Ferrarisite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Ferrarisite
Professor Giovanni Ferraris
Formula:
Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O
Colour:
Colorless to white
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Silky
Specific Gravity:
2.63
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named in honour of professor Giovanni Ferraris (1937- ), Institute of Mineralogy, Crystallography and Geochemistry, University of Turin, Italy, who worked on crystal structure of several arsenate minerals from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, France.
Ferrarisite dehydrates very slowly in dry air at room temperature and turns from colourless to white; dehydrated crystals were also found in nature in Sainte Marie aux Mines and in Wittichen (Catti & Ivaldi, 1981). Fresh ferrarisite is visually very similar to pharmacolite.
A triclinic compound with the formula Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4).2.5H2O (Unnamed (Ca arsenate hydrate)) was obtained by dehydration at 60°C of ferrarisite (Catti & Ivaldi, 1981).
Originally considered a dimorph of Guérinite by Catti & Ferraris, 1974 but this was determined to have a different formula by Liebhart et al. (2024).
A closely related mineral is vladimirite.
A triclinic compound with the formula Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4).2.5H2O (Unnamed (Ca arsenate hydrate)) was obtained by dehydration at 60°C of ferrarisite (Catti & Ivaldi, 1981).
Originally considered a dimorph of Guérinite by Catti & Ferraris, 1974 but this was determined to have a different formula by Liebhart et al. (2024).
A closely related mineral is vladimirite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1485
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1485:0
IMA Classification of Ferrarisite
Classification of Ferrarisite
8.CJ.30
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
39.2.3.1
39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : (AB)5[HXO4]2[XO4]2.xH2O
39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : (AB)5[HXO4]2[XO4]2.xH2O
20.2.12
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
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Fer | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Ferrarisite
Sub-Vitreous, Silky
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless to white
Comment:
White mineral may be dehydrated to unspecified minerals
Streak:
White
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001} perfect
{001} perfect
Density:
2.63 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.60 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Ferrarisite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.562 nβ = 1.572 nγ = 1.585
2V:
Measured: 83° , Calculated: 84°
Birefringence:
0.023
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.023
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
strong
Optical Extinction:
X ^ c = 8°-17°; Z perpendicular to {110}
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Ferrarisite
Mindat Formula:
Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Ferrarisite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Setting:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.294 Å, b = 6.722 Å, c = 11.198 Å
α = 106.16°, β = 92.94°, γ = 99.20°
α = 106.16°, β = 92.94°, γ = 99.20°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.234 : 1 : 1.666
Unit Cell V:
588.90 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Comment:
Bull Min. (1980): 103:541 structure
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012071 | Ferrarisite | Catti M, Chiari G, Ferraris G (1980) The structure of ferrarisite, Ca5(HAsO4)2(AsO4)2*9H2O: disorder, hydrogen bonding, and polymorphism with guerinite Bulletin de Mineralogie 103 541-546 | 1980 | Sainte Marie-aux-Mines, Alsace, France | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 10.8 Å | (100) |
| 6.34 Å | (30) |
| 5.36 Å | (30) |
| 4.73 Å | (30) |
| 4.07 Å | (40) |
| 3.57 Å | (40) |
| 3.17 Å | (80) |
| 2.83 Å | (90) |
Comments:
ICDD 33-280
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Ferrarisite
General Appearance of Type Material:
White radiating very elongated crystals.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Oxidized vein assemblages in arsenic-rich mines
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Ferrarisite
Other Language Names for Ferrarisite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Ferrarisite associated with Realgar | As4S4 |
| 1 photo of Ferrarisite associated with Picropharmacolite | Ca4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 1 photo of Ferrarisite associated with Sainfeldite | Ca5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 1 photo of Ferrarisite associated with Aluminoceladonite | K(MgAl◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
| 1 photo of Ferrarisite associated with Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.CJ. | Airdite | Sr(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Dobšináite | Ca2Ca(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Sainfeldite | Ca5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Caesiumpharmacosiderite | CsFe3+4[(AsO4)3(OH)4] · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Jeankempite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 7H2O |
| 8.CJ.05 | Stercorite | (NH4)Na(PO3OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.10 | Swaknoite | (NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.10 | Mundrabillaite | (NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.15 | Nabaphite | NaBaPO4 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.15 | Nastrophite | Na(Sr,Ba)PO4 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.20 | Haidingerite | CaHAsO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.25 | Rhabdophane-(Y) | YPO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.25 | Vladimirite | Ca4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.27 | 'Churchite-(Dy)' | (Dy,Sm,Gd,Nd)PO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.35 | Fulbrightite | Ca(V4+O)2(As5+O4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.35 | Machatschkiite | (Ca,Na)6(AsO4)(HAsO4)3(PO4,SO4) · 15H2O |
| 8.CJ.40 | Rauenthalite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 8.CJ.40 | Phaunouxite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Brockite | (Ca,Th,Ce)PO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Smirnovskite | (Th,Ca)PO4 · nH2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) · 0.6H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(La) | La(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Tristramite | (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Grayite | (Th,Pb,Ca)(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Štěpite | U(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.47 | Vysokýite | U4+[AsO2(OH)2]4 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Churchite-(Y) | Y(PO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Brushite | Ca(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Ardealite | Ca2(PO3OH)(SO4) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Pharmacolite | Ca(HAsO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | 'Churchite-(Nd)' | Nd(PO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.55 | Mcnearite | NaCa5(AsO4)(HAsO4)4 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.60 | Dorfmanite | Na2(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.65 | Sincosite | Ca(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.65 | Bariosincosite | Ba(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.70 | Catalanoite | Na2(PO3OH) · 8H2O |
| 8.CJ.75 | Guérinite | Ca6(HAsO4)3(AsO4)2 · 10.5H2O |
| 8.CJ.85 | Ningyoite | (U,Ca,Ce)2(PO4)2 · 1-2H2O |
Fluorescence of Ferrarisite
Not fluorescent.
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.
Internet Links for Ferrarisite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1485.html
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References for Ferrarisite
Localities for Ferrarisite
Showing 18 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Czech Republic | |
| Bureš (2024) |
| Bureš (2024) | |
France | |
| Bari (1982) |
| Bari et al. (1980) +1 other reference |
| Bari (1982) | |
| This mine worked the same vein as Gabe ... +2 other references | |
| Perroud (1989) |
Germany | |
| |
| Walenta (1992) |
| |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) | |
| |
| XRD and EDS Analysis Thomas Witzke |
Greece | |
| Rieck et al. (2020) |
| Rieck et al. (2020) |
Japan | |
| OHNISHI et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
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Alt St Joseph Mine, Wittichen, Schenkenzell, Rottweil, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany