Strashimirite

Strashimirite is a rare monoclinic mineral containing arseniccopperhydrogen, and oxygen. It has the chemical formula Cu8(AsO4)4(OH)4·5(H2O).[6][7]

Strashimirite
Strashimirite-88588.jpg
General
CategoryArsenate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Cu8(AsO4)4(OH)4·5(H2O)
Strunz classification8.DC.12 (10 ed)
7/D.07-20 (8 ed)
Dana classification42.6.5.1
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Unknown space group
Space groupP2/mP2, or Pm
Unit cella = 9.71 Å, b = 18.81 Å
c = 8.94 Å; β = 97.2°; Z = 3
Identification
ColorWhite, pale green
Crystal habitElongated, tabular crystals; crusts; radiating aggregates
CleavageParting at right angle to elongation
Mohs scale hardness2.5 - 3
LusterGreasy, pearly
DiaphaneitySemitransparent
Specific gravity3.67 (calculated)
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
Refractive indexnα = 1.726 nγ = 1.747
Birefringenceδ = 0.021
PleochroismWeak; Y = very pale yellowish green; Z = yellowish green
2V angle70°
References[1][2][3][4][5]

This mineral was discovered in Zapachitsa (Zapacica) copper deposit, SvogeSofia OblastBulgaria in 1960, by the Bulgarian mineralogist Jordanka Minceva-Stefanova.[8] She named the mineral after Strashimir Dimitrov (1892-1960), Professor in Mineralogy and Petrography at Sofia University "St Kliment Ohridski", Bulgaria.[9] The International Mineralogical Association approved it as a new mineral in 1968.[10]

It occurs as a secondary mineral phase in the oxidation zone of copper arsenide deposits. It occurs associated with tyrolitecornwalliteclinoclaseeuchroiteoliveniteparnauitegoudeyitearthuritemetazeuneritechalcophyllitecyanotrichitescoroditepharmacosideritebrochantiteazuritemalachite and chrysocolla.[1]

Although it remains quite rare, strashimirite has subsequently been identified in a number of locations including: Novoveska Huta in the Czech Republic; on the west flank of Cherbadung (Pizzo Cervandone), Binntal, Valais, Switzerland; in Kamsdorf and Saalfeld, Thuringia, Germany; the Clara mine, near Oberwolfach, Black Forest, Germany; in the Richelsdorf Mountains, Hesse, Germany; Cap Garonne mine, near le Pradet, Var, and Triembach-au-Val, Haut-Rhin, France; Wheals Gorland and Unity, Gwennap, Cornwall, England; the Tynagh mine, near Loughrea, Co. Galway, Ireland; the Majuba Hill mine, Antelope district, Pershing Co. Nevada, US; and the Centennial Eureka mine, Tintic district, Juab Co., Utah, US. 


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 Metasyntactic variable, which is released under the 
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