Pyrargyrite Mineral Guide

Pyrargyrite

Crystal system · Trigonal

Pyrargyrite is a sulfosalt mineral recognized among collectors for its crystal form and distribution, with several world-class Chinese localities.

About Pyrargyriteextended article

Care notesLight-sensitive (darkens). Store in dark. Full cleaning guide →

Market availability: Rare

Sought after; limited supply. Major shows and specialist dealers only.

Crystal system
Trigonal

Pyrargyrite — “dark ruby silver” — is the antimony analogue of proustite. The pair forms the classic “ruby silver” sulfosalts of historic silver mining: pyrargyrite is the more abundant, deeper-red and slightly more stable to light exposure.

Occurrence

Type locality: St. Andreasberg (Harz, Germany). Other historic sources: Freiberg (Germany), Příbram (Czech Rep.), Hiendelaencina (Spain), Guanajuato (Mexico). Chinese occurrences are minor.

Identification

Nearly black-red translucent trigonal prisms + adamantine luster + purplish-red streak. Pyrargyrite is darker than proustite (which is brighter scarlet) and slightly more stable to light. The streak color difference is decisive — proustite’s is brick-red, pyrargyrite’s is purplish.

Collector Notes

Příbram and Freiberg pyrargyrite specimens with sharp scalenohedral crystals are historical classics. Light-sensitive but slightly less so than proustite.

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External research links for Pyrargyrite

MindatLocality + paragenesis database RRUFFReference Raman/IR/X-ray spectra WebmineralCrystallographic + physical data HandbookAnthony et al. Handbook of Mineralogy WikipediaWikipedia article Google ImgsImage search — visual reference ScholarAcademic literature search

Published: May 6, 2026 · Last reviewed: May 6, 2026
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About Pyrargyrite

Pyrargyrite belongs to the sulfosalt class in the proustite group and has the chemical formula Ag3SbS3. It crystallizes in the trigonal system and is relatively soft, requiring careful handling. Its combination of structural character and global distribution make it a recognized species in both systematic and aesthetic collections.

Identification & care

Pyrargyrite typically forms prismatic, hemimorphic crystals; massive; granular. Its color is typically deep red, dark crimson and purplish red (darker than proustite). The luster is adamantine, sub-metallic, the streak is purplish red, and specimens are typically translucent in thin fragments. The cleavage is distinct on {10-11}. The fracture is conchoidal to uneven, which aids identification.

Collector context

How it forms

In terms of geology, Pyrargyrite forms in low-temperature hydrothermal silver veins; more common than proustite in most silver districts. It is commonly found in association with proustite, native silver, stephanite, argentite/acanthite, galena, calcite.

Classic Chinese localities

Documented Chinese occurrences are recorded at Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic ore field, Dachang ore field and Yaogangxian W-Sn ore field, among others.

Why collectors care

Pyrargyrite is a frequently-sought species in serious collections because its habit is recognizable, its color often strong, and its best examples unmistakable even at a distance. Chinese material has driven much of the recent visual shift in the species — sharper crystals, deeper colors, cleaner matrix.

What affects value

Value in Pyrargyrite is assessed, in typical order of weight, against: (1) locality provenance; (2) size relative to the species norm; (3) crystal form and termination sharpness; (4) color saturation and zoning; (5) transparency and internal clarity; (6) matrix quality and aesthetic balance; (7) condition (absence of damage, chips, or repair). Cleaning quality and verified locality documentation act as multipliers across the above.

Naming history

The name Pyrargyrite has a specific etymological and historical context — see Mindat's reference entry for provenance details. We have retained naming data at the record level; published prose is paraphrased from factual fields rather than copied from source.