Mineralogy of the Stibnite-Antimonselite Series

Minerals of the stibnite-antimonselite series, in close association with tiemannite, clausthalite, kullerudite, Se-bearing stibioluzonite, native gold, quartz, and barite, were discovered in Cambrian stratabound gold deposits at La'erma and Qiongmo, western Qinling, China. Based on S/(S + Se) ratios of microprobe analyses, the binary stibnite-antimonselite system is divided into four series: stibnite, Se-stibnite, S-antimonselite, and antimonselite. Micro-hardness of the stibnite series (Sb = 58.47 to 72.99 wt%, S = 11.86 to 28.76, and Se = 0.00 to 29.12) and the antimonselite series (Sb = 48.94 to 59.13 wt%, Se = 29.20 to 46.86, S = 1.99 to 11.43) is 101.26 and 103 kg/mm2, respectively. Representative reflectivities of the four series are (470 nm) Rg'= 42.62 to 47.62%, Rp' = 30.83 to 40.55%; (550 nm) Rg' = 41.84 to 46.75%, Rp'= 31.48 to 38.85%; (590 nm) Rg' = 42.25 to 46.63%, Rp' = 30.73 to 39.46%; (650 nm) Rg' = 43.30 to 46.48%, Rp' = 30.01 to 41.56%. Cell parameters obtained from two stibnite samples (containing 3 to 5% Se) are a = 1.1209 to 1.1212 nm, b = 1.1299 to 1.1303 nm, c = 0.3847 to 0.3849 nm; and those of S-antimonselite and antimonselite are a = 1.1591 to 1.1593 nm, b = 1.1724 to 1.1747 nm, and c = 0.3941 to 0.3984 nm.