Rauenthalite
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About Rauenthalite
Formula:
Ca3(AsO4)2 · 10H2O
Colour:
Colorless, white
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Waxy
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.36
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named by Roland Pierrot in 1964 for the Rauenthal Valley, France near the original locality Ste Marie-aux-Mines.
Often associated with the chemically nearly identical phaunouxite, but phaunouxite easily dehydrates to rauenthalite.
Classification of Rauenthalite
Approved
Approval Year:
1964
7/C.24-70
8.CJ.40
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
40.3.11.1
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
20.2.13
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
2 : Arsenates of Be, Mg, Ca or Ba
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
2 : Arsenates of Be, Mg, Ca or Ba
Physical Properties of Rauenthalite
Sub-Vitreous, Waxy
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless, white
Streak:
Colorless
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.36 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.362 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Rauenthalite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.540 - 1.546 nβ = 1.552 nγ = 1.570 - 1.576
2V:
Measured: 85° , Calculated: 80°
Birefringence:
0.030
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.030

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
weak
Optical Extinction:
Inclined
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemical Properties of Rauenthalite
Formula:
Ca3(AsO4)2 · 10H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Rauenthalite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Setting:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.564(8) Å, b = 12.169(7) Å, c = 6.195(4) Å
α = 89.09(3)°, β = 79.69(3)°, γ = 118.58(4)°
α = 89.09(3)°, β = 79.69(3)°, γ = 118.58(4)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.032 : 1 : 0.509
Unit Cell V:
812.65 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Bladed crystals, often in somewhat radial arrangement.
Comment:
Non-standard setting.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
10.8 Å | (100) |
6.2 Å | (very weak) |
3.79 Å | (faint) |
3.36 Å | (medium) |
2.58 Å | (very weak) |
2.44 Å | (weak) |
2.04 Å | (very weak) |
Type Occurrence of Rauenthalite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Colorless to cloudy white bladed crystals
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Post-mine efflorescence on mine tunnel walls.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Rauenthalite
Other Language Names for Rauenthalite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
6 photos of Rauenthalite associated with Phaunouxite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 11H2O |
4 photos of Rauenthalite associated with Guérinite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O |
4 photos of Rauenthalite associated with Picropharmacolite | Ca4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 11H2O |
2 photos of Rauenthalite associated with Pharmacolite | Ca(HAsO4) · 2H2O |
2 photos of Rauenthalite associated with Sainfeldite | Ca5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
2 photos of Rauenthalite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
1 photo of Rauenthalite associated with Monohydrocalcite | CaCO3 · H2O |
1 photo of Rauenthalite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
8.CJ. | Caesiumpharmacosiderite | CsFe4[(AsO4)3(OH)4]·4H2O | Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m |
8.CJ. | Jeankempite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 7H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CJ.05 | Stercorite | Na(NH4)HPO4 · 4H2O | Tric. |
8.CJ.10 | Mundrabillaite | (NH4)2Ca(HPO4)2 · H2O | Mon. m : Pm |
8.CJ.10 | Swaknoite | (NH4)2Ca(HPO4)2 · H2O | Orth. |
8.CJ.15 | Nabaphite | NaBaPO4 · 9H2O | Iso. |
8.CJ.15 | Nastrophite | Na(Sr,Ba)PO4 · 9H2O | |
8.CJ.20 | Haidingerite | CaHAsO4 · H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
8.CJ.25 | Vladimirite | Ca4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH) · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.CJ.30 | Ferrarisite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CJ.35 | Machatschkiite | (Ca,Na)6(AsO4)(HAsO4)3(PO4,SO4) · 15H2O | Hex. |
8.CJ.40 | Phaunouxite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 11H2O | Tric. |
8.CJ.45 | Brockite | (Ca,Th,Ce)PO4 · H2O | Hex. 6 2 2 : P62 2 2 |
8.CJ.45 | Grayite | (Th,Pb,Ca)(PO4) · H2O | Hex. 6 2 2 : P62 2 2 |
8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) · H2O | Hex. 6 2 2 : P62 2 2 |
8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(La) | La(PO4) · H2O | Hex. 6 2 2 : P62 2 2 |
8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) · H2O | Hex. 6 2 2 : P62 2 2 |
8.CJ.45 | Tristramite | (Ca,U,Fe)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O | Hex. |
8.CJ.45 | Smirnovskite | (Th,Ca)PO4 · nH2O | Hex. 6 2 2 : P62 2 2 |
8.CJ.50 | Ardealite | Ca2(HPO4)(SO4) · 4H2O | Mon. m : Bb |
8.CJ.50 | Brushite | Ca(HPO4) · 2H2O | Mon. m : Bb |
8.CJ.50 | Churchite-(Y) | Y(PO4) · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.CJ.50 | Pharmacolite | Ca(HAsO4) · 2H2O | Mon. m |
8.CJ.50 | Churchite-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) · 2H2O | Mon. |
8.CJ.55 | Mcnearite | NaCa5(AsO4)(HAsO4)4 · 4H2O | Tric. |
8.CJ.60 | Dorfmanite | Na2HPO4 · 2H2O | Orth. |
8.CJ.65 | Sincosite | Ca(VO)2(PO4)2 · 5H2O | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/nnm |
8.CJ.65 | Bariosincosite | Ba(VO)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Tet. |
8.CJ.70 | Catalanoite | Na2(HPO4) · 8H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Ibca |
8.CJ.75 | Guérinite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.CJ.85 | Ningyoite | CaU(PO4)2 · 1-2H2O | Orth. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
20.2.1 | Bearsite | Be2(AsO4)(OH) · 4H2O | Mon. |
20.2.2 | Brassite | Mg(HAsO4) · 4H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca |
20.2.3 | Rößlerite | Mg(HAsO4) · 7H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
20.2.4 | Hörnesite | Mg3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
20.2.5 | Weilite | Ca(HAsO4) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
20.2.6 | Johnbaumite | Ca5(AsO4)3OH | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
20.2.7 | Haidingerite | CaHAsO4 · H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
20.2.8 | Pharmacolite | Ca(HAsO4) · 2H2O | Mon. m |
20.2.9 | Sainfeldite | Ca5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
20.2.10 | Vladimirite | Ca4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH) · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
20.2.11 | Guérinite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
20.2.12 | Ferrarisite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
20.2.14 | Phaunouxite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 11H2O | Tric. |
20.2.15 | Mcnearite | NaCa5(AsO4)(HAsO4)4 · 4H2O | Tric. |
20.2.16 | Bergslagite | CaBeAsO4(OH) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
20.2.17 | Adelite | CaMg(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21 |
20.2.18 | Talmessite | Ca2Mg(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. |
20.2.19 | Irhtemite | Ca4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
20.2.20 | Camgasite | CaMg(AsO4)(OH) · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
20.2.21 | Picropharmacolite | Ca4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 11H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
20.2.22 | Bariopharmacosiderite | Ba0.5Fe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 5H2O | Tet. 4 2m : P4 2m |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Rauenthalite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Pierrot, R. (1964): Contribution à la minéralogie des arséniates calciques et calcomagnésiens naturels. ulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie 87, 169-211. [Abs. in American Mineralogist (1965): 50: 805]
Walenta, K. (1972): Die Sekundärmineralien der Co-Ni-Ag-Bi-U-Erzgänge im Gebiet von Wittichen im mittleren Schwarzwald. Aufschluß, 23, 279-329. (in German) [esp. p. 311]
Bari, H., Catti, M., Ferraris, G., Ivaldi, G. & Permingeat, F. (1982): Phaunouxite Ca3(AsO4)2•11H2O, a new mineral strictly associated with rauenthalite. Bull. Minéral. 105, 327-332.
Catti, M. and Ivaldi, G. (1983): On the Topotactic Dehydration Ca3(AsO4)2.11H2O (Phaunouxite) -> Ca3(AsO4)2.10H20 (rauenthalite) and Structure of Both Minerals. Acta Crystallographica B39: 4-10.
Internet Links for Rauenthalite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3371.html
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Rauenthalite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Austria | |
| Taucher, J. & Hollerer, C.E. (1994): Phaunouxit und Rauenthalit von der Co-Ni-Lagerstätte Zinkwand-Vöttern, Schladminger Tauern, Steiermark. Matrixx 3, 69-72. |
Czech Republic | |
| Lapis 2002(7/8), 63-65 |
| Tvrdý, J., Řídkošil, T.: Sekundární minerály z lokality Svatá Anna v Plané u Mariánských Lázní. Časopis pro mineralogii a geologii, 1983, roč. 28, č. 3, s. 316.; http://www.mineralos.cz/lokality/plana/plana.htm |
France | |
| P&T N°23-24, H. BARI 1982, Minéralogie des filons du Neuenberg à Sainte Marie aux Mines (Haut-Rhin). |
Wittern, Journée: "Mineralien finden in den Vogesen", von Loga (Cologne), 1997 | |
Paul De Bondt | |
Pierre et Terre 1982 | |
| Pierrot: Bull. Soc. Franc. Min. Cristallog. 87 (1964) |
P&T N°23-24, H. BARI 1982, Minéralogie des filons du Neuenberg à Sainte Marie aux Mines (Haut-Rhin). | |
in the collection of Joachim Esche | |
| Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 4, 2000 |
| G. Favreau : "La mine d'or de Salsigne : Les minéraux des scories de Villagnère", Le Règne Minéral, hors série, 3, 55-60, 1997 |
Germany | |
| KOLITSCH, U. (1995): Phaunouxit, ein Neufund von der Grube Clara. - Erzgräber 9 (2), 77-80; BLAß, G. & GRAF, H. W. (1995): Neufunde von bekannten Fundstellen (13). - Mineralien-Welt 6 (3), 47-51; WALENTA, K. (1995): Neue Mineralfunde von der Grube Clara. 6. Folge, 2. Teil. - Lapis 20 (6), 41 und 46-49. |
| Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 4, 2000 |
| S. Weiß: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1992 |
Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990 | |
| No reference listed |
| Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001 |
| T. Witzke (1992) Mineralien-Welt 3(6), 16-18 |
| Hajek, W. (2010): Kristallwelten Marienberg. Weise Verlag, München. |
| Lapis 30(7/8):41-70 (2005) |
Ireland | |
| S. MORETON, P. DAVIDSON, D. I. GREEN and G. RYBACK (1999) Unusual Supergene Minerals at Muckross Mine, Killarney, Co. Kerry. Irish Journal of Earth Sciences 17:19-24 |
UK | |
| Braithwaite, R.S.W., et al., Journal of the Russell Society 6(2), 100-101(1996): |
USA | |
| [Mineralogical Record - Vol 23 No. 2] |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
Giftgrube mine, Sankt Jakob vein, Neuenberg, Ste Marie-aux-Mines, Colmar-Ribeauvillé, Haut-Rhin, Grand Est, France