Scorodite

Scorodite
240px Scorodite, Gold Hill, Utah
General
Category	Arsenate minerals
Formula (repeating unit)	FeAsO4·2H2O
Strunz classification	08.CD.10
Unit cell	a = 8.937Å, b = 10.278Å, c = 9.996Å
Identification
Color	Green, blue-green, grey, grayish-green, blue, yellow-brown, nearly colourless, violet
Crystal system	Orthorhombic
Fracture	Sub-Conchoidal
Mohs scale hardness	3.5-4
Luster	Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous, Resinous
Streak	Greenish-White
Diaphaneity	Translucent
Density	measured: 3.27 g/cm3 calculated: 3.276 g/cm3
Optical properties	Biaxial (+)
Pleochroism	Weak
2V angle	Measured: 40° to 75° Calculated: 46° to 80°
Dispersion	relatively strong r > v
References

Scorodite is a common hydrated iron arsenate mineral, with the chemical formula FeAsO₄·2H₂O. It is found in hydrothermal deposits and as a secondary mineral in gossans worldwide. Scorodite weathers to limonite.

Scorodite was discovered in the Schwarzenberg, Saxony district, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany. Named from the Greek Scorodion, "garlicky". When heated it smells of garlic, which gives it the name.

References

• Palache, C., H. Berman, and C. Frondel (1951) Dana’s system of mineralogy, (7th edition), v. II, pp. 763–767
• Webmineral data
• Mineral Data Publishing