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Loellingite with Siderite

The Mineral loellingite




Loellingite, also known as Löllingite, is named after the Austrian type locality it was first described in, which is Loelling (or Lölling), Carinthia, Austria. Since the English language lacks the letter O with an umlaut, this guide uses the alternate spelling of Loellingite.

Loellingite belongs to the Loellingite group, which is a group of chemically related isomorphous minerals that are all uncommon. Other members discussed in this guide are Rammelsbergite and Safflorite.
Chemical Formula FeAs2
Composition Iron arsenate, sometimes with some nickel and cobalt. If the iron (Fe) is replaced by more than 50% nickel (Ni), the mineral is not Loellingite, but Rammelsbergite, and if it is replaced by more than 50% cobalt (Co), the mineral is Safflorite.
Variable Formula (Fe,Co,Ni)As2
Color Silver-white. Tarnishes dark gray.
Streak Dark gray
Hardness 5 - 5.5
Crystal System Orthorhombic
3D Crystal Atlas
(Click for animated model) 
Crystal Forms
and Aggregates
Occurs as interestingly shaped prismatic crystals, as well as tabular crystals. Crystals frequently twin to form cross or star shaped aggregates. Also occurs columnar, acicular, bladed, radiating, grainy, in thin veins, massive, and as compact aggregates.
Transparency Opaque
Specific Gravity 7.1 - 7.6
Luster Metallic
Cleavage 3,1 - basal
Fracture Uneven
Tenacity Brittle
Other ID Marks Gives off a garlic odor when struck or heated. (Fumes are toxic.)
Complex Tests Dissolves in nitric acid
In Group Sulfides; Arsenides
Striking Features Crystal habits, gives off garlic odor when struck
Environment In mesothermal veins associated with other sulfides, and also in limestone and less commonly in pegmatites.
Rock Type Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic
Popularity (1-4) 3
Prevalence (1-3) 3
Demand (1-3) 3


Loellingite AUCTIONS
OTHER NAMES
Löllingite

VARIETIES
 -  Cobaltrich variety of Loellingite
 -  Nickelrich variety of Loellingite


USES
Loellingite is found together with other arsenic minerals, and is thus a minor ore of arsenic.

NOTEWORTHY LOCALITIES
Loellingite is not a common mineral, and has been found in the following European localities: the Wolfbau Mine, Loelling, Carinthia, Austria; Carles, Asturias, Spain; the Ste Marie-aux-Mines, Alsace, France; and Dolni Bory, Moravia, Czech Republic.

Loellingite was found in Australia in Broken Hill, New South Wales, in highly lustrous crystals. A recent find of Loellingite, in exceptionally large crystals, is the Huanggang Mine, Inner Mongolia, China.

In the U.S., Loellingite was found in Franklin and Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey; Amity and Warwick, Orange Co., New York; Center Strafford, Strafford Co., New Hampshire; near Auburn, Androscoggin Co., Maine; and Mt Mica, Paris, Oxford Co., Maine. In Canada, it was found in the Cobalt area, Timiskaming District, Ontario.

COMMON MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS
Arsenopyrite, Siderite, Calcite, Chloanthite, Magnetite, Galena, Sphalerite, Pyrite

DISTINGUISHING SIMILAR MINERALS
Arsenopyrite - Very hard to distinguish without complex analysis.
Skutterudite, Safflorite, and Rammelsbergite - Indistinguishable without x-ray analysis. However, Safflorite and Rammelsbergite occur in different environments than Loellingite.
Pyrite, Marcasite, and Pyrhottite - Occur in different crystals, more yellow in color.
Cobaltite - Occurs in different crystals.


loellingite PHOTOS
 
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
 
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