Cervantite
| Cervantite | |
|---|---|
Microscopic cervantite crystals from Slovakia (3 mm field of view)
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| General | |
| Category | Oxide mineral |
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Formula (repeating unit) |
Sb3+Sb5+O4 |
| Strunz classification | 4.DE.30 |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Crystal class | Pyramidal (mm2) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | Pbn21 |
| Unit cell | a = 5.43 Å, b = 4.81 Å, c = 11.76 Å; Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Yellow to nearly white |
| Crystal habit | Microscopic acicular crystals; massive |
| Cleavage | Excellent on {001}, distinct on {100} |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Mohs scale hardness | 4–5 |
| Luster | Greasy, pearly, earthy |
| Streak | Pale yellow to white |
| Diaphaneity | Semitransparent |
| Specific gravity | 6.5 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial |
| Refractive index | nα = 2.000 nγ = 2.100 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.100 |
| Dispersion | relatively weak |
| References | |
Cervantite is an antimony oxide mineral with formula Sb3+Sb5+O4 (antimony tetroxide).
It was first described in 1850 for an occurrence in Cervantes, Sierra de Ancares, Lugo, Galicia, Spain, and named for the locality. The mineral was questioned and disapproved, but re-approved and verified in 1962 based on material from the Zajaca-Stolice district, Brasina, Serbia. It occurs as a secondary alteration product of antimony bearing minerals, mainly stibnite.
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