Argentite, a
mineral which belongs to the
galena group, is cubic
silver sulfide (
Ag2S). It is occasionally found as uneven
cubes and
octahedra, but more often as dendritic or earthy masses, with a blackish lead-grey color and metallic lustre. The cubic
cleavage, which is so prominent a feature in galena, here present only in traces. The mineral is perfectly sectile and has a shining streak; hardness 2.5, specific gravity 7.3. It occurs in mineral veins, and when found in large masses, as in is
Mexico and in the
Comstock Lode in
Nevada, it forms an important
ore of silver. The mineral was mentioned 1529 by
G. Agricola, but the name argentite (from the
Lat. argentum, silver) was not used till
1845 and is due to
W. Haidinger. Old names for the species are Glaserz, silver-glance and vitreous silver. A cupriferous variety, from
Jalpa in
Mexico, is known as jalpaite.
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