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Mineralpedia Details for Cafarsite

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Cafarsite

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)12·4-5H2
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
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Mindat
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Cafarsite from Alpe Devero, Novara Province, Italy

Cafarsite
            from Alpe Devero, Novara Province, Italy

Good crystals to 3.5mm in crevice in country rock. 

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Cafarsite from Monte Cervandone, Ossola Valley, Piedmont, Italy

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.

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