AUSTINITE

    Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Anhydrous arsenates
    Crystal System : Orthorhombic
    Chemistry : CaZn(AsO4)(OH)
    Rarity : Uncommon

Austinite is a secondary arsenate of zinc and calcium, present in the oxidation zones of polymetallic deposits rich in arsenic. It is a mineral that owes its name to Austin Flint Rogers, professor at Stanford University and president of the Mineralogical Society of America. It is an infrequent companion of adamite which crystallizes into tiny needles or lamellae frequently agglomerated into encrustations or nodules with a fibroradiated texture. Austinite is colorless, white, pale blue to pale green, sometimes true green.

Main photo : Austinite on adamite from Jean Baptiste Mine, Kamariza, Lavrion, Greece © Stephan Wolfsried

Austinite from Hilarion Mine, Kamariza, Lavrion, Greece © Stephan Wolfsried
Austinite from Hilarion Mine, Kamariza, Lavrion, Greece © Stephan Wolfsried
Austinite from Gold Hill Mine, Utah, USA © Marko Burkhardt
Austinite from Christiana Mine, Kamariza, Lavrion, Greece © Stephan Wolfsried

Austinite in the World

Austinite is relatively common in American deposits, notably at Gold Hill (Utah), at the Ojuela mine, near Mapimi (Mexico) and at Tsumeb (Namibia) while in Europe it is found at the Kamariza mine in the Lavrion (Greece).


Austinite in France

In France, austinite is reported at Can Pei (Pyrénées-Orientales) on a former lead and zinc deposit as well as at Huelgoat (Finistère).

Photo on the right : Austinite from Can Pei, Montferrer, Pyrénées-Orientales, France © Christian Berbain

Twinning and special crystallizations

Twin known on (100) for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fake or treatment identified for this mineral species.


Hardness : 4 to 4.5
Density : 4.2
Fracture : Irregular
Trace : White


TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.759 to 1.783
Birefringence : 0.024
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -

Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None