FREIESLEBENITE

    Class : Sulfides and sulfosalts
    Subclass : Sulfosalts
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : AgPbSbS3
    Rarity : Rare

Freieslebenite is a fairly rare complex sulfide of silver, lead and antimony. It is an accessory mineral of polymetallic lead and antimony veins, where it accompanies pyrite, galena, sphalerite, and many silver minerals. It was named in honor of the Saxon Mining Commissioner, Johann Karl Freiesleben, who described the mineral. Freieslebenite forms striated prismatic crystals parallel to the elongation according to [001], which can reach 2 cm.

Main photo : Freieslebenite from Himmelsfürst Mine, Brand-Erbisdorf, Saxony, Germany © Jordi Fabre

Freieslebenite from Neue Hoffnung Gottes Mine, Saxony, Germany © U. Haubenreisser
Freieslebenite from Silver tunnel, British Columbia, Canada © Stephan Wolfsried
Freieslebenite from Verdad de los Artistas Mine, Castile, Spain © Manfred Kampf
Freieslebenite from Himmelsfürst Mine, Saxony, Germany © Stephan Wolfsried

Freieslebenite in the World

The most beautiful freieslebenite crystals come from Hiendelaencina (Castile, Spain). Good specimens are also known from Freiberg (Germany) and Baia Sprie (Romania).

Freieslebenite in France

In France, freieslebenite is known in small beaches in Pontgibaud (Puy-de-Dôme).

Twinning

A twin plane is known on {010}, twins are often better visible in polished sections.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 2.5
Density : 6.2
Fracture : Irregular to conchoidal
Streak : Black

TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -


Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None