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Valentinite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Valentinite
Basil Valentine
Formula:
Sb2O3
Colour:
Colourless, white, light gray, light yellow
Lustre:
Adamantine, Pearly
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
5.76
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named after Basilius Valentinus (Anglicized: Basil Valentine) (1394? Mainz, Germany - 1450 Germany?), who wrote about the properties of antimony. Valentinus may have been a real 15th-century chemist, but some historians argue that it was a pseudonym used by one or more 16th-century German authors.
Whoever he was, Basil Valentine had considerable knowledge of chemistry. He demonstrated that ammonia could be obtained by the action of alkali on salammoniac (ammonium chloride), described the production of hydrochloric acid by acidifying brine of common salt (sodium chloride), and created ethyl chloride and oil of vitriol (sulfuric acid), among other achievements.
Whoever he was, Basil Valentine had considerable knowledge of chemistry. He demonstrated that ammonia could be obtained by the action of alkali on salammoniac (ammonium chloride), described the production of hydrochloric acid by acidifying brine of common salt (sodium chloride), and created ethyl chloride and oil of vitriol (sulfuric acid), among other achievements.
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Valentinite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4135
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4135:1
IMA Classification of Valentinite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Sb3+2O3
Classification of Valentinite
4.CB.55
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
B : With medium-sized cations
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
B : With medium-sized cations
4.3.11.1
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
7.13.4
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
13 : Oxides of As, Sb and Bi
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
13 : Oxides of As, Sb and Bi
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Vln | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Valentinite
Adamantine, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, white, light gray, light yellow
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {110}, imperfect on {010}
on {110}, imperfect on {010}
Density:
5.76 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.76 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Valentinite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 2.18 nβ = 2.35 nγ = 2.35
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.170
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (-0°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (-0°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Dispersion:
extreme
Chemistry of Valentinite
Mindat Formula:
Sb2O3
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
As
Crystallography of Valentinite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pccn
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.91 Å, b = 12.46 Å, c = 5.42 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.394 : 1 : 0.435
Unit Cell V:
331.59 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Commonly prismatic either [001] or [100]; also tabular {010}. Prism faces often rounded by striations parallel to [001], and the brachydomes are striated [100]. Fan-shaped or stellate aggregates, in bundles and druses and as aggregates of thin plates. Massive, with lamellar, columnar, or granular structure.
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009500 | Valentinite | Svensson C (1974) The crystal structure of orthorhombic antimony trioxide, Sb2O3 Acta Crystallographica B30 458-461 |  | 1974 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0012431 | Valentinite | Whitten A E, Dittrich B, Spackman M A, Turner P, Brown T C (2004) Charge density analysis of two polymorphs of antimony(III) oxide Dalton Transactions 2004 23-29 | 2004 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0010568 | Valentinite | Buerger M J, Hendricks S B (1938) The crystal structure of valentinite Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 98 1-30 |  | 1938 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000015 | Valentinite | Buerger M J (1936) The crystal structure of valentinite American Mineralogist 21 206-207 | 1936 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.571 Å | (18) |
| 3.494 Å | (25) |
| 3.174 Å | (20) |
| 3.142 Å | (100) |
| 3.118 Å | (75) |
| 2.650 Å | (14) |
| 1.8046 Å | (20) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals | |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Valentinite
Synonyms of Valentinite
Other Language Names for Valentinite
Dutch:Valentiniet
French:Antimoine oxydé
Chaux d'antimoine natif
Exitèle
Acide antimonieux (in part)
Chaux d'antimoine natif
Exitèle
Acide antimonieux (in part)
German:Valentinit
Antimonblüte
Antimonige Säure
Antimonophyllit
Antimon-Phyllit
Antimonphyllit
Antimonspat
Antimonspath
Weißspießglanzerz
Weißspießglaserz
Antimonblüte
Antimonige Säure
Antimonophyllit
Antimon-Phyllit
Antimonphyllit
Antimonspat
Antimonspath
Weißspießglanzerz
Weißspießglaserz
Italian:Antimonio bianco
Russian:Валентинит
Swedish:Antimonblomma
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 217 photos of Valentinite associated with Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
| 116 photos of Valentinite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 100 photos of Valentinite associated with Kermesite | Sb2S2O |
| 78 photos of Valentinite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 57 photos of Valentinite associated with Senarmontite | Sb2O3 |
| 51 photos of Valentinite associated with Stibiconite | Sb3+Sb5+2O6(OH) |
| 47 photos of Valentinite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 41 photos of Valentinite associated with Native Antimony | Sb |
| 28 photos of Valentinite associated with Native Sulphur | S8 |
| 20 photos of Valentinite associated with Metastibnite | Sb2S3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.CB. | Magnesiohögbomite-6N12S | Mg5Al11TiO23(OH) |
| 4.CB. | Kidodite | BaMg2Fe16O27 |
| 4.CB. | Ferrohögbomite-2N2S | [(Fe2+,Mg,Zn,Al)3(Al,Ti,Fe3+)8O15(OH)]2 |
| 4.CB. | Zhenruite | (MoO3)2 · H2O |
| 4.CB. | Fuyuanite | Mg7Nb6O18(OH)8 |
| 4.CB. | Virgilluethite | MoO3 · H2O |
| 4.CB. | Pengite | (Pb8Sb3+3)Σ11Sb5+9O35 |
| 4.CB.05 | Brizziite | NaSb5+O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Tistarite | Ti3+2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Ecandrewsite | ZnTiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Melanostibite | Mn2+2Fe3+Sb5+O6 |
| 4.CB.05 | 'UM1998-11-O-AuHSb' | Au+2Sb3+O2(OH) |
| 4.CB.05 | Karelianite | V3+2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Corundum | Al2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Eskolaite | Cr2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Geikielite | MgTiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Akimotoite | MgSiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | 'Unnamed (Fe-Cr Oxide)' | FeCrO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | 'Auroantimonate' | AuSbO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Hemleyite | Fe2+SiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Pyrophanite | Mn2+TiO3 |
| 4.CB.10 |
Nador N'Bails Mine, Djebel Nador, Hammam N'Bails District, Guelma Province, Algeria