Pharmacoalumite

pharmacoalumite

ceruleite

schlossmacherite

mansfieldite

Images

Formula: KAl4(AsO4)3(OH)4.6.5H2O
Hydrated arsenate containing hydroxyl, pharmacoalumite group
Specific gravity: 2.676 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Streak: White
Colour: White, pale yellow
Luminescence: Not fluorescent in UV
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Localities

The type locality is Guanaco, Taltal, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile. Pharmacoalumite is a secondary mineral originally found as a white incrustation with other oxidised arsenates on a museum specimen, associated with blue ceruleite, olivenite, green schlossmacherite, white mansfieldite and quartz (AM 66.1099, Dana).

At the Aghbar Mine, Aghbar, Tansifite Caïdat, Agdz Cercle, Zagora Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco, pharmacoalumite occurs as tiny white to pale pink cubic crystals, some showing phantoms, associated with anorthoroselite, mansfieldite and maghrebite (Minrec 38.5.358-359).

At the Oumlil mine, Oumlil, Tansifite Caïdat, Agdz Cercle, Zagora Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco, pharmacoalumite occurs as tiny white to pale pink, strontium-bearing cubic crystals, some showing phantoms, associated with scorodite and mansfieldite (Minrec 38.5.358-359).

At Tamdrost-West mine, Tamdrost, Agdz Cercle, Zagora Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco, pharmacoalumite forms countless tiny lustrous, greenish, cubic crystals associated with nováčekite and zeunerite in a body of uranium ore. Other associated minerals include erythrite, annabergite, talmessite, powellite, galena and native gold (Minrec 38.5.358-359).

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