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Formula: Ag3SbS3
Sulphosalt, proustite group, forms a series with
proustite, trigonal
paramorph of monoclinic
pyradoketosite and low-temperatute monoclinic
pyrostilpnite
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 5.82 measured, 5.855 calculated
Hardness: 2½； to 3
Streak: Cherry red
Colour: Red to black
Solubility: Slightly soluble in nitric acid
Common impurities: As
Environments:
Pyrargyrite is a late-stage, low temperature mineral in the enrichment zone of
epithermal (low temperature) hydrothermal
silver ore veins. Also formed by secondary
processes (Mindat, HOM). Associated minerals include silver,
acanthite, tetrahedrite, other
silver sulphosalts,
calcite, dolomite and
quartz
(HOM).
Localities
At Johanngeorgenstadt, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany, pyrargyrite was less common in the ore veins than
proustite, although often mixed with it and sometimes not distinguished from
it. Good crystals from the Gnade Gottes and Neujahr Maassen mines have survived in collections. Pyrargyrite,
with native silver and proustite, was
plentiful in a rich ore concentration with baryte, exploited in 1803 and 1804.
In the Georg Wagsfort and Neujahr mines, massive, pure pyrargyrite occurred in layers from 10 to 12 cm thick.
Massive and crystallised pyrargyrite occurred also in other mines in the area. During the heyday of silver mining
in the 17th century, pyrargyrite was encountered at depths of about 20 metres in the Gotthelf Schaller and
Silberkammer mines. During the final mining period, 1945 to 1958, there were only small, isolated finds of
pyrargyrite
At the Santa Catarina mine, Guanajuato, Mexico, acanthite
pseudomorphs
after pyrargyrite have been found
(KL p125).
At Zacatecas, Mexico, silver pseudomorphs
after pyrargyrite have been found
(KL p118).
Pyrargyrite from Zacatecas - Image
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