Zykaite Explained

Zykaite
Formula:Fe3+4(AsO4)3(SO4)(OH)·15(H2O)
Color:Grey-white
Mohs:2
Luster:Dull
Diaphaneity:Translucent
Gravity:2.5

Zykaite or zýkaite is a grey-white mineral consisting of arsenic, hydrogen, iron, sulfur and oxygen with formula: Fe3+4(AsO4)3(SO4)(OH)·15(H2O).[1] This dull mineral is very soft with a Mohs hardness of only 2 and a specific gravity of 2.5. It is translucent and crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system.[2]

Its common associates include limonite, gypsum, scorodite, quartz and arsenopyrite.[2] It is found in the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany.

Zykaite was first described in 1978 for an occurrence in the Safary mine, Kutná Hora, Bohemia, Czech Republic and named in honour of Vaclav Zyka (born 1926), a Czech geochemist.[2] [3]

Notes and References

  1. http://webmineral.com/data/Zykaite.shtml Webmineral data
  2. http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/zykaite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. http://www.mindat.org/min-4437.html Mindat.org