Silver sulfide ore

Silver sulfide ore

The chemical composition is Ag2S, containing 87.1% Ag. Isometric. The crystal is cubic or octahedral, usually in the form of dense blocks. The color and stripes are both lead gray. The fresh fracture surface has a metallic luster. Mohs hardness is 2-2.5. Density 7.2-7.4. Has weak extensibility. It is a mineral of hydrothermal origin, formed above 173 ℃. Below this temperature, it transforms into spiral shaped sulfide silver with the same composition. It is a mineral raw material for silver smelting, but the main source of silver is obtained as a by-product from copper lead zinc ores.