Formula: Sb

Species:

Colour: Tin-white

Lustre: Metallic

Hardness: 3 – 3½

Specific Gravity: 6.61 – 6.71

Crystal System: Trigonal

Member of: Arsenic Group

Name: From the medieval latin ‘antimonium’, originally applied to stibnite. The etymology is uncertain; the popular etymology, from ἀντίμοναχός anti-monachos or French antimoine, still has adherents; this would mean “monk-killer”, and is explained by many early alchemists being monks, and antimony being poisonous. Another popular etymology is the hypothetical Greek word ἀντίμόνος antimonos, “against aloneness”, explained as “not found as metal”, or “not found unalloyed” [from Wikipedia].

Type Locality:  Sala Silver Mine, Sala, Västmanland County – Sweden

Metallic antimony is an extremely brittle metal with a flaky, crystalline texture.