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Smithite Mineral Data

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General Smithite Information

Help on Chemical  Formula: Chemical Formula: AgAsS2
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 246.92 gm
   Silver   43.69 %  Ag
   Arsenic  30.34 %  As
   Sulfur   25.97 %  S
           ______ 
           100.00 % 
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: AgAsS2
Help on Environment: Environment: Of hydrothermal origin with other Ag-As sulfides.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1905
Help on Locality: Locality: Lengenbach quarry, Binnental, Valais, Switzerland. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: Named for George Frederick Smith (1872-1953), crystallographer of the British Museum, London, England.
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Smithite Say SMITHITE
Help on Synonym: Synonym: ICSD 64984
  PDF 42-554
 

Smithite Image

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  Smithite

Comments: Spheric, pseudo-hexagonal, reddish crystal of smithite with a gray sulfosalt on white dolomite.
Location: Lengenbach quarry, Binntal, Valais, Switzerland. Scale: Crystal size 0.5 mm.
© Walter Gabriel

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  Chabourneite   Smithite

Comments: Black metallic chabourneite with conchoidal fracture, associated with yellow-red realgar and deep-red smithite.
Location: Jas Roux, Pelvoux Mt., Valgaudemar, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-CÃīte d'Azur, France. Scale: See Image.
© Rruff Database

Smithite Crystallography

Help on Axial Ratios: Axial Ratios: a:b:c =2.2164:1:1.9536
Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 17.2, b = 7.76, c = 15.16, Z = 24; beta = 101.2° V = 1,984.90 Den(Calc)= 4.96
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Monoclinic - Prismatic H-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: A2/a
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 2.82(1), 3.21(0.8), 2.72(0.6),
Help on Forms: Forms:

Mouse
Dbl Clk - Start-Stop Rotation
RMB - Cycle Display Modes
Drag1 - Manipulate Crystal
Drag2 - Resize

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I - Indicies
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Help on Above

Forms: ( 3 1 1) ( 3 1 1) ( 2 1 1) ( 4 1 1) ( 3 2 0) ( 1 0 1) ( 1 1 1) ( 1 0 0) ( 1 1 3) ( 5 1 1) ( 0 0 1)

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Physical Properties of Smithite

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: {100} Perfect
Help on Color: Color: Brown orange, Light red, Orange red.
Help on Density: Density: 4.9
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Subtranslucent to opaque
Help on Fracture: Fracture: Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.
Help on Habit: Habit: Pseudo Hexagonal - Crystals show a hexagonal outline.
Help on Habit: Habit: Pyramidal - Crystals are shaped like pyramids.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 1.5-2 - Talc-Gypsum
Help on Luminescence: Luminescence: Non-fluorescent.
Help on Luster: Luster: Sub Metallic
Help on Streak: Streak: vermilion red
 

Optical Properties of Smithite

Help on Optical Data: Optical Data: Biaxial (-), b=3.27, 2V(Meas)=~65.
Help on Pleochroism (x): Pleochroism (x): slight.
Help on Pleochroism (y): Pleochroism (y): slight.
Help on Pleochroism (z): Pleochroism (z): slight.
Help on Reflectivity Reflectivity
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Smithite in Air
λ R1 R2  ∑ R1(λ)   ∑ R2(λ) 
 400 nm   40.70   44.00 
   
 420 nm   40.00   43.20 
 440 nm   39.30   42.40 
 460 nm   38.70   41.50 
 480 nm   37.90   40.40 
 500 nm   37.00   39.20 
 520 nm   36.00   38.00 
 540 nm   35.00   36.60 
 560 nm   33.80   35.40 
 580 nm   32.70   34.70 
 600 nm   32.00   34.00 
 620 nm   31.40   33.40 
 640 nm   31.00   32.90 
 660 nm   30.60   32.40 
 680 nm   30.40   31.80 
 700 nm   30.10   31.40 
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Smithite in Air
Relative
Intensity
   0%   30%   60%   90% 100% 120% 150% 180% 210% 240% 270%
R1                      
R2                      
 

Calculated Properties of Smithite

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.50 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Smithite =4.96 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.0019479447
Boson Index = 0.9980520553
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PESmithite = 132.86 barns/electron
U=PESmithite x rElectron Density= 597.80 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Smithite is Not Radioactive
 

Smithite Classification

Help on  Dana Class: Dana Class: 03.07.03.01 (03)Sulfides - Sulfosalts
  (03.07)where z/y = 2 - (A+)i (A++)j [By Cz], A=metals, B=semi-metals, C=non-metals
  (03.07.03)Dana Group
 
03.07.03.01 Smithite AgAsS2 A2/a 2/m
 
03.07.03.02 Miargyrite AgSbS2 C 2/c 2/m
Help on  Strunz Class: Strunz Class: 02.GC.30 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf
  02.G - Sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites
  02.GC -Poly-sulfarsenites
 
02.GC.30 Smithite AgAsS2 A2/a 2/m
 

Other Smithite Information

Help on References: References: NAME( AntBidBlaNic1) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)
Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Smithite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
15 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Smithite

AgAsS2
Dana No: 03.07.03.01 Strunz No: 02.GC.30
Locality:

 

Notes:

 

 
   
 


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