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Rauenthalite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Rauenthalite
Formula:
Ca3(AsO4)2 · 10H2O
Colour:
Colorless, white
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Waxy
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.36
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named by Roland Pierrot in 1964 for the Rauenthal Valley, France near the original locality Ste Marie-aux-Mines.
Often associated with the chemically nearly identical phaunouxite, but phaunouxite easily dehydrates to rauenthalite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3371
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3371:4
IMA Classification of Rauenthalite
Classification of Rauenthalite
8.CJ.40
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
40.3.11.1
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
20.2.13
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
2 : Arsenates of Be, Mg, Ca or Ba
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
2 : Arsenates of Be, Mg, Ca or Ba
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rth | 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 Rauenthalite
Sub-Vitreous, Waxy
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless, white
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.36 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.362 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Rauenthalite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.540 - 1.546 nβ = 1.552 nγ = 1.570 - 1.576
2V:
Measured: 85° , Calculated: 80°
Birefringence:
0.030
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.030
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:
Low (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 biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
weak
Optical Extinction:
Inclined
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Rauenthalite
Mindat Formula:
Ca3(AsO4)2 · 10H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Rauenthalite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Setting:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.564(8) Å, b = 12.169(7) Å, c = 6.195(4) Å
α = 89.09(3)°, β = 79.69(3)°, γ = 118.58(4)°
α = 89.09(3)°, β = 79.69(3)°, γ = 118.58(4)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.032 : 1 : 0.509
Unit Cell V:
812.65 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Bladed crystals, often in somewhat radial arrangement.
Comment:
Non-standard setting.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Display Options
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009786 | Rauenthalite | Catti M, Ivaldi G (1983) On the topotactic dehydration Ca3(AsO4)2*11H2O (phaunouxite) -> Ca3(AsO4)2*10H2O (rauenthalite), and the structures of both minerals Acta Crystallographica B39 4-10 |  | 1983 | Sainte Marie-aux-Mines, Alsace, France | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 10.8 Å | (very very strong) |
| 3.36 Å | (very strong) |
| 2.44 Å | (strong) |
| 6.2 Å | (medium strong) |
| 2.58 Å | (medium strong) |
| 2.06 Å | (medium strong) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Rauenthalite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Colorless to cloudy white bladed crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Muséum Nationale d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, numbers 50960, 50961 (holotype).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Post-mine efflorescence on mine tunnel walls.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Rauenthalite
Other Language Names for Rauenthalite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 37 photos of Rauenthalite associated with Phaunouxite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 9 photos of Rauenthalite associated with Picropharmacolite | Ca4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 5 photos of Rauenthalite associated with Guérinite | Ca6(HAsO4)3(AsO4)2 · 10.5H2O |
| 4 photos of Rauenthalite associated with Sainfeldite | Ca5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 2 photos of Rauenthalite associated with Pharmacosiderite | KFe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 6-7H2O |
| 2 photos of Rauenthalite associated with Pharmacolite | Ca(HAsO4) · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Rauenthalite associated with Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| 1 photo of Rauenthalite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 1 photo of Rauenthalite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Rauenthalite associated with Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.CJ. | Airdite | Sr(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Dobšináite | Ca2Ca(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Sainfeldite | Ca5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Caesiumpharmacosiderite | CsFe3+4[(AsO4)3(OH)4] · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Jeankempite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 7H2O |
| 8.CJ.05 | Stercorite | (NH4)Na(PO3OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.10 | Swaknoite | (NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.10 | Mundrabillaite | (NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.15 | Nabaphite | NaBaPO4 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.15 | Nastrophite | Na(Sr,Ba)PO4 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.20 | Haidingerite | CaHAsO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.25 | Rhabdophane-(Y) | YPO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.25 | Vladimirite | Ca4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.27 | 'Churchite-(Dy)' | (Dy,Sm,Gd,Nd)PO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.30 | Ferrarisite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.35 | Fulbrightite | Ca(V4+O)2(As5+O4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.35 | Machatschkiite | (Ca,Na)6(AsO4)(HAsO4)3(PO4,SO4) · 15H2O |
| 8.CJ.40 | Phaunouxite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Brockite | (Ca,Th,Ce)PO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Smirnovskite | (Th,Ca)PO4 · nH2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) · 0.6H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(La) | La(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Tristramite | (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Grayite | (Th,Pb,Ca)(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Štěpite | U(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.47 | Vysokýite | U4+[AsO2(OH)2]4 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Churchite-(Y) | Y(PO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Brushite | Ca(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Ardealite | Ca2(PO3OH)(SO4) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Pharmacolite | Ca(HAsO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | 'Churchite-(Nd)' | Nd(PO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.55 | Mcnearite | NaCa5(AsO4)(HAsO4)4 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.60 | Dorfmanite | Na2(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.65 | Sincosite | Ca(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.65 | Bariosincosite | Ba(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.70 | Catalanoite | Na2(PO3OH) · 8H2O |
| 8.CJ.75 | Guérinite | Ca6(HAsO4)3(AsO4)2 · 10.5H2O |
| 8.CJ.85 | Ningyoite | (U,Ca,Ce)2(PO4)2 · 1-2H2O |
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 Rauenthalite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3371.html
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References for Rauenthalite
Reference List:
Pierrot, Roland (1964) Contribution à la minéralogie des arséniates calciques et calcomagnésiens naturels. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 87 (2) 169-211 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1964.5727
Localities for Rauenthalite
Showing 30 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.
Austria | |
| Taucher et al. (1994) |
Czech Republic | |
| Hloušek et al. (2002) |
| Tvrdý +1 other reference |
France | |
| Bari (1982) |
| Wittern et al. (1997) | |
| Pierre et Terre 1982 | |
| De Bondt (n.d.) | |
| Pierrot (1964) |
| Bari (1982) | |
| in the collection of Joachim Esche +3 other references | |
| Anthony et al. (2000) |
| Favreaux (1997) |
Germany | |
| Kolitsch (1995) +2 other references |
| Anthony et al. (2000) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) | |
| |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Witzke (1992) |
| Hajek (2010) |
| Massanek et al. (2005) |
Greece | |
| Rieck et al. (2020) |
| Liebhart et al. (2021) |
| Rieck et al. (2020) | |
Ireland | |
| S. MORETON et al. (1999) |
Slovakia | |
| Martin Števko-unpublished |
| Martin Števko-unpublished +1 other reference | |
UK | |
| Braithwaite et al. (1996) |
USA | |
| Wilson et al. (1992) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
Quick NavTopAbout RauenthaliteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Giftgrube mine, Saint Jacques vein, Neuenberg, Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, Colmar-Ribeauvillé, Haut-Rhin, Grand Est, France