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Polybasite is a sulfosalt mineral of silver, copper, antimony and arsenic. Its chemical formula is [(Ag,Cu)₆(Sb,As)₂S₇][Ag₉CuS₄].

It forms black monoclinic crystals (thin, tabular, with six corners) which can show dark red internal reflections. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 to 3. It is found worldwide and is an ore of silver. The name comes from the number of base metals in the mineral.

Images

Unusual polybasite specimen from Mayo Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada.

References

^ 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.
^ Polybasite: mindat.org
^ Webmineral.com
^ “Handbook of Mineralogy” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
^ Rudolf Dǔd’a and Luboš Rejl (1990). Minerals of the World. Arch Cape Press. p. 40. ISBN 0-517-68030-0.

[rdp-we-cite_note-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.

[rdp-we-cite_note-2] Polybasite: mindat.org

[rdp-we-cite_note-3] Webmineral.com

[rdp-we-cite_note-4] “Handbook of Mineralogy” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-05-16.

[rdp-we-cite_note-5] Rudolf Dǔd’a and Luboš Rejl (1990). Minerals of the World. Arch Cape Press. p. 40. ISBN 0-517-68030-0.