Agardite-(La)

agardite-(La)

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Formula: LaCu2+6(AsO4)3(OH)6.3H2O
Hydrated arsenate, mixite group, lanthanum-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 3.65 measured, 3.62 calculated
Hardness: 3 to 4
Streak: Greenish white
Colour: Grass-green to dull green, yellowish green to intense bluish green, rarely nearly colourless
Luminescence: Not fluorescent under UV
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Localities

At the Kamariza Mines, Agios Konstantinos, Lavrion Mining District, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece, agardite-(La), agardite-(Ce) and mixed crystals of both have been found in the oxidation zone. Both end members commonly form spherical to rosettelike aggregates, up to 3 mm in diameter, of needlelike crystals occurring in limonite voids. They are usually younger than associated smithsonite, aurichalcite, hydrozincite, azurite, copper-bearing adamite, calcite and chrysocolla, rarely with aluminium-rich adamite on "zincaluminite" and gibbsite (AM 70.871).
Agardite-(La) from the Kamariza Mines

There are two co-type localities, the Red Cloud copper mine and the Red Cloud Fluorite mine, both in the Gallinas Mountains, Red Cloud District, Lincoln County, New Mexico, USA. At both type localities agardite-(La) occurs in small amounts in the oxidised zone of hydrothermal mineralised breccia and polymetallic mineral deposits (HOM).

At the Red Cloud copper mine, Gallinas Mountains, Red Cloud District, Lincoln County, New Mexico, USA, agardite-(La) is associated with chrysocolla, malachite, azurite, mimetite, vanadinite, conichalcite, wulfenite, mottramite, cerussite and quartz (HOM).
Agardite-(La) from the Red Cloud Copper Mine

At the Red Cloud fluorite mine, Gallinas Mountains, Red Cloud District, Lincoln County, New Mexico, USA, agardite-(La) is associated with fluorite, bastnäsite, baryte and quartz (HOM).
Agardite-(La) from the Red Cloud Fluorite Mine

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