Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          wellerr@cochise.edu
                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
erythrite


Chemical Group:    arsenate

Chemical Formula:   
Co3(AsO4)2.8H2O

Color:  crimson-red, peach-red, magenta, gray           

Streak: pale version of mineral color      Luster:  pearly, adamantine, vitreous

 

Hardness:  1.5 to 2.5          Specific Gravity:  2.95                

Transparency:  transparent to sub-translucent

Cleavage:  (010) perfect     Tenacity:  sectile

 

Crystal Forms: Monoclinic system
     Crystals are prismatic and striated.
     Mineral habits:  reniform, stellate, encrustation, granular

Mineral Associations:  mineral of secondary origin in cobalt deposits

Identifying Characteristics:  brilliant magenta drusy coating on rocks

Uses:   cobalt ore

Occurrences: Cobalt, Ontario, Canada

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- very high         when inhaled- very high

Additional Information: