Cervantite (Weight: 24.1 g) – Place of discovery: Baia Sprie, Romania — Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cervantite
Antimony tetroxide, once called antimony ochre, first described from Cervantes, Spain in 1850.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Cervantite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula Sb³⁺Sb⁵⁺O₄.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pna2_1).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4–5; specific gravity 6.5; Pale yellow to white streak; Earthy when powdery luster; refractive index 2.051; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Cvn, IMA status: approved, named in 1850.
Forms secondarily by oxidation of stibnite.
It is found associated with Stibnite.
The name refers to the supposed original occurrence at Cervantes, Spain, type material from which is not available.