May 20 2014
Arsenolite is an arsenic mineral that was first described in 1854 for an occurrence in the St. Andreasberg District of the Harz Mountains, Lower Saxony in Germany. The mineral was named after the presence of arsenic in its composition.
Properties of Arsenolite
The following are the key properties of Arsenolite:
- Cell Data
- Space Group: Fd3m (synthetic)
- a = 11.074
- Z = 16
- Crystal Data
- Cubic
- Point Group: 4/m 3 2/m
- Commonly as tiny octahedra, sometimes modified by the dodecahedron, in aggregates or crusts; botryoidal, stalactitic, earthy to pulverulent
- X-ray Powder Pattern: 3.195 (100), 6.39 (63), 2.541 (38), 2.7687 (28), 1.957 (27), 1.551 (22), 1.670 (21)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content |
| As |
75.74 |
| O |
24.26 |
| Total |
100 |
- Optical Properties
- Optical Class: Isotropic; may be anomalously anisotropic
- n = 1.755
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 3.37 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of Arsenolite = 3.70 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PEArsenolite = 53.81 barns/electron
U = PEArsenolite x ρ Electron density = 181.14 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.0001
Boson index = 0.99 |
Radioactivity
|
Arsenolite is not radioactive
|
How to Identify Arsenolite
Arsenolite can be red, light yellow, white, or blue in color. It has a transparent to translucent appearance, vitreous luster, non-magnetic characteristic, white streak and perfect cleavage. It develops conchoidal fractures in brittle materials that are characterized by smooth surfaces. It can be formed as crust-like aggregates on matrix.
The mineral has a density of 3.7 g/cm3, and a hardness of 1.5.
Global Distribution
Arsenolite is distributed in the following places:
- Wittichen, Black Forest, Germany
- Lauta, near Marienberg, Johanngeorgenstadt, and Annaberg, Saxony
- J´achymov (Joachimsthal) and Kuttenberg, Czech Republic
- Saint-Etienne, Loire, and elsewhere in France
- Dolcoath mine, Cambourne, the Phoenix United mines, Linkinhorne, and elsewhere in Cornwall, England
- Plaka mine, Laurium, Greece
- Sondalo, Sondrio, and Borgofranco, Torino, Italy
- Manhattan, Nye Co. in the Ophir mine, Comstock Lode, Storey Co. USA
- Simon, Mineral Co. Nevada
- United Verde mine, Jerome, Yavapai Co. Arizona
- Armagosa mine, San Bernardino Co. California
- Lake Wanapitei, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
- Watson Creek, British Columbia
Occurrence of Arsenolite and Useful Mineral Association
Arsenolite occurs as an oxidation product of other arsenic-bearing sulfides in hydrothermal veins, and can be formed in mine fires, or in burning coal seams.
It is closely associated with erythrite, orpiment, realgar, and claudetite.
References