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Cafarsite

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Mt Cervandone (Scherbadung), Devero Alp (Devero Valley; Val Devero), Baceno, Ossola Valley, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy
© Enrico Bonacina

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Formula:
Ca
 
8
(Ti,Fe,Fe,Mn)
 
6-7
(AsO
 
3
)
 
12
 · 4H
 
2
O
System:IsometricColour:Dark brown
Hardness:5½ - 6
Name:For the elements in it's composition
This page provides mineralogical data about Cafarsite.

Classification of Cafarsite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/J.05-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.JC.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
C : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites; without additional anions, with H2O
Dana 8th edition ID:45.1.4.1

45 : ACID AND NORMAL ANTIMONITES AND ARSENITES
1 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:20.5.1

20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
5 : Arsenates of Ti and Pb
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Type Occurrence of Cafarsite

Type Locality:Wanni glacier - Scherbadung (Monte Cervandone) area, Kriegalp Valley (Chriegalp Valley), Binn Valley, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland
Year of Discovery:1966

Physical Properties of Cafarsite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Dark brown
Streak:Yellow-brown
Hardness (Mohs):5½ - 6
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.9 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.5 g/cm3

Crystallography of Cafarsite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3 (2/m 3) - Diploidal
Space Group:Pn3 {P2/n 3}
Cell Parameters:a = 15.984Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 4,083.72 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Cubo-octahedron

Optical Data of Cafarsite

Type:Isotropic
RI values: n = 2.2
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:Very High

Chemical Properties of Cafarsite

Formula:
Ca
 
8
(Ti,Fe,Fe,Mn)
 
6-7
(AsO
 
3
)
 
12
 · 4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:As, Ca, H, O, Ti
All elements listed in formula:As, Ca, Fe, H, Mn, O, Ti

Relationship of Cafarsite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.JC.10Lazarenkoite
(Ca,Fe)FeAs
 
3
O
 
7
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.JC.15Rouseite
Pb
 
2
Mn
2+
 
[AsO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
4.JC.20Vajdakite
[(Mo
6+
 
O
 
2
)
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
2
As
3+
2
O
 
5
] · 3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
20.5.2Schultenite
Pb(HAsO
 
4
)
20.5.3Duftite
PbCu(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
20.5.4Bayldonite
PbCu
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
20.5.5Philipsbornite
PbAl
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
20.5.6Arsendescloizite
PbZn(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
20.5.7Helmutwinklerite
Pb(Zn,Cu)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
20.5.8Thometzekite
Pb(Cu,Zn)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
20.5.9Caryinite
(Na,Pb)(Ca,Na)(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)(Mn
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
20.5.10Ludlockite
PbFe
3+
4
As
3+
10
O
 
22
20.5.11Gabrielsonite
PbFe(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
20.5.12Carminite
PbFe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
20.5.13Segnitite
PbFe
3+
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,H
 
2
O)
 
6
20.5.14Tsumcorite
Pb(Zn,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
20.5.15Jamesite
Pb
 
2
Zn(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)
 
2
Fe
3+
4
(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
10
20.5.16Mawbyite
Pb(Fe
3+
 
,Zn)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(OH,H
 
2
O)
20.5.17Arsenbrackenbuschite

Other Names for Cafarsite

Synonyms:
ArsenoferriteIMA1965-036
Other Languages:
German:Cafarsit
Russian:Кафарсит
Simplified Chinese:砷钛铁钙石
Spanish:Cafarsita
Traditional Chinese:砷鈦鐵鈣石

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Cafarsite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 52: 1584.

American Mineralogist: 63: 795.

Schweizerische mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen: 57: 1-16.

Internet Links for Cafarsite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Cafarsite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Cafarsite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Canada
     
    • Ontario
      • Thunder Bay District
        • Marathon
    		ontariominerals.com
    Italy
     
    • Piedmont
      • Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province
        • Ossola Valley
          • Baceno
            • Devero Alp (Devero Valley; Val Devero)
    		No reference listed
    Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo "F. Eusebio" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.
    Switzerland
     
    • Wallis (Valais)
      • Binn Valley
        • Chummibort
    		Cuchet, S., van der Burgt, A. und Meisser, N. (2005): Chummibort, eine neue Fundstelle für Arsenmineralien im Binntal. Schweizer Strahler, Nr. 2, 19-29. (in German/French)
        • Kriegalp Valley (Chriegalp Valley)
    Schweiz.Min.Petr.Mitt.(1966) 46, 367-375
        • Lercheltini (Lärcheltini) area
    		[MinRec 27:302]; American Mineralogist, Volume 79, pages 996-1002, 1994
    Krzemnicki, M. (1992): As-Bi-Mineralisationen in der Monte-Leone-Decke im Mättital (Binntal-Region). Diplomarbeit, Universität Basel, Switzerland, 122 S.
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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