Mineral - Arhbarite
Arhbarite
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Arsenates
Toxicity
none
Formula
Cu₂Mg(AsO₄)(OH)₃
Unit Cell
a=5.32 b=5.98 c=5.03 α=114° β=97° γ=89° Z=1
Physical Properties
Hardness
5
Streak
blue
Density
Heavy (3,5-6)
Cleavage
Fracture
nd
Tenacity
Brittle
Optical Properties
Color
blue
Birefringence
0.020
Luster
Vitreous,
Waxy
Transparency
translucent
Pleochroism
X, Y: Türkis-Blau
Z: Dunkelblau
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
triclinic
Point Group
triclinic-pedial - 1
Space Group
P1 (1)
Habit
spherical, kidney-shaped
Formation
Secondary, in polymetallic metal deposits, if a Mg component is present (usually dolomite)
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Very rare
Synonyms
Arhbarite
Composition
Elements
Mass
As₂O₅
33.85
MgO
10.20
FeO
0.04
NiO
0.20
CoO
0.24
CuO
47.46
SiO₂
0.10
H₂O
7.58
Chile (Schmetzer et al. 1982)
Name and first record : Named after the type locality, the Aghbar Mine in Morocco. First described in 1981.
Synonyms :
Varieties :
Abbreviation : Arh
literature
Schmetzer, K., Tremmel, G., & Medenbach, O. (1982). Arhbarite, Cu2 [OH/AsO4]• 6H2O, a new mineral from Bou-Azzer, Morocco. New Yearbook of Mineralogy, Monthly Bulletin , (12), 529-533.