THE MINERAL HEDYPHANE

Chemistry: Pb₃Ca₂(AsO₄)₃Cl , Lead Calcium Arsenate Chloride.
Class: Phosphates
Subclass: Arsenates
Group: Apatite
Uses: As a very minor ore of lead and as mineral specimens.
Specimens

Hedyphane is named from the Greek which is loosely translated as "pleasant appearance". It was first described from the famous Langban Mine in Varmland, Sweden where many unique and exotic minerals have been found. Hedyphane is one of the uncommon members of the Apatite Group of minerals; whose members include the much more common apatites, vanadinite, pyromorphite and mimetite.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is typically white, gray, bluish or yellowish, but can also be red-violet and green.
Luster is greasy to resinous.
Transparency: Crystals are translucent to transparent.
Crystal System is hexagonal; 6 2 2
Crystal Habits include generally massive or granular habits.
Cleavage is poor in several directions, but rarely seen.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 4.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 5.8 - 5.9 (rather heavy for translucent minerals)
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are richterite, aegirine, hematite, svabite and tilasite.
Other Characteristics: Index of refraction is 1.95 (typically high for lead minerals).
Notable Occurrences include the type locality at Langban Mine, Filipstad, Varmland, Sweden and other Varmland mines.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, density, luster, color and locality.

Amethyst Galleries'
Mineral Gallery
MINERALS

Birthstones
Gemstones
By Name
Framed
Unframed
By Class: Carbonates; Elements; Halides; Oxides; Phosphates; Silicates; Sulfates; Sulfides
Fluorescent Minerals
Properties
Rocks
Search
Books

HEDYPHANE specimens:
(hover for more info)

HEDYPHANE specimen hey-1
$ 30.00

Dims: 2.1x1.1x0.9" (5.3x2.7x2.3 cm)

Wt: 1.7 oz. (47.4g)

Harstigen, Sweden

This specimen contains two rare minerals. Most visible is a translucent brown crust of hedyphane, which covers much of one surface. Also present (visible on the broken surfaces) are hundreds of tiny crystals of brown pyrophanite - these are not visible without a loupe. The hedyphane has a resinous luster, and the crystals are nearly transparent. There is no indication of crystal form.

hey-1 ($ 30.00)

Harstigen, Sweden

HEDYPHANE specimen hey-2
$ 27.00

Dims: 1.19x0.74x0.25" (3.01x1.87x0.63cm)

Wt: 14.3ct (2.86g)

Langban, Sweden

This thumbnail specimen might be mostly hedyphane in the form of a granular mass of redish-brown crystals. On the surface, some of the crystals are large enough to show a hint of violet and a greasy luster, at least iwth the aid of a loupe.

hey-2 ($ 27.00)

Langban, Sweden