Erythrite

Formula:   Co3(AsO4)2 . 8H2O

Origin of name:   From Greek for red

 

Crystal system:   Monoclinic

Crystal class:   2/m

Twinning:

Unit cell: a = 10.12 Ǻ, b = 13.43 Ǻ, c = 4.76 Ǻ, β = 101.9°

 

Colour:  Colourless, pale pink to deep purplish red

Diaphaneity:

Luster:   Adamantine (weakly), pearly

Habit:   Crystals prismatic to acicular, often striated; bladed aggregates or stellate groups; globular tufts; fibrous, earthy

Hardness:   1.5 to 2.5

Specific gravity:   3.18

Cleavage:   3; {010} perfect, {100} and {-102} indistinct

Tenacity:   Thin laminae flexible; sectile

Streak:   Colourless to pink

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments:   Series with annabergite and with hörnesite; streak is lighter than colour

 

Back to Alphabetical list Colour photos Thin sections SEM images TEM images vibrational spectra description IR spectra Raman spectra N-IR spectra F-IR spectra IES spectra