Agardite - Encyclopedia
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
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