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In mineralogy, argentite (from Latin argentum ' silver') is cubic silver sulfide (Ag₂S), which can only exist at temperatures above 173 °C (343 °F),^[1] 177 °C (351 °F),^[2] or 179 °C (354 °F).^[3] When it cools to ordinary temperatures it turns into its monoclinic polymorph, acanthite.^[2]^[3] The International Mineralogical Association has decided to reject argentite as a proper mineral.^[3]

The name "argentite" sometimes also refers to pseudomorphs of argentite: specimens of acanthite which still display some of the outward signs of the cubic crystal form, even though their actual crystal structure is monoclinic due to the lower temperature.^[2]^[1] This form of acanthite is occasionally found as uneven cubes and octahedra, but more often as dendritic or earthy masses, with a blackish lead-grey color and metallic luster.^[4]

Argentite belongs to the galena group. Cleavage, which is so prominent a feature in galena, here presents only in traces. The mineral is perfectly sectile and has a shining streak; hardness 2.5, specific gravity is 7.2–7.4. It occurs in mineral veins, and when found in large masses, as in Mexico and in the Comstock Lode in Nevada, it forms an important ore of silver. The mineral was mentioned in 1529 by G. Agricola, but the name argentite was not used till 1845 and is due to W. Haidinger. Old names for the species are Glaserz, silver-glance and vitreous silver. A related copper-rich mineral occurring e.g. in Jalpa, Zacatecas, Mexico, is known as jalpaite.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b "Argentit" (in German). Mineralienatlas Lexikon.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Argentite". Mindat.org.
^ ^a ^b ^c Argentite Mineral Data, WebMineral.com
^ ^a ^b Spencer 1911.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Spencer, Leonard James (1911). "Argentite". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 475.

External links

[de-1] "Argentit" (in German). Mineralienatlas Lexikon.

[Mindat-2] "Argentite". Mindat.org.

[Webmin-3] Argentite Mineral Data, WebMineral.com

[FOOTNOTESpencer1911-4] Spencer 1911.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

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 [[Image:Argentite-unit-cell-3D-balls.png|thumb|The unit cell of '''argentite''']]
+In [[mineralogy]], '''argentite''' ({{etymology|la|{{wikt-lang|la|argentum}}| silver}}) is [[cubic crystal system|cubic]] [[silver sulfide]] (Ag<sub>2</sub>S), which can only exist at temperatures above {{cvt|173|C|F}},<ref name=de>{{cite web |url=https://mineralienatlas.de/lexikon/index.php/MineralData?mineral=Argentit |title=Argentit |publisher=Mineralienatlas Lexikon |language=de}}</ref> {{cvt|177|C|F}},<ref name=Mindat>{{Mindat |id=326 |name=Argentite}}</ref> or {{cvt|179|C|F}}.<ref name=Webmin>{{WebMineral |url=https://webmineral.com/data/Argentite.shtml |title=Argentite Mineral Data}}</ref> When it cools to ordinary temperatures it turns into its [[monoclinic]] [[Polymorphism (materials science)|polymorph]], [[acanthite]].<ref name=Mindat/><ref name=Webmin/> The [[International Mineralogical Association]] has decided to reject argentite as a proper mineral.<ref name=Webmin/>
-'''Argentite''' was primarily treated as a [[mineral]] belonging to the [[galena]] group, cubic [[silver]] [[sulfide]] ([[silver sulfide|Ag<sub>2</sub>S]]), occasionally found as uneven [[cube]]s and [[octahedron|octahedra]], but more often as dendritic or earthy masses, with a blackish lead-grey color and metallic lustre. All these forms are structurally not argentite, but its monoclinic polymorph, [[acanthite]]. Due to instability in normal air temperature, the [[IMA]] commission decided to reject this mineral, which now is a discredited mineral species. The cubic [[Cleavage (crystal)|cleavage]], which is so prominent a feature in galena, here present only in traces. The mineral is perfectly sectile and has a shining streak; hardness 2.5, specific gravity 7.2-7.4 It occurs in mineral veins, and when found in large masses, as in is [[Mexico]] and in the [[Comstock Lode]] in [[Nevada]], it forms an important [[ore]] of silver. The mineral was mentoned 1529 by [[G. Agricola]], but the name argentite (from the [[Latin|Lat.]] ''argentum'', silver) was not used till 1845 and is due to [[W. Haidinger]]. Old names for the species are '''Glaserz''', '''silver-glance''' and '''vitreous silver'''. A related Cu-rich mineral occurring i.e. in [[Jalpa]], [[Mexico]], is known as '''jalpaite'''.
+The name "argentite" sometimes also refers to [[pseudomorph]]s of argentite: specimens of acanthite which still display some of the outward signs of the cubic crystal form, even though their actual crystal structure is monoclinic due to the lower temperature.<ref name=Mindat/><ref name=de/> This form of acanthite is occasionally found as uneven [[cube]]s and [[octahedron|octahedra]], but more often as dendritic or earthy masses, with a blackish lead-grey color and metallic luster.{{sfn|Spencer|1911}}
-'''Acanthite''', also Ag<sub>2</sub>S, crystallizes in the [[monoclinic]] system and is the stable form below 177<sup>o</sup>C. As argentite cools below that temperature its cubic form is distorted to the monclinic form of acanthite. Thus, acanthite is only stable in normal air temperature and only this form is naturally found.
+Argentite belongs to the [[galena]] group. [[Cleavage (crystal)|Cleavage]], which is so prominent a feature in galena, here presents only in traces. The mineral is perfectly [[Sectility|sectile]] and has a shining streak; [[hardness]] 2.5, [[specific gravity]] is 7.2–7.4. It occurs in mineral veins, and when found in large masses, as in  [[Mexico]] and in the [[Comstock Lode]] in [[Nevada]], it forms an important [[ore]] of silver. The mineral was mentioned in 1529 by [[G. Agricola]], but the name ''argentite'' was not used till 1845 and is due to [[W. Haidinger]]. Old names for the species are ''Glaserz'', ''silver-glance'' and ''vitreous silver''. A related copper-rich mineral occurring e.g. in [[Jalpa, Zacatecas]], [[Mexico]], is known as [[jalpaite]].{{sfn|Spencer|1911}}
 ==References==
+{{Reflist}}
-*[http://www.mindat.org/min-10.html Mindat.org]
+*{{EB1911|first=Leonard James |last=Spencer|authorlink=Leonard James Spencer|wstitle=Argentite|volume=2|page=475}}
-*[http://www.webmineral.com/data/Argentite.shtml Webmineral.org]
-{{ores}}
 ==External links==
+{{Wiktionary}}
-{{Wikisource1911Enc Citation|Argentite}}
+{{Commons|position=left}}
-*{{1911}}
+{{Ores}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Silver minerals]]
 [[Category:Sulfide minerals]]
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