AGARDITE

    Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Hydrated Arsenates
    Crystal System : Hexagonal
    Chemistry : (Y,Ca)Cu6(AsO4)3(OH)6 3H2O
    Rarity : Very rare

Agardite is a very rare rare-earth copper complex arsenate known from the oxidized superficial part of copper deposits. It is named according to the dominant rare earth element : agardite-(Ce), agardite-(La), agardite-(Nd) or agardite-(Y). It owes its name to Jules Agard, a BRGM metallogenist who discovered the species. Its fine acicular crystals do not exceed 5 mm and take on a beautiful water-green to blue-green color. Sometimes cavernous, they are frequently grouped in rosettes or fibroradiated aggregates. This mineral has no particular use. Photo © Schreiber Fritz - Agardite from Hilarion Mine, Kamariza, Laurion, Greece

Agardite in the World

The most beautiful agardite formations are found in the Laurion (Greece), at the Moroccan mine of Bou-Skour, at the Clara mine (Germany) and in various other copper deposits throughout the world.

Agardite in France

This extremely rare mineral is associated with mixite and other copper arsenates at Faymont (Val d'Ajol, Vosges). It is also reported at Cap Garonne (Var), at Chessy (Rhône), and at Villefranche-de-Rouergue (Aveyron), see photo on the right © Jean-Vincent Coureau.

Twinning

No known twin for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fake reported for this mineral species.


Hardness : 3 to4
Density : 3.6 to 3.7
Fracture : -
Trace : White-green


TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.701 to 1.815
Birefringence : 0.075
Optical character : Uniaxial +
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Hydrochloric acid

Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None

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