Kermesite Mineral Data

General Kermesite Information

Chemical Formula:

Sb2S2O

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 323.63 gm

Antimony 75.24 % Sb

Sulfur 19.82 % S

Oxygen 4.94 % O

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Sb₂S₂O

Environment:

A secondary mineral, as an alteration of stibnite, in antimony deposits

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1843

Locality:

Braunsdorf, near Freiberg, Saxony, Germany. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Name from kermes, a name given from the Persian qurmizq, "crimson" in the older chemistry to red amorphous antimony trisulphide, often mixed with antimony trioxide.

Name Pronunciation:

Kermesite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 68346

PDF 44-1435

Pyrantimonite

Red Antimony

Kermesite Image

Images:

Kermesite

Comments: Reddish brown radiating spray of kermesite crystals on matrix.
Location: Pezinok (Pernek), near Bratislava, Solvakia. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Images:

Paakkonenite Kermesite

Comments: Much of the matrix is the gray metallic paakkonenite with red crystals of kermesite and minute yellow crystals of valentinite.
Location: Cai' ao mine, Danfong Co., Shaanxi Prov., China. Scale: 3x2x2cm.
© Tom Loomis / Dakota Matrix

Kermesite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =2.6633:1:2.5184

Cell Dimensions:

a = 10.84, b = 4.07, c = 10.25, Z = 4; alpha = 90°, beta = 101.53°, gamma = 90° V = 443.09 Den(Calc)= 4.85

Crystal System:

Triclinic - Pinacoidal H-M Symbol ( 1) Space Group: P1

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.7(1), 5.3(1), 4.08(0.55),

Physical Properties of Kermesite

Cleavage:

{100} Perfect

Color:

Violet red, Cherry red, Red.

Density:

4.5 - 4.6, Average = 4.55

Diaphaneity:

Translucent to Opaque

Fracture:

Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals.

Habit:

Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals.

Habit:

Fibrous - Crystals made up of fibers.

Habit:

Radial - Crystals radiate from a center without producing stellar forms (e.g. stibnite)

Hardness:

1.5-2 - Talc-Gypsum

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Adamantine

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

brownish red

Optical Properties of Kermesite

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=2.72, b=2.74, g=2.74, bire=0.0200

Pleochroism (x):

cherry red.

Pleochroism (y):

cherry red.

Pleochroism (z):

cherry red.

RL Anisotrophism:

Very strong to extreme.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Kermesite in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	31.10	37.50
420 nm	30.00	36.40
440 nm	29.00	35.20
460 nm	28.00	34.00
480 nm	27.20	33.00
500 nm	26.40	32.20
520 nm	25.70	31.30
540 nm	25.20	30.60
560 nm	24.80	30.00
580 nm	24.40	29.40
600 nm	24.00	29.00
620 nm	23.80	28.60
640 nm	23.50	28.20
660 nm	23.40	28.00
680 nm	23.20	27.80
700 nm	23.10	27.70

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Kermesite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	40%	80%	100%	120%	160%	200%	240%	280%	320%	360%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Kermesite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.26 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Kermesite =4.85 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0015099577
Boson Index = 0.9984900423

Photoelectric:

PE_Kermesite= 253.30 barns/electron
U=PE_Kermesite x rElectron Density=1,078.08 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Kermesite is Not Radioactive

Kermesite Classification

Dana Class:

02.13.01.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(02.13)(Oxysulfides)

(02.13.01)Dana Group

02.13.01.01 Kermesite Sb2S2O P1 1

Strunz Class:

02.FD.05 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf

02.F - Sulfides of Arsenic, Alkalies; Sulfides with Halide, Oxide, Hydroxide, H2O

02.FD -With O, OH, H2O

02.FD.05 Kermesite Sb2S2O P1 1

Other Kermesite Information

References:

NAME( Ford32) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Kermesite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
3 - Athena
4 - EUROmin Project
5 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
6 - GeoScienceWorld
7 - Glendale Community College
8 - Google Images
9 - Google Scholar
10 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
11 - HyperPhysics
12 - MinDAT
13 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
14 - Online Mineral Museum
15 - QUT Mineral Atlas
16 - Ruff.Info
17 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Kermesite

Sb2S2O
Dana No: 02.13.01.01 Strunz No: 02.FD.05
Locality:

Notes:

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