Structure of proustiteAg3AsS3, a classic sulfosalt, which can be viewed as the Ag+ salt of AsS3−3. Sulfosalts characteristically feature A–S–B linkages, where A and B are different metals or metalloids.
Sulfosalt minerals are sulfide minerals with the general formula AmBnXp, where
The Strunz classification includes the sulfosalts in a sulfides and sulfosalts superclass.[1] A group which have similar appearing formulas are the sulfarsenides (for example cobaltite (Co,Fe)AsS). In sulfarsenides the arsenic substitutes for sulfideanions whereas in the sulfosalts the arsenic substitutes for a metal cation.[2]
About 200 sulfosalt minerals are known. Examples include:[3]
As illustrated by this specimen of proustite, sulfosalt minerals are often deeply colored.