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Cafarsite

Big Photo

Wanni glacier - Scherbadung Mt. (Cervandone Mt.) area, Kriegalp Valley (Chriegalp Valley), Binn Valley, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland
© J. Rosell

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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 Mt. (Cervandone Mt.) area, Kriegalp Valley (Chriegalp Valley), Binn Valley, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland
Year of Discovery:1966

Physical Properties of Cafarsite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent on thin edges, 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
PbHAsO
 
4
20.5.3Duftite
PbCu[OH|AsO
 
4
]
20.5.4Bayldonite
Cu
 
3
Pb[OH|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
20.5.5Philipsbornite
PbAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
5
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
20.5.6Arsendescloizite
PbZn[OH|AsO
 
4
]
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+
 
)[AsO
 
4
]
 
3
20.5.10Ludlockite
(Fe,Pb)As
 
2
O
 
6
20.5.11Gabrielsonite
PbFe[OH|AsO
 
4
]
20.5.12Carminite
PbFe
3+
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
20.5.13Segnitite
PbFe
3+
3
[(OH,H
 
2
O)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
]
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
[(OH)
 
10
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
]
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
German names:
Cafarsit
Russian names:
Кафарсит
Spanish names:
Cafarsita

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
  • Search for Cafarsite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Cafarsite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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    Localities for Cafarsite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
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    (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
          • Hemlo gold deposit
    		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]
    Krzemnicki, M. (1992): As-Bi-Mineralisationen in der Monte-Leone-Decke im Mättital (Binntal-Region). Diplomarbeit, Universität Basel, Switzerland, 122 S.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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