Diaphorite Locality: Neue Hoffnung Gottes Mine, Bräunsdorf, Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany Field of view 3 cm. Paul Bongaerts collection. — Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0
Diaphorite
Diaphorite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfosalt class, with the chemical formula Ag₃Pb₂Sb₃S₈.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/c).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5–3; specific gravity 6.04; Metallic. Anisotropism: Strong. R1 –R2: (400) 38.2–40.1, (420) 37.8–39.8, (440) 37.5–39.5, (460) 37.3–39.3 luster.
IMA symbol Dpr, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1871.
Found in hydrothermal veins with other sulfides formed at medium temperatures.
It is found associated with Galena, sphalerite, miargyrite, pyrargyrite, pyrite, siderite, quartz.
Its name comes from the Greek for difference, as being distinct from freieslebenite.