Alarsite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Alarsite
Formula:
AlAsO4
Colour:
Colorless, with pale tints of yellow, green, blue due to inclusions
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5 - 5½
Specific Gravity:
3.32 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named by Tatyana Fedorovna Semenova, Lidiya Pavlovna Vergasova, Stanislav Konstantinovich Filatov, and Vasiliy Viktorovich Ananev in 1994 from its composition, containing ALuminium and ARSenic.
This page provides mineralogical data about Alarsite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
94
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:94:5
IMA Classification of Alarsite
Approved
IMA Formula:
AlAs5+O4
Approval year:
1993
Classification of Alarsite
8.AA.05
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
A : With small cations (some also with larger ones)
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
A : With small cations (some also with larger ones)
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ars | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Alarsite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless, with pale tints of yellow, green, blue due to inclusions
Comment:
colorless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
5 - 5½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
3.32 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Alarsite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.596 nε = 1.608
Birefringence:
0.012
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.012
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Optical Extinction:
Parallel.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Alarsite
Mindat Formula:
AlAsO4
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Alarsite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
32 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
P3121
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.031(1) Å, c = 11.226(6) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.231
Unit Cell V:
246.07 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Subhedral grains, to 0.3 mm, in aggregates.
Comment:
Possibly P3221
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
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Labels
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0011001 | Alarsite | Sowa H (1991) The crystal structure of AlAsO4 at high pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 194 291-304 |  | 1991 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0011000 | Alarsite | Sowa H (1991) The crystal structure of AlAsO4 at high pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 194 291-304 | | 1991 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0011002 | Alarsite | Sowa H (1991) The crystal structure of AlAsO4 at high pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 194 291-304 | | 1991 | synthetic | 1.81 | 293 |
| 0011003 | Alarsite | Sowa H (1991) The crystal structure of AlAsO4 at high pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 194 291-304 | | 1991 | synthetic | 2.99 | 293 |
| 0011004 | Alarsite | Sowa H (1991) The crystal structure of AlAsO4 at high pressure Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 194 291-304 | | 1991 | synthetic | 4.87 | 293 |
| 0010554 | Alarsite | Machatschki F (1936) Die kristallstruktur von tiefquarz SiO2 und aluminiumorthoarsenat AlAsO4 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 94 222-230 | | 1936 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.36 Å | (20) |
| 4.06 Å | (31) |
| 3.442 Å | (100) |
| 2.514 Å | (80) |
| 2.359 Å | (15) |
| 1.873 Å | (16) |
| 1.4202 Å | (11) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] |
Type Occurrence of Alarsite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mining Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Fumarolic exhalations
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Alarsite
Other Language Names for Alarsite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.AA.05 | Berlinite | AlPO4 |
| 8.AA.10 | Beryllonite | NaBePO4 |
| 8.AA.15 | Hurlbutite | CaBe2(PO4)2 |
| 8.AA.20 | Lithiophosphate | Li3PO4 |
| 8.AA.25 | Nalipoite | NaLi2PO4 |
| 8.AA.30 | Olympite | Na5Li(PO4)2 |
Fluorescence of Alarsite
Not fluorescent
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Alarsite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-94.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Alarsite
Reference List:
Machatschki, F. (1935) Die Kristallstruktur des Aluminiumarsenates AlAsO4. Ein weiterer Beitrag zur Frage der Isomorphie von Kristallarten des Siliciums und fünfwertigen Arsens. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 90 (1). 314-321 doi:10.1524/zkri.1935.90.1.314
Localities for Alarsite
Showing 2 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Russia (TL) | |
| [DAN (1994) +3 other references |
| Pekov et al. (2014) +1 other reference |
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Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia