THE MINERAL AUSTINITE

  • Chemistry: CaZnAsO4OH, Calcium Zinc Arsenate Hydroxide
  • Class: The Phosphates
  • Subclass: Arsenates
  • Group: Adelite
  • Uses: Only as mineral specimens.
  • Specimens

Austinite is fairly rare but popular collection mineral. It forms in the oxidation zone of zinc ore deposits, often with the sometimes similar looking adamite. It can have a very nice color and silky or sub-adamantine (almost gem-like) luster. Fine specimens occur as radial clusters of intensely green crystals, and are much in demand.

Austinite is named after the mineralogist Austin F. Rogers.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Color is typically a bright green, but also colorless, white or pale yellow.
  • Luster is sub-adamantine or silky.
  • Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
  • Crystal System is orthorhombic; 2/m 2/m 2/m
  • Crystal Habits include acicular or bladed crystals in druses, radial aggregates or crusts, also fibrous.
  • Cleavage is perfect in one direction lengthwise.
  • Fracture is uneven.
  • Hardness is 4 - 4.5.
  • Specific Gravity is approximately 4.1 (heavy for translucent minerals)
  • Streak is white to pale green.
  • Associated Minerals are adamite, legrandite, limonite, smithsonite, aragonite and other oxidation zone minerals.
  • Notable Occurrences include Mapimi, Mexico; Tsumeb, Namibia and Toole Co., Utah, USA.
  • Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, cleavage, color, luster, density, lack of fluorescence and associations.
Some Colorful Members of the Colorful Phosphates Class








 


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