Log InRegister
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreOur ScienceMindat Newsletter [Free Download]Contact Us
Donate to MindatSponsor a PageCorporate SponsorshipSponsored Pages
Learning CenterWhat Is a Mineral?The Most Common Minerals on EarthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesMindat Newsletter [Free Download]The ElementsThe Mineral Quiz
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDMinerals by CountryAlphabetical Mineral IndexAlphabetical Locality SearchMineral Association SearchList of CountriesLocalities Near MePhoto SearchSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMore Search Options
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
MineralsPetrologyFossilsMeteoritesGeologic Time
Mining CompaniesStatisticsMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsDevice SettingsTime Machine
Read DiscussionsIdentification Request
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColourPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Paracostibite

A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Formula:
CoSbS
Colour:
White with a faint grayish tinge
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
7
Specific Gravity:
6.9 - 6.97
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named from the Greek 'para' for near, and costibite, for the polymorphic relationship to that mineral.
Dimorph of:
Costibite
Appears to be the high-temperature polymorph of CoSbS (Cabri et al., 1970).

Compare willyamite.


Hide all sections | Show all sections

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3085
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3085:0

IMA Classification of ParacostibiteHide

Classification of ParacostibiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.EB.10e

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
E : Metal Sulfides, M: S <= 1:2
B : M:S = 1:2, with Fe, Co, Ni, PGE, etc.
Dana 8th ed.:
2.12.7.2

2 : SULFIDES
12 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:2
Hey's CIM Ref.:
3.10.14

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
10 : Sulphides etc. of Co

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
PcsbIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of ParacostibiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
White with a faint grayish tinge
Hardness:
7 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN15=936 - 1031 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
6.9 - 6.97 g/cm3 (Measured)    

Optical Data of ParacostibiteHide

Anisotropism:
Weak
Bireflectance:
Weak, white in colour with a faint greyish tinge
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
470nm47.8%46.9%
546nm48.1%47.5%
589nm48.4%47.7%
650nm48.8%48.0%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 48.8%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Weak

Chemistry of ParacostibiteHide

Mindat Formula:
CoSbS
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Sb57.229 %
Co27.700 %
S15.071 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Sb
Co
S
Elements listed:
Co, S, Sb - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
Fe,Ni,As

Chemical AnalysisHide

wt%
 1
Co26.6 %
Fe0.5 %
Ni0.7 %
Sb56.1 %
S14.9 %
Total:98.8 %
Empirical formulas:
Sample IDEmpirical Formula
1(Co0.97Fe0.02Ni0.03)Sb0.99S1.00
Sample references:
IDLocalityReferenceNotes
1Trout Bay Copper Mine, Mulcahy Township, Kenora District, Ontario, Canada
Cabri, L. J., Harris, D. C., Stewart, J. M. (1970) Paracostibite (CoSbS) and nisbite (NiSb2), new minerals from the Red Lake area, Ontario, Canada. The Canadian Mineralogist, 10 (2) 232-246
EMPA analysis of a grain from a polished thin section. Paracostibite is associated with galena and chalkopyrite.

Crystallography of ParacostibiteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pbca
Setting:
Pbca
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.76 Å, b = 5.94 Å, c = 11.66 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.97 : 1 : 1.963
Unit Cell V:
398.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File    Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0005115ParacostibiteRowland J F, Gabe E J, Hall S R (1975) The crystal structures of costibite (CoSbS) and paracostibite(CoSbS) The Canadian Mineralogist 13 188-19619750293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.555 Å(10)
2.035 Å(8)
5.81 Å(8)
1.853 Å(8)
2.826 Å(7)
2.654 Å(7)
2.976 Å(4)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of ParacostibiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Trout Bay Copper Mine, Mulcahy Township, Kenora District, Ontario, Canada
General Appearance of Type Material:
Irregular and subhedral grains up to about 130 microns.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Mineral Collection, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
'Antimonial Silver'ChalcopyriteGalenaPyrargyritePyrrhotite
Sphalerite
Reference:
Cabri, L. J., Harris, D. C., Stewart, J. M. (1970) Paracostibite (CoSbS) and nisbite (NiSb2), new minerals from the Red Lake area, Ontario, Canada. The Canadian Mineralogist, 10 (2) 232-246

Synonyms of ParacostibiteHide

Other Language Names for ParacostibiteHide

Relationship of Paracostibite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Löllingite Group
Other Members of Löllingite Group:
AlloclasiteCo1-xFexAsSMon. 2 : P21
AnduoiteRuAs2Orth.
ClinosaffloriteCoAs2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
CostibiteCoSbSOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
LöllingiteFeAs2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
NisbiteNiSb2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
OeniteCoSbAsOrth.
OmeiiteOsAs2Orth.
PararammelsbergiteNiAs2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
RammelsbergiteNiAs2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
Safflorite(Co,Ni,Fe)As2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
'UM1998-01-AsSb:CoFeNi'(Fe,Ni)SbAs

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
3 photos of Paracostibite associated with CostibiteCoSbS
3 photos of Paracostibite associated with ChalcopyriteCuFeS2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.EB.SelenolauriteRuSe2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.AndrieslombaarditeRhSbSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.Iridarsenite(Ir,Ru)As2Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.EB.Kanatzidisite(SbBiS3)2Te2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.EB.05aVaesiteNiS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aHaueriteMnS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aLauriteRuS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aGaotaiiteIr3Te8Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aPenroseite(Ni,Co,Cu)Se2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aFukuchiliteCu3FeS8Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aVillamanĂ­nite(Cu,Ni,Co,Fe)S2Tric.
2.EB.05aErlichmaniteOsS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aSperrylitePtAs2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aGeversitePtSb2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aCattieriteCoS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aAurostibiteAuSb2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aTrogtaliteCoSe2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05a v'Cayeuxite'
2.EB.05aKruƄaiteCuSe2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aPyriteFeS2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05aInsizwaitePtBi2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.05bBambollaiteCu(Se,Te)2Tet.
2.EB.05aDzharkeniteFeSe2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.10aMarcasiteFeS2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10fOeniteCoSbAsOrth.
2.EB.10ePararammelsbergiteNiAs2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
2.EB.10aMattagamiteCoTe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10aFrohbergiteFeTe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10dCostibiteCoSbSOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
2.EB.10bAlloclasiteCo1-xFexAsSMon. 2 : P21
2.EB.10cGlaucodot(Co0.50Fe0.50)AsSOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
2.EB.10aPetƙíčekiteCuSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10aKulleruditeNiSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.10aFerroseliteFeSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15bSeinÀjokiteFeSb2Orth.
2.EB.15aRammelsbergiteNiAs2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15aClinosaffloriteCoAs2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
2.EB.15cPaxiteCuAs2Mon. 2/m : P21/c
2.EB.15aNisbiteNiSb2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15aLöllingiteFeAs2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15aSafflorite(Co,Ni,Fe)As2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
2.EB.15aOmeiiteOsAs2Orth.
2.EB.15aAnduoiteRuAs2Orth.
2.EB.20ArsenopyriteFeAsSMon. 2/m : P21/c
2.EB.20Ruarsite(Ru,Os)AsSMon.
2.EB.20Osarsite(Os,Ru)AsSMon.
2.EB.20GudmunditeFeSbSMon. 2/m : P21/c
2.EB.25MayingiteIrBiTeIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25MaslovitePtBiTeIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25ParagersdorffiteNi(As,S)2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25OrthogersdorffiteNiAsSOrth. mm2 : Pca21
2.EB.25SulfopadmaitePdBiSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25JolliffeiteNiAsSeIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25CobaltiteCoAsSOrth. mm2 : Pca21
2.EB.25GuixiangiteNiBiSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25TestibiopalladitePdSbTeIso.
2.EB.25 va'Antimony-bearing Gersdorffite'Ni(As,Sb)S
2.EB.25KalungaitePdAsSeIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25Hollingworthite(Rh,Pt,Pd)AsSIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25MicheneritePdBiTeIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25GersdorffiteNiAsSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25MilotaitePdSbSeIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25TolovkiteIrSbSIso.
2.EB.25'Platarsite'Pt(As,S)2Iso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.25WillyamiteCoSbS
2.EB.25ChangchengiteIrBiSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25KvačekiteNiSbSeIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25KrutoviteNiAs2Iso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25PadmaitePdBiSeIso. 432
2.EB.25UllmanniteNiSbSIso. 23 : P213
2.EB.25Irarsite(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsSIso. m3(2/m3) : Pa3
2.EB.30UrvantsevitePd(Bi,Pb)2Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm
2.EB.35RheniiteReS2Tric. 1 : P1

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for ParacostibiteHide

References for ParacostibiteHide

Localities for ParacostibiteHide

Showing 12 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia
 
  • New South Wales
    • Yancowinna Co.
      • Broken Hill district
Worner et al. (1982)
Lawrence et al. (1999) +1 other reference
Austria
 
  • Salzburg
    • Zell am See District
      • Bramberg am Wildkogel
        • Nasenkopf mountain
Taucher J. (1996)
Canada (TL)
 
  • Ontario
    • Kenora District
      • Mulcahy Township
Cabri et al. (1970)
Japan
 
  • Iwate Prefecture
    • Kamaishi City
Ichikawa and Matsueda (1980)
Russia
 
  • Primorsky Krai
    • Dalnerechensky District
      • Malinovsky cluster
Gvozdev et al. (2016)
Sweden
 
  • GĂ€vleborg County
    • Sandviken
Kieft et al. (1984)
  • Örebro County
    • Askersund
      • Hammar
Zakrzewski et al. (1986)
    • HĂ€llefors
      • Grythyttan
Burke et al. (1990)
  • VĂ€rmland County
    • Filipstad
      • Persberg ore district
        • Getön
        • GruvĂ„sen mines
Zakrzewski et al. (1980)
UK
 
  • England
    • Cornwall
      • St Just
        • Botallack
          • Botallack Mine
Golley et al. (1995)
Quick NavTopUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Chemical AnalysisCrystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
 
and/or  
Mindat.orgÂź is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. MindatÂź and mindat.orgÂź are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: October 13, 2026 14:29:11 Page updated: September 13, 2026 18:43:01
Go to top of page