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Cervantite
Microscopic cervantite crystals from Slovakia (3 mm field of view)
General
Category	Oxide mineral
Formula (repeating unit)	SbSbO4
IMA symbol	Cvn
Strunz classification	4.DE.30
Crystal system	Orthorhombic
Crystal class	Pyramidal (mm2) (same H-M symbol)
Space group	Pbn21
Unit cell	a = 5.43 Å, b = 4.81 Å, c = 11.76 Å; Z = 4
Identification
Color	Yellow to nearly white
Crystal habit	Microscopic acicular crystals; massive
Cleavage	Excellent on {001}, distinct on {100}
Fracture	Conchoidal
Mohs scale hardness	4–5
Luster	Greasy, pearly, earthy
Streak	Pale yellow to white
Diaphaneity	Semitransparent
Specific gravity	6.5
Optical properties	Biaxial
Refractive index	nα = 2.000 nγ = 2.100
Birefringence	δ = 0.100
Dispersion	relatively weak
References

Cervantite, also formerly known as antimony ochre — is an antimony oxide mineral with formula SbSbO₄ (antimony tetroxide).

It was first described in 1850 for an occurrence in Cervantes, Galicia, Spain, and named for the locality. The mineral was questioned and disapproved, but re-approved and verified in 1962 based on material from the Zajaca-Stolice district, Brasina, Serbia. It occurs as a secondary alteration product of antimony bearing minerals, mainly stibnite.

References

1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
2. Mineralienatlas
3. ^ Handbook of Mineralogy
4. ^ Mindat.org
5. Webmineral data
6. James Dwight Dana A. M., Brush G. J. A system of mineralogy : Descriptive mineralogy, comprising the most recent discoveries. — New York : J. Wiley & Sons, 1884.

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