SVABITE

    Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Anhydrous arsenates
    Crystal system : Hexagonal
    Chemistry : Ca5(AsO4)3F
    Rarity : Very rare

Svabite is a very rare secondary arsenate of skarns and more generally of pyrometasomatic contact deposits, it is also found in certain volcanic fumaroles. It was named in honor of the Swedish mining manager Anton Svab. Svabite is found in small, short prismatic crystals of hexagonal appearance, colorless or white-yellow, sometimes grayish green to light blue or pale lilac.

Main photo : Svabite from Harstig, Sweden © Stephan Wolfsried

Svabite from Clara Mine, Germany © Stephan Wolfsried
Svabite from Clara Mine, Germany © Michael Förch
Svabite from Tolbachik fumaroles, Kamchatka, Russia © Stephan Wolfsried
Fluorescent svabite from Rakten, Ultevis, Sweden © Harold Moritz

Svabite in the World

Svabite is widely disseminated in the Franklin zinc deposit (New Jersey), as coarse crystals with rounded ends, embedded in franklinite. It is also present in several skarns and similar in Sweden, notably at the Harstig mine near Pajsberg and at Langban. It is reported at the Clara mine (Germany).

Svabite in France

Svabite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

No twinning known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes listed for this mineral species.


Hardness : 5
Density : 3.5 to 3.8
Fracture : Irregular
Streak : White

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.698 à 1.706
Birefringence : 0.008
Optical character : Uniaxial -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Insoluble

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None