arsenicantimony

Arsenicantimony is a solid solution series that exists between arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb). These two elements are chemically similar and can readily substitute for each other in mineral structures. When arsenic and antimony are found together in a mineral, they form a continuous range of compositions, meaning the proportion of arsenic to antimony can vary from pure arsenic to pure antimony, or any combination in between.

Minerals within the arsenicantimony solid solution series are often described by their dominant element, with prefixes indicating the presence of the other. For example, a mineral with a high arsenic content and some antimony might be called a richantimony arsenopyrite, while a mineral with a high antimony content and some arsenic might be referred to as an arsenian stibnite. The physical and chemical properties of these minerals, such as their color, hardness, and specific gravity, vary gradually across the solid solution range, reflecting the changing proportions of arsenic and antimony.

These solid solutions are commonly found in hydrothermal ore deposits. They are important in understanding the geochemistry of arsenic and antimony in the Earth's crust and can be of economic interest as sources of these elements. The specific mineral name often depends on the specific crystal structure and the precise ratio of arsenic to antimony.