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Pyrargyrite
Pyrargyrite is sulfosalts, Ag3SbS3. In the hand, it rates 2.5 on the Mohs scale, and it runs deep red-black and dark crimson with internal red flash. Near-black crystals that flash deep crimson on edges and streak purplish red, the antimony-rich 'dark ruby silver' partner to scarlet proustite.
The geology.
Pyrargyrite carries the formula Ag3SbS3. It belongs to the trigonal system. It is classified as sulfosalts.
It sits at 2.5 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads adamantine to submetallic. Light behaviour is translucent deep red to nearly opaque. Specific gravity runs 5.82 to 5.85. The streak is purplish red. It breaks with distinct cleavage; conchoidal to uneven fracture.
Near-black crystals that flash deep crimson on edges and streak purplish red, the antimony-rich 'dark ruby silver' partner to scarlet proustite.
You will most often meet it as prismatic crystals, massive vein ore or crystal clusters.
The origins.
Silver veins: Fresnillo and Guanajuato (Mexico), Harz Mountains (Germany), Colquechaca (Bolivia), Comstock (Nevada, USA).
On value, the database notes: collector mineral; lustrous Fresnillo prisms are high-end silver classics.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, associated with resilience and finding light within shadow.
People buy on this language, so it belongs on the page. It belongs under the facts, though, not over them.
Spotting the real thing.
Near-black crystals that flash deep crimson on edges and streak purplish red, the antimony-rich 'dark ruby silver' partner to scarlet proustite.
Not faked; surface-blackened pieces circulate, edge flash and streak confirm identity.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Proustite | Proustite is brighter scarlet (arsenic-based); pyrargyrite is darker (antimony-based) |
| Hematite crystal | Hematite is harder (5 to 6), metallic, with cherry-red streak but no translucent crimson edges |
| Acanthite | Acanthite is sectile lead-gray silver sulfide with dark gray streak |
At-home tests.
You can run every one of these at a kitchen table. Good light matters more than gear when you are looking at pyrargyrite.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| By eye | Purplish-red streak from a near-black crystal |
| By eye | Soft (2.5) and very heavy |
| By eye | Crimson edge translucence with strong backlight |
Destructive tests belong to a gemologist, not a kitchen table. If a piece matters to you, pay for an appraisal before you take a file to it.
Care & handling.
At 2.5 on the Mohs scale this is a soft material. Keep it as a display piece, store it apart from harder stones, and skip daily-wear settings.
It breaks with distinct cleavage; conchoidal to uneven fracture, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Clean it by hand, dry it properly, and keep it away from ultrasonic cleaners and hot steam.
Contains antimony and silver sulfide: wash hands after handling, no elixirs, limit light exposure.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is Ag3SbS3. Crystal system: Trigonal. Specific gravity: 5.82 to 5.85. Streak: Purplish red. Cleavage and fracture: Distinct cleavage; conchoidal to uneven fracture.
How it reaches the market
Silver veins: Fresnillo and Guanajuato (Mexico), Harz Mountains (Germany), Colquechaca (Bolivia), Comstock (Nevada, USA).
What it gets confused with
Proustite: Proustite is brighter scarlet (arsenic-based); pyrargyrite is darker (antimony-based). Hematite crystal: Hematite is harder (5 to 6), metallic, with cherry-red streak but no translucent crimson edges. Acanthite: Acanthite is sectile lead-gray silver sulfide with dark gray streak.
What it is worth
Collector mineral; lustrous Fresnillo prisms are high-end silver classics.
Where buyers get caught
Not faked; surface-blackened pieces circulate, edge flash and streak confirm identity.
One more thing
At Fresnillo pyrargyrite is still literal ore, museum-grade crystals get pulled off conveyor belts headed for the silver smelter.
An education-first guide.
We do not stock pyrargyrite. Writing it up regardless is the point of a reference library.
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