# Safflorite

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safflorite
> Source revision: 1302798671
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{{Short description|Mineral}}
{{Infobox mineral
| name        = Safflorite
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| image       = Safflorite and Calcite3 - Bouismas Mine, Bou Azzer, Tazenakht, Ouarzazate, Souss-Massa-Draa, Morocco.jpg
| imagesize   = 260px
| alt         = 
| caption     = Safflorite and calcite from Morocco
| category    = Arsenide mineral
| formula     = {{chem2|([Co](/source/cobalt),[Fe](/source/iron))[As](/source/arsenic)2}}
| IMAsymbol   = Saf<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3 |pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W |s2cid=235729616 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
| molweight   = 
| strunz      = 2.EB.15a
| dana        = 
| system      = [Orthorhombic](/source/Orthorhombic)
| class       = Dipyramidal (mmm) <br/>[H-M symbol](/source/H-M_symbol): (2/m 2/m 2/m)
| symmetry    = ''Pnnm''
| unit cell   = a = 5.173&nbsp;[Å](/source/%C3%85ngstr%C3%B6m), b = 5.954&nbsp;Å <br/>c = 2.999&nbsp;Å; Z&nbsp;=&nbsp;2
| color       = Tin white, tarnishes to gray
| colour      = 
| habit       = Prismatic crystals, massive to fibrous
| twinning    = Forms cruciform penetration twins
| cleavage    = Distinct on {100}
| fracture    = Uneven to conchoidal
| tenacity    = Brittle
| mohs        = 4.5–5.5
| luster      = Metallic
| streak      = Grayish black
| diaphaneity = Opaque
| gravity     = 6.9–7.3
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| references  = <ref name=HBM>{{Cite web |url=http://www.handbookofmineralogy.com/pdfs/safflorite.pdf |title=Handbook of Mineralogy |access-date=2012-06-06 |archive-date=2020-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718090244/http://www.handbookofmineralogy.com/pdfs/safflorite.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Mindat>[http://www.mindat.org/show.php?id=3500&ld=1&pho= Safflorite on Mindat.org]</ref><ref name=Webmin>[http://webmineral.com/data/Safflorite.shtml Safflorite on Webmineral]</ref>
}}

'''Safflorite''' is a rare [cobalt](/source/cobalt) [iron](/source/iron) [arsenide mineral](/source/arsenide_mineral) with the chemical formula {{chem2|([Co](/source/cobalt),[Fe](/source/iron))[As](/source/arsenic)2}}. ''Pure'' safflorite is {{chem2|CoAs2}}, but iron is virtually always present. Safflorite is a member of the three-way substitution series of arsenides known as the [loellingite](/source/loellingite) group. More than fifty percent [iron](/source/iron) makes the mineral loellingite whereas more than fifty percent [nickel](/source/nickel) and the mineral is [rammelsbergite](/source/rammelsbergite). A parallel series of [antimonide mineral](/source/antimonide_mineral)s exist. 

Safflorite along with the other minerals crystallize in the [orthorhombic](/source/orthorhombic) system forming opaque gray to white massive to radiating forms, Clinosafflorite has a monoclinic symmetry. It has a [mohs hardness](/source/mohs_hardness) of 4.5 and a [specific gravity](/source/specific_gravity) of 6.9 to 7.3. [Twinning](/source/Crystal_twinning) is common and star shaped twins are frequently found. 
thumb|left|Polished sample of safflorite, loellingite and rammelsbergite on quartz from the St Andreasberg District, Harz Mountains
It was first described in 1835 from the Schneeberg District, [Ore Mountains](/source/Ore_Mountains), Germany. Safflorite occurs with other arsenide minerals as an accessory in [silver](/source/silver) mining districts. It alters to the arsenate [erythrite](/source/erythrite) in the secondary environment.

{{commons category|Safflorite}}
{{clear|left}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Refbegin}}
*[http://www.minerals.net/mineral/sulfides/loelling/safflori.htm Minerals.net]
*[http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/safflori/safflori.htm Mineral galleries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051029163715/http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/safflori/safflori.htm |date=2005-10-29 }}
* {{Cite book |first=Walter |last=Schumann |series=BLV Bestimmungsbuch |title=Mineralien aus aller Welt |edition=2 |year=1991 |isbn=3-405-14003-X |page=223}}
{{Refend}}

Category:Cobalt minerals
Category:Iron minerals
Category:Arsenide minerals
Category:Orthorhombic minerals
Category:Minerals in space group 58

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Safflorite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safflorite) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safflorite?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.