Chemical

Mineral Ores
formula
Crystal structure Color Hardness cleavage Density

Pyrargyrite Tetragonal

Deep red or red

Ag3SbS3 2½ Distinct/Good 5.82 g/cm3
gray

Isometric Colourless (fresh);

Chlorargyrite bright chartreuse-
green, light yellow,
AgCl light green, grey; 1½ - 2½ None Observed 5.556 g/cm3
sliver becoming violet-
brown on exposure
to light.
Orthorhombic
Stephanite

Ag5SbS4 Lead gray or black 2 - 2½ Imperfect/Fair 6.26 g/cm3

 Proustite Trigonal

Scarlet, Vermilion
Ag3AsS3 2 - 2½ Distinct/Good 5.57 g/cm3
or reddish gray

sliver Monoclinic
Acanthite

Ag2S lead grey, black 2 - 2½ None Observed 7.2 - 7.4 g/cm3

Pyrite Isometric

FeS2 Pale brass-yellow 6 - 6½ Poor/Indistinct 4.8 - 5 g/cm3

Galena Isometric

sulfur PbS Lead-grey 2½ perfect 7.60 g/cm3

Wurtzite Hexagonal
Dark reddish-brown
(Zn,Fe)S to black, orange- 3½ - 4 Very Good 4 - 4.1 g/cm3
brown

Chalcopyrite CuFeS2 Tetragonal Brass yellow, often 3½ - 4 Poor/Indistinct 4.1 - 4.3 g/cm3
 with an iridescent
tarnish.

Baryte
Colourless, white,
Orthorhombic yellow, brown,
grey, blue, etc.;
colourless in
BaSO4 3 Perfect 4.50 g/cm3
transmitted light
(also tinted yellow,
brown, green, blue,
etc.)