| Kankite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Arsenate mineral |
| Chemical formula | Fe3+AsO4·3.5(H2O) |
| Strunz classification | 8.CE.60 |
| Unit cell | a= 18.803(15) b= 17.490(18) c= 7.633(5) z= 16 |
| Identification | |
| Molar mass | 257.82 g |
| Color | Yellowish–green |
| Crystal habit | Tabular spearlike crystals in spherulites and botryoidal encrustations |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2 – 3 |
| Luster | Dull to vitreous |
| Streak | Grayish yellow |
| Diaphaneity | Translucent |
| Specific gravity | 2.60 – 2.70 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.664 nγ = 1.680 |
| References | [1][2][3][4] |
Kankite is a mineral with the chemical formula Fe3+AsO4·3.5(H2O). Kankite is named for the locality that yielded first specimens Kank, Czech Republic.[1] Kankite forms in old (1200-1400 year old) mine dumps.[2] It is yellowish-green on fresh exposure, with a paler greenish yellow on exposure to air.
Kankite is a monoclinic mineral, meaning it is a mineral system having 3 unequal axes of which one is at right angles with the other two. It has an uneven fracture and has a hardness of 2-3 (gypsum-calcite). It is translucent yellowish-green in color with a grayish yellow streak. It's luster is dull to vitreous. Kankite contains the elements arsenic, iron, hydrogen and oxygen.[3] It was approved by the IMA in 1976. It's habit is botryoidal, "grape-like" rounded forms (e.g. malachite). It forms encrustations, crust-like aggregates on matrix. The specific gravity of Kankite is 2.70.[2]
Kankite was first described in 1976 for an occurrence in the Kaňk, Kutná Hora, Bohemia, Czech Republic.[4] It is a rare secondary mineral in highly weathered mine dumps containing arsenopyrite (in the Czech Republic). It occurs in association with scorodite, pitticite, parascorodite, zykaite, arsenopyrite, vajdakite, native arsenic, pyrite, proustite, gypsum, “limonite” and quartz.[1]
It has also been reported from Munzig near Meissen; from Brand-Erbisdorf, Saxony; from Menzenschwand, Black Forest in Germany. It occurs at King’s Wood mine, Buckfastleigh, Devon, and from the South Terras mine, St. Stephen-in-Brannel, Cornwall in England. It has also been reported from the Suzukura mine north-northeast of Enzan, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.[1]