FREIESLEBENITE Meaning and
Definition
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Freieslebenite is a mineral that belongs to the sulfosalt group, specifically a member of the Acanthite Group. It is named after the German minerologist, Johann Carl Freiesleben, who first identified the mineral. Freieslebenite is a rare silver antimony sulfosalt, with a chemical formula of AgPbSbS3.
This mineral is commonly found in hydrothermal environments, associated with other sulfide minerals. It typically forms as prismatic or bladed crystals, often occurring in aggregates or clusters with a silver-grey to steel-gray color. Freieslebenite has a metallic luster and a relatively high density.
The unique crystal structure of freieslebenite consists of alternating layers of lead and antimony sulfosalt groups, with silver atoms filling interlayer spaces. It is known for its high reflectivity and exhibits excellent cleavage on {010} crystal planes.
In terms of its physical properties, freieslebenite has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 to 3, indicating it is relatively soft. Its specific gravity ranges from 6.2 to 6.3, which makes it significantly denser than the average rock. Freieslebenite is non-radioactive and is not soluble in water.
Despite its scarcity, freieslebenite has some economic significance due to its silver content. It is occasionally mined as a minor silver ore in some regions. However, its primary importance lies in its role as a fascinating collector's mineral, sought after for its beautiful crystal formations and interesting associations with other minerals.
Common Misspellings for FREIESLEBENITE
- dreieslebenite
- creieslebenite
- vreieslebenite
- greieslebenite
- treieslebenite
- rreieslebenite
- feeieslebenite
- fdeieslebenite
- ffeieslebenite
- fteieslebenite
- f5eieslebenite
- f4eieslebenite
- frwieslebenite
- frsieslebenite
- frdieslebenite
- frrieslebenite
- fr4ieslebenite
- fr3ieslebenite
- freueslebenite
Etymology of FREIESLEBENITE
The word "Freieslebenite" originated from the name of a mineral called "freieslebenit". The mineral was first discovered in 1845 and named after German mineralogist Gustav Adolf Freiesleben (1806-1889). Freiesleben was a Professor of Mineralogy at the Bergakademie Freiberg in Germany. The suffix "-ite" is commonly added to mineral names to indicate that it is a mineral species. Therefore, the word "Freieslebenite" is derived from Gustav Adolf Freiesleben's name and the suffix "-ite", signifying that it is a mineral related to freieslebenit.
