Blue Arhbarite Crystals
Beautiful Blue Arhbarite Crystals From Chile. From: El Guanaco Mine, Guanaco (Huanaco), Santa Catalina, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile. Photo: Christian Rewitzer |
Arhbarite
Arhbarite is a copper magnesium arsenate mineral. It is named after its type locality, the Arhbar mine in Ouarzazate Province in Drâa-Tafilalet, Morocco.
Formula: Cu2Mg(AsO4)(OH)3
Colour: Dark blue to medium blue
Hardness = 5
Lustre: Sub-Vitreous, Waxy
Crystal System: Triclinic
Streak: Light blue, sky-blue
Occurrence: A rare secondary mineral in polymetallic hydrothermal ore deposits.
Association Minerals: Dolomite, hematite, löllingite, pharmacolite, erythrite, talc, mcguinnessite (Arhbar mine, Morocco); chrysocolla, brochantite, olivenite, iodargyrite, dolomite (Emma Louisa mine, Chile); guanacoite (El Guanaco mine, Chile).
Name: For the Arhbar (Aghbar) mine, Morocco, where the mineral was first found.