polybasite

[ pol-ee-bey-sahyt, puh-lib-uh-sahyt ]

noun

1. a blackish mineral, Ag 9 SbS 6 : a minor ore of silver.

polybasite

/ ˌpɒlɪˈbeɪsaɪt; pəˈlɪbəˌsaɪt /

noun

1. a grey to black mineral consisting of a sulphide of silver, antimony, and copper in the form of platelike monoclinic crystals. It occurs in veins of silver ore. Formula: (Ag,Cu) 16 Sb 2 S 11

Word History and Origins

Origin of polybasite¹

From the German word Polybasit, dating back to 1820–30. See poly-, base ¹, -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of polybasite¹

C19: from poly- + base ¹+ -ite ¹

Example Sentences

To the foregoing must still be added the many tons of ruby, silver, polybasite, etc., shipped just as it came from the Poorman mine,—enough, at a rough estimate, to increase the total to fifteen hundred thousand, at least.

From Project Gutenberg

Other minerals which yield a minor percentage of the total silver produced are the silver-antimony sulphides, pyrargyrite or "ruby silver," stephanite or "black silver," and polybasite; the silver-arsenic sulphides, proustite or "light ruby silver" and pearcite; and the silver antimonide, dyscrasite.

From Project Gutenberg