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Cafarsite

The composition of the mineral is its namesake after the calcium (ca), iron (Latin: ferrum), and arsenic (ars) in the mineral’s chemical formula. Cafarsite is a rare mineral that is found in Switzerland in a few localities in Binn Valley in Wallis, in Italy at Devero Alp in Piedmont, and in Canada at the Hemlo gold deposits in the Thunder Bay district of Ontario. Cafarsite occurs at its type locality at Scherbadung on cleft faces in orthogneiss. Associated minerals at the type locality include asbecasite, gasparite-Ce, chernovite, and synchysite.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/cafarsite.pdf
- Formula
- Ca5.9Mn1.7Fe3Ti3(AsO3)12·4-5H2O
- Crystal System
- Isometric
- Cleavage
- None, None, None
- Luster
- Sub Metallic
- Color
- brownish yellow, brownish black, dark brown, dark red
- Streak
- yellowish brown
- Class
- Isometric - Diploidal
- Fracture
- Brittle
- Hardness
- 5.5-6
- WebMineral
- View Cafarsite
- Mindat
- View Cafarsite
Cafarsite from Alpe Devero, Novara Province, Italy

Good crystals to 3.5mm in crevice in country rock.
Cafarsite from Monte Cervandone, Ossola Valley, Piedmont, Italy

A superb octahedral crystal of Cafarsite to 4mm with Quartz. I do not know what the green coating is.