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Smithite

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Smithite
Red smithite with imhofite
General
Categorysulfosalt mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
AgAsS2
IMA symbolSth[1]
Strunz classification2.GC.30
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Identification
Formula mass246.92 g/mol
ColorPale red (changes to orange on exposure to light)
Crystal habithexagonal pyramid
CleavagePerfect, parallel to (100)
Mohs scale hardness1.5 – 2
LusterAdamantine
Streakvermilion
Specific gravity4.88
References[2]

Smithite is a sulfosalt mineral with the chemical formula AgAsS2. It was first described by mineralogist R H Solly in 1905, in samples from the Lengenbach quarry near Binn, Switzerland, and was named for Herbert Smith, who was an assistant in the department of mineralogy of the British Museum (Natural History).[3] Smithite is a dimorph of trechmannite.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ "Smithite". mindat.org. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  3. ^ Solly, RH (1905). "Some new minerals from the Binnenthal, Switzerland" (PDF). Mineralogical Magazine. 14 (64): 72–82. Bibcode:1905MinM...14...72S. doi:10.1180/minmag.1905.014.64.03.