Native antimony

Native antimony
Native antimony. Matilde mine, La Viñuela, Málaga, Spain
General
Category	Native elements
Formula (repeating unit)	Sb
IMA symbol	Sb
Strunz classification	1.CA.05
Dana classification	1.3.14.4
Crystal system	Trigonal
Crystal class	Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Identification
Color	Tin-white
Crystal habit	Crystalline masses
Twinning	According to {0114}
Cleavage	Perfect according to {0001}
Fracture	Irregular
Tenacity	Brittle
Mohs scale hardness	3-3.5
Luster	Metallic
Streak	Grey
Diaphaneity	Opaque
Specific gravity	6.61-6.71
Optical properties	Anisotropic

Native antimony is a mineral belonging to the group of native elements, with properties equivalent to those of the antimony element obtained by processing its ores. The name comes from the Latin antimonium. For centuries, the term antimony was also used to refer to stibnite or antimonite, the most common mineral containing this element, from which it was typically extracted. In mineralogy, the official name is simply antimony, although, as with other native elements, it is often referred to as native antimony to avoid ambiguity. It is unclear where native antimony was first discovered, although the Sala silver mine in Västmanland, Sweden, is considered the type locality.^[1]