Chemistry:Cafarsite

From HandWiki
Short description: Rare calcium iron arsenite mineral
Cafarsite
Cafarsite-tmix07-154b.jpg
Cafarsite on granite
General
CategoryArsenites
Formula
(repeating unit)
Ca8(Ti,Fe2+,Fe3+,Mn)6–7(AsO3)12·4H2O
Strunz classification4.JC.05
Crystal systemIsometric
Crystal classDiploidal (m3)
H–M Symbol (2/m 3)
Space groupPn3
Unit cella = 15.984 Å; Z = 4
Identification
Formula mass2,230.31 g/mol
ColorDark brown
Crystal habitCubic/octahedral crystals
FractureConchoidal
Mohs scale hardness5 12 - 6
|re|er}}sub-metallic
StreakYellow brown
DiaphaneityTranslucent to opaque
Specific gravity3.9
Optical propertiesIsotropic
Refractive indexn = 2.2
References[1][2][3]

Cafarsite (Ca8(Ti,Fe2+,Fe3+,Mn)6–7(AsO3)12·4H2O) is a rare calcium iron arsenite mineral. Manganese and titanium occur with iron in the formula.

It was first described in 1966 for an occurrence in the Binn Valley, Valais, Switzerland . Its name is from the composition, calcium, ferrum (iron), and arsenic.[2][1][3] It has also been reported from Piedmont, Italy and the Hemlo gold mine in the Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada.[3][2]

References

  1. Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 Cafarsite Mineral Data from Webmineral
  2. Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cafarsite on Mindat.org
  3. Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 3.2 Handbook of Mineralogy
  4. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine 85 (3): 291–320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. Bibcode2021MinM...85..291W.