stibnite

stibnite
/stib"nuyt/, n.
a soft mineral, antimony sulfide, Sb2S3, lead-gray in color with a metallic luster, occurring in crystals, often acicular, or in bladed masses: the most important ore of antimony.
[1850-55; STIB(I)NE (in obs. sense "stibnite") + -ITE1]

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Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3), the principal ore of antimony.

This sulfide mineral has a brilliant metallic lustre, is lead or steel gray in colour, and fuses (melts) readily. Stibnite occurs in low-temperature hydrothermal veins (see hydrothermal ore deposits) and in replacement deposits. Significant deposits have been found in China, Japan, and the U.S. (Idaho, California, and Nevada). Stibnite is used in making matches, fireworks, and percussion caps and was used by the ancients as a cosmetic (called kohl) to increase the apparent size of the eye.

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      antimony sulfide (Sb2S3), the principal ore of antimony. This mineral has a brilliant metallic lustre, is lead- to steel-gray in colour, and fuses readily in a candle flame (at about 525° C [977° F]). It often possesses a bladed habit, is striated, and has one perfect cleavage. Stibnite occurs in massive forms in gneiss and granite. It is also found in limestone, presumably deposited by hot springs. Significant deposits of stibnite have been located in Hunan province, China; on the island of Shikoku, Japan; and in the western United States (Idaho, California, and Nevada).

      Stibnite and the analogous sulfides of arsenic and bismuth (orpiment and bismuthinite, respectively) form a group of minerals that have similar physical properties (see sulfide mineral [table]). Stibnite is used in the manufacture of matches, fireworks, and percussion caps and was used by the ancients as a cosmetic to increase the apparent size of the eye. Its crystals belong to the orthorhombic system.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Stibnite — Stib nite, n. (Min.) A mineral of a lead gray color and brilliant metallic luster, occurring in prismatic crystals; sulphide of antimony; called also {antimony glance}, and {gray antimony}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stibnite — [stib′nīt΄] n. [< STIBINE + ITE1] a soft, shiny, metallic gray, orthorhombic mineral, Sb2S3, often found in long, pointed crystals; antimony sulfide …   English World dictionary

  • Stibnite — Infobox mineral name = Stibnite category = boxwidth = boxbgcolor = caption = Stibnite in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History formula = antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) molweight = color = Steel gray to dull gray. Black iridescent tarnish may be… …   Wikipedia

  • Stibnite — Stibine (minéral) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Stibine. Stibine CatégorieII : sulfures et sulfosels …   Wikipédia en Français

  • stibnite — noun Etymology: alteration of obsolete English stibine stibnite, from French, from Latin stibium antimony, from Greek stibi, from Egyptian sṭm Date: circa 1854 a mineral that consists of the trisulfide of antimony and occurs in orthorhombic lead… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • stibnite — stib•nite [[t]ˈstɪb naɪt[/t]] n. mir a soft, lead gray mineral, antimony trisulfide, Sb2S3, found in radiating groups of long prismatic crystals and in granular masses: the principal ore of antimony • Etymology: 1850–55; stib ( i ) ne (in obs.… …   From formal English to slang

  • stibnite — antimonitas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Mineralas. formulė Sb₂S₃ atitikmenys: angl. antimonite; stibnite rus. антимонит; стибнит ryšiai: sinonimas – stibnitas …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • stibnite — noun a soft grey mineral; the chief ore of antimony • Hypernyms: ↑mineral • Substance Meronyms: ↑antimony, ↑Sb, ↑atomic number 51 * * * stibnite Min. (ˈstɪbnaɪt) [f …   Useful english dictionary

  • stibnite — noun A grey mineral, SbS, that is the main ore of antimony; used in ancient times as the cosmetic kohl. Syn: antimonite …   Wiktionary

  • stibnite — stib·nì·te s.f. TS mineral. → antimonite {{line}} {{/line}} DATA: 1927. ETIMO: comp. di stib(io) e (antimo)nite …   Dizionario italiano

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