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Baumstarkite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About BaumstarkiteHide

01233950017271929795943.jpg
Manfred Baumstark
Formula:
Ag3Sb3S6
Minor As-for-Sb substitution possible. Formerly given as AgSbS2.
Colour:
Greyish black to black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
5.33
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
For German mineralogist and mineral dealer, Manfred Baumstark (b. 1954), who discovered the mineral.
Polymorph of:
Isostructural with:
The triclinic polymorph of Miargyrite and Cuboargyrite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
10995
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:10995:4

IMA Classification of BaumstarkiteHide

Approved
Approval year:
1999
First published:
2002

Classification of BaumstarkiteHide

2.HA.25

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
A : With Cu, Ag, Fe (without Pb)

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
BumIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
BauThe Canadian Mineralogist (2019)The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Physical Properties of BaumstarkiteHide

Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Greyish black to black
Streak:
Greyish black
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=89.3 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {001}, good on {100}
Density:
5.33 g/cm3 (Measured)    5.39 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of BaumstarkiteHide

Anisotropism:
Strong to weak
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)imR1 (%)imR2 (%)
470nm31.30% 39.65% 16.60% 23.60%
546nm29.20% 37.30% 14.60% 21.15%
589nm27.80% 36.10% 13.35% 20.10%
650nm26.15% 33.05% 12.16% 17.60%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 39.65%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red, imR1 shown in green, imR2 shown in blue
Colour in reflected light:
Grey to white
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of BaumstarkiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Ag3Sb3S6

Minor As-for-Sb substitution possible. Formerly given as AgSbS2.
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Sb41.449 %
Ag36.720 %
S21.831 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Sb
Ag
S

Crystallography of BaumstarkiteHide

Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.766 Å, b = 8.322 Å, c = 8.814 Å
α = 100.62°, β = 104.03°, γ = 90.22°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.933 : 1 : 1.059
Unit Cell V:
542 ų
Z:
6
Morphology:
{001}, {101}, {201}, {010} and {011} most frequent, {100} subordinate.
Twinning:
Occasionally on (001)

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0002820BaumstarkiteEffenberger H, Paar W H, Topa D, Criddle A J, Fleck M (2002) The new mineral baumstarkite and a structural reinvestigation of aramayoite and miargyrite American Mineralogist 87 753-76420020293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.425 Å(8)
3.224 Å(6)
2.841 Å(8)
2.798 Å(100)
2.013 Å(5)
1.971 Å(5)
1.3994 Å(6)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of BaumstarkiteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
Individual crystals not exceeding 3 mm, crystal aggregates up to 40x10mm coating miargyrite. Anhedral grains in miargyrite common (up to several mm).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In high-grade silver ores of hypogene origin.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of BaumstarkiteHide

Other Language Names for BaumstarkiteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
49 photos of Baumstarkite associated with MiargyriteAgSbS2
28 photos of Baumstarkite associated with PyrargyriteAg3SbS3
22 photos of Baumstarkite associated with DiaphoriteAg3Pb2Sb3S8
5 photos of Baumstarkite associated with BaryteBaSO4
5 photos of Baumstarkite associated with QuartzSiO2
2 photos of Baumstarkite associated with LöllingiteFeAs2
1 photo of Baumstarkite associated with CalciteCaCO3

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.HA.05GrundmanniteCuBiSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.HA.05EmplectiteCuBiS2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmna
2.HA.05PříbramiteCuSbSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.HA.05Hansblockite(Cu,Hg)(Bi,Pb)Se2Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.HA.05ChalcostibiteCuSbS2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.HA.10MiargyriteAgSbS2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.HA.20SunshuiteFeBi2S4Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.HA.20GaravelliteFeSbBiS4Orth.
2.HA.20BerthieriteFeSb2S4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.HA.20GraţianiteMnBi2S4Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.HA.20CleriteMnSb2S4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.HA.25AramayoiteAg3Sb2(Bi,Sb)S6Tric. 1 : P1
2.HA.30ZhonghongiteCu29(As,Sb)12S33Orth. mm2 : Fmm2

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for BaumstarkiteHide

References for BaumstarkiteHide

Localities for BaumstarkiteHide

Showing 11 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Bolivia
 
  • Potosí
    • Antonio Quijarro Province
      • Porco Municipality
        • Agua de Castilla
          • Porco
Kempff et al. (La Paz, 2009)
    • Sud Chichas Province
      • Atocha Municipality
        • Chocaya-Animas mining district (Animas-Chocaya mining district)
France
 
  • Grand Est
    • Haut-Rhin
      • Colmar-Ribeauvillé
        • Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines
N. MEISSER 2015 analysis
            • Saint Jacques vein
Weiß (2002)
This mine worked the same vein as Gabe ... +2 other references
Greece
 
  • Attica
    • East Attica
      • Lavreotiki
Rieck et al. (2020)
        • Plaka
          • Plaka Mines
Rieck et al. (2020)
Italy
 
  • Lombardy
    • Lecco Province
      • Introbio
Guastoni A. et al. (2016)
Japan
 
  • Hokkaidō Prefecture
    • Ishikari Subprefecture
      • Chitose City
Kitakaze et al. (2012)
Peru (TL)
 
  • Huancavelica
    • Castrovirreyna Province
      • Santa Ana District
Jahn (2001) +3 other references
Romania
 
  • Hunedoara County
    • Certeju de Sus
Dincă et al. (2025)
 
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