Valentinite
1120797
191403900
2008-02-14T12:10:11Z
Rhanyeia
4370225
wikilinked chemical formula
[[Image:Mineraly.sk - valentinit.jpg|right|thumb|A sample of valentinite]]
'''Valentinite''' is an [[Antimony trioxide|antimony oxide]] mineral with formula [[antimony|Sb]]<sub>2</sub>[[oxygen|O]]<sub>3</sub>. Valentinite crystallizes in the [[orthorhombic]] system and typically forms as radiating clusters of [[euhedral]] crystals or as fibrous masses. It is colorless to white with occasional shades or tints of yellow and red. It has a [[Mohs hardness]] of 2.5 to 3 and a [[specific gravity]] of 5.6 to 5.8. Valentinite occurs as a [[weathering]] product of [[stibnite]] and other antimony minerals. It is dimorphous with the [[Cubic (crystal system)|isometric]] antimony oxide [[senarmontite]].
==Historical data==
A mineral named in the middle of the 19th century in honour of [[Basilius Valentinus]], a writer on alchemy, whose identity is rather a problem. There are considerable difference of opinion as to when exactly he was supposed to have lived (16th or 17th centuries). But he is the supposed author of the first book to give a detailed description of antimony and its compounds. From the contents of the book it is also obvious that [[Valentinus]] was familiar with the synthetic preparation of antimony trioxide, which was called 'the antimony flower'.</p>
<p> [[Valentinite]] was first discovered near [[Allemont]] in [[France]] towards the end of the 18th century; the first description of its occurrence in the region of [[Pribram]] in [[Bohemia]] comes roughly from the same time. This particular locality at one time produced the very best crystals of this mineral. The largest crystals found there measured up to 3 cm. Grouped in ruch druses, they developed in vein cavities with galena. Such specimens were very rare and much valued by collectors. Each crystal was worth a gold ducat. The renowned [[Belsazar Hacquet]] (1739-1815), who was born in [[France]], trained as a doctor and then became a brilliant geologist who centred his attention on the mineral world of central [[Europe]], complained in one of his treatises that he actually had to pay two ducats for a single crystal of valentinite from [[Pribram]]. Valentinite is a weathering product of antimony veins, where it forms as a seondary mineral through oxidation in the upper parts of the deposits. It forms
columnar to needle-shaped crystals. A rich deposit of valentinite has been found only in one locality- the [[Constantine, Algeria|Constantine]] province of [[Algeria]]. This is the only deposit where it is mined as an ore, with 83% antimony. In all other locations it occurs in negligible quantities.
==See also==
*[[Antimony trioxide]]
*[[List of minerals]]
*[[List of minerals named after people]]
==References==
* [http://webmineral.com/data/Valentinite.shtml Webmineral]
* [http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/oxides/valentin/valentin.htm Mineral galleries]
* [http://www.mindat.org/show.php?id=4135&ld=1&pho= Mindat with location data]
[[Category:Antimony minerals]]
[[Category:Oxide minerals]]
[[ca:Valentinita]]
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[[uk:Валентиніт]]