Samsonite (mineral)

Samsonite
Samsonite crystal from its type locality Samson Mine, St. Andreasberg, Harz, Germany
General
Category	Sulfosalt minerals
Formula (repeating unit)	Ag4MnSb2S6
Strunz classification	2.GA.15
Crystal system	Monoclinic
Space group	Monoclinic - prismatic H-M symbol (2/m)
Unit cell	a = 10.3861(6) Å, b = 8.1108(7) Å, c = 6.663(7) Å; β = 92.639(12)°; Z = 2
Identification
Color	Black
Mohs scale hardness	2½
Luster	Metallic
Diaphaneity	Opaque
Specific gravity	5.461 (calculated)
References

Samsonite is a silver manganese antimony sulfosalt mineral with formula Ag₄MnSb₂S₆. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with a typical slender radiating prismatic habit. It is metallic black to steel black with no cleavage and a brittle to conchoidal fracture. In thin fragments it appears reddish brown in transmitted light and also leaves a red streak. It is soft, Mohs hardness of 2.5, and has a specific gravity of 5.51.

It was first named in 1910 after an occurrence in the Samson Vein of the Sankt Andreasberg silver mines, Harz Mountains, Germany.

See also

• Classification of minerals
• List of minerals

References

• Palache, C., H. Berman, and C. Frondel (1944) Dana’s system of mineralogy, (7th edition), v. I, pp. 393–395