BY :

ISLAM BAHADAR

 Antimony

is a chemical element. It has the chemical symbol Sb. The symbol Sb is from the Latin name of 'stibium' for the element. It has the atomic number 51. Its atomic mass is 121.8. It is a blue-gray element that is somewhat toxic.

Antimony

is an element and an important metal. It occurs as native metal in nature but more frequently the ore is in the form of sulphide or oxide. The sulphide derivatives are Stibnite, tetrahedrite & jamessonite etc. The oxide derivatives are valentinite, senarmontite & stibiconite etc. However the most common antimony ore mineral is stibnite (Sb2S3).

Antimony has 4-allotropes.

Blue-white Yellow Black Explosive The 1st one

(metalloid).

is the most common & stable due to metallic properties. The other 3 are non metallic & are unstable.

 Colour Luster Streak Fracture Cleavage Hardness Diaphaneity Crystal

System Specific Gravity

Tin-white to steel gray. Metallic Tin-white to darker gray. Uneven Perfect Basal 3-4 Opaque Hexagonal 6 6.7 g/cm3

Most of the world antimony large deposits are from metamorphic origin. e.g. quartz stibnite veins. As a trace constituents in copper ore occurs as porphyries in associated skarn, hydrothermal vein.

The little more reserves of antimony is found nearly in all countries. However the plentiful deposits are confined to the following countries: China ( 3/4 ) Russia South Africa Tajikistan Bolivia

The old deposit, which has been sporadically mined in the past is near Qilla Abdullah in Pishin Distt, of Baluchistan. In this area stibnite ( Sb2S3) is associated with Quartz veins. (Grade54.29%) Several showings also occurs in Salt Range, (Chakwal), Kuram Vally (Kharan Distt).

Another main deposit is Kirinj ( Distt, Chitral). In this area Antimony deposits occurs in Quartz-stibnite veins along the fractured contacts b/w Chitral Slates & overlying limestone & marble of Reshun Formation. These are believed to be of metamorphic origin. Grade, 30-60 % Annual production, 9-650,tons

 According

to its metallic & non metallic properties it has a wide coverage in the industrial products. About half of all antimony is used to make antimony trioxide for fire proofing material. It makes an alloy with lead. This alloy, 5% antimony and 95% lead, is harder than pure lead. It is used in lead acid batteries, as well as some other things.

 Another

use is a catalyst for making some plastics products. Antimony trioxide is added to some glass to remove bubbles for things like television screens. Some antimony compounds were used as medicines to kill protozoans. A tiny amount of highly purified antimony metal is used in the computer industry to make semiconductors. To be useful in this application, antimony has to be 99.999% pure!

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