Pharmacolite
Pharmacolite is an uncommon calcium arsenate mineral with formula CaHAsO4·2(H2O). It occurs as soft, white clusters of fibrous crystals and encrustations which crystallize in the monoclinic system. It is the arsenate analogue of the sulfate gypsum and the phosphate brushite.
| Pharmacolite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Arsenate mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | CaHAsO4·2(H2O) |
| IMA symbol | Pmc |
| Strunz classification | 8.CJ.50 |
| Dana classification | 39.1.1.2 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Domatic (m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | Ia |
| Unit cell | a = 5.959 Å, b = 15.313 Å, c = 6.357 Å; β = 114.67°; Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Colorless, white, pale gray |
| Crystal habit | Commonly acicular, silky fibrous, botryoidal to stalactitic; rare as elongated flattened crystals |
| Cleavage | Perfect on {010} |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Tenacity | Flexible |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2 – 2.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous, pearly on cleavages |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent to translucent |
| Specific gravity | 2.53 – 2.725 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (−) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.580 – 1.583 nβ = 1.589 – 1.590 nγ = 1.590 – 1.594 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.010 – 0.011 |
| Pleochroism | Not pleochroic |
| 2V angle | Measured: 77° |
| References | |
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