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Alarsite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About AlarsiteHide

Formula:
AlAsO4
Colour:
Colorless, with pale tints of yellow, green, blue due to inclusions
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5 - 5½
Specific Gravity:
3.32 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named by Tatyana Fedorovna Semenova, Lidiya Pavlovna Vergasova, Stanislav Konstantinovich Filatov, and Vasiliy Viktorovich Ananev in 1994 from its composition, containing ALuminium and ARSenic.
This page provides mineralogical data about Alarsite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
94
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:94:5

IMA Classification of AlarsiteHide

Classification of AlarsiteHide

8.AA.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
A : With small cations (some also with larger ones)

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
ArsIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of AlarsiteHide

Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless, with pale tints of yellow, green, blue due to inclusions
Comment:
colorless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
5 - 5½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
3.32 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of AlarsiteHide

Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.596 nε = 1.608
Birefringence:
0.012
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.012
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.

Surface Relief:
Moderate
Optical Extinction:
Parallel.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of AlarsiteHide

Mindat Formula:
AlAsO4
Element Weights:
Element% weight
As45.161 %
O38.576 %
Al16.264 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of AlarsiteHide

Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
32 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
P3121
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.031(1) Å, c = 11.226(6) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.231
Unit Cell V:
246.07 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Subhedral grains, to 0.3 mm, in aggregates.

Comment:
Possibly P3221

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0011001AlarsiteSowa H (1991) The crystal structure of AlAsO4 at high pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 194 291-3041991synthetic0293
0011000AlarsiteSowa H (1991) The crystal structure of AlAsO4 at high pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 194 291-3041991synthetic0293
0011002AlarsiteSowa H (1991) The crystal structure of AlAsO4 at high pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 194 291-3041991synthetic1.81293
0011003AlarsiteSowa H (1991) The crystal structure of AlAsO4 at high pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 194 291-3041991synthetic2.99293
0011004AlarsiteSowa H (1991) The crystal structure of AlAsO4 at high pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 194 291-3041991synthetic4.87293
0010554AlarsiteMachatschki F (1936) Die kristallstruktur von tiefquarz SiO2 und aluminiumorthoarsenat AlAsO4 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 94 222-23019360293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
4.36 Å(20)
4.06 Å(31)
3.442 Å(100)
2.514 Å(80)
2.359 Å(15)
1.873 Å(16)
1.4202 Å(11)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates]

Type Occurrence of AlarsiteHide

Synonyms of AlarsiteHide

Other Language Names for AlarsiteHide

Dutch:Alarsiet
French:Alarsite
German:Alarsit
Norwegian:Alarsitt
Spanish:Alarsita

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Alarsite associated with NabokoiteKCu7(SO4)5(Te4+O3)OCl

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

8.AA.05BerliniteAlPO4Trig. 32 : P3121
8.AA.10BerylloniteNaBePO4Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.AA.15HurlbutiteCaBe2(PO4)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.AA.20LithiophosphateLi3PO4Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
8.AA.25NalipoiteNaLi2PO4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
8.AA.30OlympiteNa5Li(PO4)2Orth. 222 : P212121

Fluorescence of AlarsiteHide

Not fluorescent

Other InformationHide

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 AlarsiteHide

References for AlarsiteHide

Localities for AlarsiteHide

Showing 2 localities.

This 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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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Russia (TL)
 
  • Kamchatka Krai
    • Milkovsky District
      • Tolbachik Volcanic field
[DAN (1994) +3 other references
          • Northern Breakthrough (North Breach)
            • Second scoria cone
Pekov et al. (2014) +1 other reference
 
and/or  
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