bright display lights.
About it
Darker than proustite, nearly black with deep red glints and a purplish red streak; an important silver ore. Fine crystals from Sankt Andreasberg, Germany, and Fresnillo, Mexico.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Sulfosalt, proustite-pyrargyrite group
- Formula
- Ag3SbS3
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 2.5
- Specific gravity
- 5.82–5.85
- Streak
- purplish red
- Lustre
- adamantine (diamond-like), metallic
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Colours
- deep red, black
- Transparency
- translucent, opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- distinct rhombohedral; conchoidal fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.