Summary: Onoratoite, a new antimony oxychloride Sb₈O₁₁Cl₂ from the antimony mines of Cetine di Cotorniano, Rosia (Siena, Italy), is triclinic with lattice constants a 18·92, b 4·03, c 10·31 Å, α ≃ γ ≃ 90°, β 110°. Density 5·3 meas., 5·49 calc. The needle-like crystals are elongated on [010] and show as prominent form {001}. Other forms present are {100}, {201}, {401}, {412}.

The new mineral is optically biaxial negative, extinction angle small and variable from 0° to 14°. Orientation β:[100] ca. 8°; α:[001] ca. 12°; γ:[010] 0 to 14°. Refractive indices are 2·26 > γ > 2·23, 2·23 > β > 2·18. Birefringence γ-β 0·024 (meas.).

The stability field of onoratoite has been investigated by systematic thermo-gravimetric and differential thermal analysis of antimony oxychlorides and by a direct study of equilibrium relationships in the system SbCl₃-Sb₂O₃-HCl-H₂O. The probable mechanism of formation of onoratoite is discussed.

Onoratoite is named in honour of the Italian mineralogist Ettore Onorato.