Arsenopyrite
Arsenopyrite may be the most arsenic that is common mineral found worldwide. However, it just isn’t intentionally mined for that reason. Arsenopyrite may contain an amount that is small of as an impurity. Arsenopyrite makes attractive mineral specimens but is rarely available as a treasure that is faceted. Arsenopyrite is found in colours of silver-white to steel-gray and may have a sulphur scent when struck.
Distribution: The most numerous and arsenic that is widespread; only a few localities for big and fine crystals can be mentioned. In Germany, from Altenberg, Ehrenfriedersdorf, and Freiberg, Saxony. In the Stari Trg mine, Trepca, Serbia. From Panasqueira, Portugal. At Sala, Tunaberg, Stollberg, Boliden, and Nordmark, Sweden. From Stratonik, Greece. In England, from a true number of mines in Cornwall, plus in Devonshire, at Tavistock. In the United States Of America, from Franconia, Grafton County, New Hampshire and Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey. From Hidalgo del Parral and Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico. In Canada, in the Cobalt district, Ontario. In Japan, large crystals in the Obira mine, Bungo, Oita Prefecture; the Ashio mine, Tochigi Prefecture; and many other localities.
| Category: | Sulfide mineral |
| Chemical Formula: | FeAsS |
| Iron Arsenide Sulfide | |
| Molecular Weight: | 162.83 gm |
| Composition: | Iron | 34.30 % | Fe | ||
| Arsenic | 46.01 % | As | |||
| Sulfur | 19.69 % | S | |||
| 100.00 % |
| Crystallography: | Monoclinic – Prismatic |
| Crystal Habit: | Crystals, to 30 cm, flat tabular to blocky to prismatic, striated k [001]. Also compact, granular, columnar. |
| Twinning: | Common on {100} and {001}; as contact or penetration twins on {101}; on {012} to produce star-shaped trillings or cruciform twins. |
| Cleavage: | Distinct on {101}; {010} in traces. |
| Fracture: | Irregular/Uneven |
| Tenacity: | Brittle |
| Moh’s Hardness: | 5.5 – 6.0 |
| Vicker’s Hardness: | VHN100=1081 kg/mm2 |
| Density: | 6.07 (g/cm3) |
| Luminescence: | Not Fluorescent |
| Radioactivity: | Not Radioactive |
| Health Warning: | CAUTION: Contains Arsenic, a poisonous element – always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest. |
| Colour: | Silver-white to steel-gray; in polished section, white with faint yellow tint. |
| Transparency: | Opaque |
| Luster: | Metallic |
| Refractive Index: | R1–R2: (400) 50.3–51.8, (420) 50.3–51.8, (440) 51.3–51.8, (460) 50.6–51.8, (480) 51.0–51.9, (500) 51.4–51.9, (520) 51.8–51.9, (540) 52.2–51.9, (560) 52.5–51.9, (580) 53.0–51.8, (600) 53.4–51.6, (620) 53.6–51.5, (640) 53.6–51.3, (660) 53.6–51.3, (680) 53.4–51.2, (700) 53.2–51.0 |
| Birefringence: | 0.00 (opaque) |
| Dispersion: | n/a |
| Pleochroism: | Weak; in white or bluish tint and faint reddish yellow. |
| Optical properties: | Anisotropism – strong red-violet |
| Anisotropism: | Strong; Color in reflected light: red-violet |
| Other characteristics: | Garlic odour when struck, greenish tinge when weathered, green staining of wall rocks |
