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Arsenolite

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Crassier Saint-Pierre, La Ricamarie, Saint-Etienne, Loire, Rhône-Alpes, France
© 2002 Meyer

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Formula:
As
 
2
O
 
3
System:IsometricColour:White, bluish; reddish ...
Lustre:Vitreous, SilkyHardness:1½
Name:For arsenic in the composition.
Dimorph of:Claudetite
This page provides mineralogical data about Arsenolite.

Classification of Arsenolite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/C.02-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.CB.50

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
B : With medium-sized cations
Dana 7th edition ID:4.3.9.1
Dana 8th edition ID:4.3.9.1

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.13.1

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
13 : Oxides of As, Sb and Bi
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Type Occurrence of Arsenolite

Type Locality:St Andreasberg, St Andreasberg District, Harz, Lower Saxony, Germany
General Appearance of Type Material:oxidation product of arsenic-bearing sulphides in hydrothermal veins
Year of Discovery:1854

Physical Properties of Arsenolite

Lustre:Vitreous, Silky
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:White, bluish; reddish to yellowish if impure with realgar or orpiment; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:White to pale yellowish white
Hardness (Mohs):1½
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
on {111}
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.86 - 3.88 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.88 g/cm3

Crystallography of Arsenolite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:Fd3m {F41/d 3 2/m}
Cell Parameters:a = 11.074Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,358.04 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:16
Morphology:Commonly as tiny octahedra, sometimes modified by the dodecahedron; also in aggregates or crusts, botryoidal, stalactitic, earthy to pulverulent.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.195 (100)
6.39 (63)
2.541 (38)
2.7687 (28)
1.957 (27)
1.551 (22)
1.670 (21)
Comments:Recorded on synthetic material.

Optical Data of Arsenolite

Type:Isotropic
RI values: n = 1.755
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:High
Type:Isotropic
Comments:May be anomalously anisotropic

Chemical Properties of Arsenolite

Formula:
As
 
2
O
 
3
Essential elements:As, O
All elements listed in formula:As, O
Analytical Data:Analyses of natural material are not reported
Relationship of Arsenolite to other Species
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- + 
4.CB.05Brizziite
NaSb
5+
 
O
 
3
4.CB.05Corundum
Al
 
2
O
 
3
4.CB.05Ecandrewsite
(Zn,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)TiO
 
3
4.CB.05Eskolaite
Cr
 
2
O
 
3
4.CB.05Geikielite
MgTiO
 
3
4.CB.05Hematite
Fe
 
2
O
 
3
4.CB.05Ilmenite
Fe
2+
 
TiO
 
3
4.CB.05Karelianite
V
3+
2
O
 
3
4.CB.05Melanostibite
Mn
2+
 
(Sb
5+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
3
4.CB.05Pyrophanite
Mn
2+
 
TiO
 
3
4.CB.05Akimotoite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)SiO
 
3
4.CB.05Auroantimonate
AuSbO
 
3
4.CB.05Romanite
(◻,Pb,Ca)UFe
2+
2
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
Ti
 
12
O
 
38
4.CB.05UM1998-11-O-AuHSb
Au
+
2
Sb
3+
 
O
 
2
(OH)
4.CB.05Tistarite
Ti
3+
2
O
 
3
4.CB.10Avicennite
Tl
 
2
O
 
3
4.CB.10Bixbyite
Mn
3+
2
O
 
3
4.CB.15Armalcolite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Ti
 
2
O
 
5
4.CB.15Pseudobrookite
Fe
 
2
TiO
 
5
4.CB.15Mongshanite
(Mg,Cr,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(Ti,Zr)
 
5
O
 
12
4.CB.20Zincohögbomite-2N2S
[(Zn,Al,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
8
O
 
15
(OH)]
 
2
4.CB.20Zincohögbomite-2N6S
[(Zn,Mg)
 
7
(Al,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
16
O
 
31
(OH)]
 
2
4.CB.20Magnesiohögbomite-6N6S
[(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
8
O
 
15
(OH)]
 
6
4.CB.20Magnesiohögbomite-2N3S
[(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Zn)
 
4
(Al,Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
10
O
 
19
(OH)]
 
2
4.CB.20Magnesiohögbomite-2N2S
[(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[Al
 
7
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)]O
 
15
(OH)]
 
2
4.CB.20Ferrohögbomite-6N12S
[(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Zn)
 
5
(Al,Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
12
O
 
23
(OH)]
 
6
4.CB.25Pseudorutile
Fe
 
2
Ti
 
3
O
 
9
4.CB.25Kleberite
FeTi
 
6
O
 
11
(OH)
 
5
4.CB.30Berdesinskiite
V
3+
2
TiO
 
5
4.CB.30Oxyvanite
V
3+
2
V
4+
 
O
 
5
4.CB.35Olkhonskite
(Cr,V)
 
2
Ti
 
3
O
 
9
4.CB.35Schreyerite
V
3+
2
Ti
 
3
O
 
9
4.CB.40Kamiokite
Fe
 
2
Mo
 
3
O
 
8
4.CB.40Nolanite
(V
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Ti)
 
10
O
 
14
(OH)
 
2
4.CB.40Rinmanite
Zn
 
2
Sb
 
2
Mg
 
2
Fe
 
4
O
 
14
(OH)
 
2
4.CB.40Iseite
Mn
 
2
Mo
 
3
O
 
8
4.CB.40Majindeite
Mg
 
2
Mo
 
3
O
 
8
4.CB.45Claudetite
As
 
2
O
 
3
4.CB.45Stibioclaudetite
AsSbO
 
3
4.CB.50Sénarmontite
Sb
 
2
O
 
3
4.CB.55Valentinite
Sb
 
2
O
 
3
4.CB.60Bismite
Bi
 
2
O
 
3
4.CB.65Sphaerobismoite
Bi
 
2
O
 
3
4.CB.70Sillénite
Bi
 
12
SiO
 
20
4.CB.75Kyzylkumite
V
3+
2
TiO
 
6
4.CB.80Tietaiyangite
Fe
3+
4
Fe
2+
 
TiO
 
9
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- + 
7.13.2Claudetite
As
 
2
O
 
3
7.13.3Sénarmontite
Sb
 
2
O
 
3
7.13.4Valentinite
Sb
 
2
O
 
3
7.13.5Cervantite
Sb
3+
 
Sb
5+
 
O
 
4
7.13.6Stibiconite
7.13.7Bahianite
Al
 
5
Sb
 
3
O
 
14
(OH)
 
2
7.13.8Cualstibite-1M
(Cu,Al)
 
3
(OH)
 
6
[Sb
5+
 
(OH)
 
6
]
7.13.9Bismutostibiconite
Bi(Sb
5+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
7
7.13.107.13.11Stibivanite
Sb
 
2
VO
 
5
7.13.12Bismite
Bi
 
2
O
 
3
7.13.13Sillénite
Bi
 
12
SiO
 
20
Other Names for Arsenolite
Synonyms:
Arsenic oxideArsenious acidArsenious oxideArseniteArsenium calciforme
Natürlicher ArsenikkalkWhite Arsenic
Other Languages:
French:Acide arsenieux
Arsenic Blanc
Arsenic blanc natif
German:Arsenige Säure
Arsenikkalk
Arsenit
Arsenolit
Arsenolith
Italian:Acide arsenioso
Arsenico bianco
Latin:Arsenicum cubicum
Russian:Арсенолит
Simplified Chinese:砷华
Spanish:Acido arsenioso
Arsenico blanco
Arsenita
Arsenolita
Swedish:Arsenikblomma
Varieties:
Kenngottite (of Gagarin and Cuomo)
Other Information
Health Warning:A highly toxic substance with an astringent, sweetish taste. Contains arsenic in a highly soluble form - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest.
References for Arsenolite
Reference List:

- + 
Bozorth (1923), Journal of the American Chemical Society 45, 1621.



Lihl (1931), Zeitschrift für Kristallographie 81, 142.



Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. (New York), 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 543-544.



Pertlik, F. (1978): Structure refinement of cubic As2O3 (arsenolite) with single crystal data. Czech. J. Phys. B28(2), 170-176. - Chemical Abstracts 88, 573 (abstract).



Treacy, D. J. and Taylor, P. C. (1981): Nuclear quadrupole resonance in two crystalline forms of As2O3, arsenolite and claudetite. International Solid State Communications 40(2), 135-138.



Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 24.
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