GeoPicture of the Week: Carminite

by Mihai Andrei

December 10, 2014

in GeoPicture

carminite mineral — Carminite. Image via imgur.

It’s been a while since we posted a mineral for our #GeoPicture section, and now we’re back with a special one: carminite. Carminite is a rare, special mineral with small crystals (usually smaller than 2cm) which often occur as acicular crystals. The mineral is heavy but soft and interestingly enough, despite being really beautiful, it forms as an alteration product of arsenopyrite (FeAsS) in the oxidized zones of some lead-bearing deposits.

Carminite from the Alto das Quelhas do Gestoso Mines, Gestoso, Manhouce. Image via Wiki Commons.

There is no observed piezoelectric effect associated with carminite. The mineral is slowly soluble in hydrochloric acid (HCl). The chemical formula is (brace yourself) PbFe³⁺₂(AsO₄)₂(OH)₂).

Blue scorodite crystals on red brown carminite from Alto das Quelhas do Gestoso Mines, Gestoso, Manhouce, São Pedro do Sul, Viseu District, Portugal.

Mihai Andrei

Andrei's background is in geophysics, and he's been fascinated by it ever since he was a child. Feeling that there is a gap between scientists and the general audience, he started ZME Science -- and the results are what you see today.

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GeoPicture of the Week: Carminite

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Mihai Andrei

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