| Arsenolite | |
| Category: | Oxide mineral |
| Formula: | As4O6 |
| Imasymbol: | Aso[1] |
| Molweight: | 197.841 g/mol |
| Strunz: | 4.CB.50 |
| System: | Cubic |
| Class: | Hexoctahedral (mm) H-M symbol: (4/m 2/m) |
| Symmetry: | Fdm |
| Unit Cell: | a = 11.074 Å; Z = 16 |
| Color: | White, pale blue, pink to pale yellow if impure |
| Habit: | Common as tiny octahedra; aggregates or crusts; botryoidal, stalactitic |
| Cleavage: | On |
| Fracture: | Conchoidal |
| Mohs: | 1.5 |
| Luster: | Vitreous to silky; may be earthy or dull |
| Refractive: | n = 1.755 |
| Opticalprop: | Isotropic; may be anomalously anisotropic |
| Streak: | white /pale white |
| Gravity: | 3.87 |
| Diaphaneity: | Transparent |
| Other: | Astringent, sweetish taste; toxic |
| References: | [2] [3] [4] |
Arsenolite is an arsenic mineral, chemical formula As4O6. It is formed as an oxidation product of arsenic sulfides. Commonly found as small octahedra it is white, but impurities of realgar or orpiment may give it a pink or yellow hue. It can be associated with its dimorph claudetite (a monoclinic form of As2O3) as well as realgar (As4S4), orpiment (As2S3) and erythrite, Co3(AsO4)2·8H2O.[2]
Arsenolite belongs to the minerals which are highly toxic.[4]
It was first described in 1854 for an occurrence in the St Andreasberg District, Harz Mountains, Lower Saxony, Germany.[4]
It occurs by the oxidation of arsenic-bearing sulfides in hydrothermal veins. It also occurs as a result of mine or coal seam fires.[2]