Mineral description : Proustite

Mineral class Sulphides : Proustite stephanite group

Chemical formula Ag₃AsS₃

Crystal system Trigonal

Habitus Often massive. Crystals prismatic with rhombohedral and scalenohedral terminations. Sometimes with different terminations on each side of the crystal.

Cleavage Distinct in three directions, forming rhombohedrons, fracture conchoidal.

Hardness 2 - 2.5

Density 5.6

Color Bright red to reddish orange, translucent to transparent.

Streak Light red.

Luster Adamantine.

Description

Occurance

Associates Pyrargyrite, tetrahedrite, calcite, quartz, galena, sphalerite.

Notes When exposed to light a white film forms on crystal faces.

Locations A common mineral but rare in Sweden.

Sala silver mine, Sala, Västmanland. As fillings in fractures.
Slädekärrgruvan, Dalsland.
Harmsarvet, Dalarna.
Boliden, Västerbotten.
Långdalsgruvan, Västerbotten.
Laver, Västerbotten.

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Last changed : 1998-03-07

Mineral class	Sulphides : Proustite stephanite group
Chemical formula	Ag₃AsS₃
Crystal system	Trigonal
Habitus	Often massive. Crystals prismatic with rhombohedral and scalenohedral terminations. Sometimes with different terminations on each side of the crystal.
Cleavage	Distinct in three directions, forming rhombohedrons, fracture conchoidal.
Hardness	2 - 2.5
Density	5.6
Color	Bright red to reddish orange, translucent to transparent.
Streak	Light red.
Luster	Adamantine.
Description
Occurance
Associates	Pyrargyrite, tetrahedrite, calcite, quartz, galena, sphalerite.
Notes	When exposed to light a white film forms on crystal faces.
Locations	A common mineral but rare in Sweden. Sala silver mine, Sala, Västmanland. As fillings in fractures. Slädekärrgruvan, Dalsland. Harmsarvet, Dalarna. Boliden, Västerbotten. Långdalsgruvan, Västerbotten. Laver, Västerbotten.