argentite

American  

[ahr-juhn-tahyt] / ˈɑr dʒənˌtaɪt /

noun

1. a dark lead-gray sectile mineral, silver sulfide, Ag 2 S, occurring in crystals and as formless aggregates: an important ore of silver.

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argentite British  

/ ˈɑːdʒənˌtaɪt /

noun

1. a dark grey mineral that consists of silver sulphide, usually in cubic crystalline forms, and occurs in veins, often with native silver. It is found esp in Mexico, Nevada, and Saxony and is an important source of silver. Formula: Ag 2 S

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Etymology

Origin of argentite

First recorded in 1830–40; argent- + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

It occurs with argentite, chalybite and galena in the silver veins of the Himmelsf�rst mine at Freiberg, Saxony, where it has been known since 1720.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 1 "Franciscans" to "French Language" by Various

In the weathering of mercury deposits, cinnabar behaves somewhat like the corresponding silver sulphide, argentite.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)

Acanthite is a supposed dimorphous form, crystallizing in the orthorhombic system, but it is probable that the crystals are really distorted crystals of argentite.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 5 "Arculf" to "Armour, Philip" by Various

It is found native, and also combined with sulphur, arsenic, antimony, chlorine, etc., in the minerals argentite, proustite, pyrargyrite, ceragyrite, etc.

From The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary Section S by Project Gutenberg

Farther down it may be reprecipitated as native silver, argentite, and the sulpho-salts, by organic matter or by various sulphides.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)