Cafarsite (Ca
8(Ti,Fe2+
,Fe3+
,Mn)
6–7(AsO
3)
12·4H
2O)
is a rare calcium iron arsenite mineral. Manganese and titanium occur with iron in the formula.
| Cafarsite | |
|---|---|
 Cafarsite on granite | |
| General | |
| Category | Arsenites |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Ca 8(Ti,Fe2+ ,Fe3+ ,Mn) 6–7(AsO 3) 12·4H 2O |
| IMA symbol | Caf[1] |
| Strunz classification | 4.JC.05 |
| Crystal system | Isometric |
| Crystal class | Diploidal (m3) H–M Symbol (2/m 3) |
| Space group | Pn3 |
| Unit cell | a = 15.984 Å; Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Formula mass | 2,230.31 g/mol |
| Color | Dark brown |
| Crystal habit | Cubic/octahedral crystals |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Mohs scale hardness | 5+1⁄2 - 6 |
| Luster | sub-metallic |
| Streak | Yellow brown |
| Diaphaneity | Translucent to opaque |
| Specific gravity | 3.9 |
| Optical properties | Isotropic |
| Refractive index | n = 2.2 |
| References | [2][3][4] |
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.[3][2][4] It has also been reported from Piedmont, Italy and the Hemlo gold mine in the Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada.[4][3]
References edit
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Cafarsite Mineral Data from Webmineral
- ^ a b c Cafarsite on Mindat.org
- ^ a b c Handbook of Mineralogy
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