VOOZH about

URL: https://www.mindat.org/min-1436.html

⇱ Fahleite: Mineral information, data and localities.

👁 Image
Now Featuring: The Bruce Carter Collection at Heritage Auctions, Live May 16th
Log InRegister
AboutSupport UsPhotosDiscussionsSearchLearnMore

Fahleite

A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

About FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Formula:
CaZn5Fe3+2(AsO4)6 · 14H2O
Colour:
Yellow, grey, bright-green
Lustre:
Silky, Pearly
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
3.08 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Rolf Fahle (1943– ), Munich, Germany, a mineral dealer specializing in Tsumeb minerals, who supplied the type specimen.
Apparently some samples of Mineral GS1 (of Gebhard) are in part identical to fahleite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Mindat ID:
1436
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1436:2

Similar NamesHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
FahlitA synonym of 'Tennantite-Tetrahedrite Series'
FaialiteA synonym of FayaliteFe22+SiO4
FeliteA synonym of Larnite
VaaliteA variety of Vermiculite(Mg,Fe)7(Si,Al,Fe)8O20(OH)4 · 2H2O
Valaite

IMA Classification of FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Approved
Approval year:
1982
First published:
1988

Classification of FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
8.CH.55

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
H : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O < 1:1
40.5.8.2

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
5 : AXO4·xH2O
20.3.21

20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
3 : Arsenates of Zn, Cd or Hg

Mineral SymbolsHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
FhlIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Silky, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Yellow, grey, bright-green
Hardness:
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
Perfect
⊥ fiber length
Density:
3.08 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.628(1) nβ = 1.631(1) nγ = 1.656(1)
2V:
Measured: 39° , Calculated: 40°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.028
Based on recorded range of RI values above.

Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.

Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.

Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.

Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
weak to distinct

Chemistry of FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Mindat Formula:
CaZn5Fe3+2(AsO4)6 · 14H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O38.863 %
As28.735 %
Zn20.896 %
Fe7.140 %
Ca2.562 %
H1.804 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.4 Å, b = 11.72 Å, c = 21.9 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.546 : 1 : 1.869
Unit Cell V:
1,642.68 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals are curved and twisted, in fibrous bundles, to about 1.5 cm;
Comment:
point and space groups not determined

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
22 Å(100)
11 Å(100)
3.2 Å(80)
2.9 Å(50)
1.65 Å(20)
Comments:
Poorly crystalline; only five diffuse lines.

Geological EnvironmentHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Paragenetic Mode(s):

Type Occurrence of FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
General Appearance of Type Material:
Crystals are curved and twisted, in fibrous bundles
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical Institute, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Oxidation zone
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.

Other Language Names for FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Dutch:Fahleiet
German:Fahleit
Spanish:Fahleita

Relationship of Fahleite to other SpeciesHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Other Members of Smolyaninovite Group:
SmolyaninoviteCo3Fe3+2(AsO4)4 · 11H2OOrth.

Common AssociatesHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
2 photos of Fahleite associated with 'Mineral GS1 (of Gebhard)'Zn, Fe, As, O, H
1 photo of Fahleite associated with GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
8.CH.05Natrowalentaite [Fe3+0.5Na0.5(H2O)6][NaAs3+2(Fe3+2.33W6+0.67)(PO4)2O7]Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
8.CH.05WalentaiteFe3+3(P0.84As0.16O4)2(O,OH)6As3+2.56Ca0.42Na0.28Mn2+0.35Fe2+0.30O6.1(OH)0.9(H2O)0.9Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
8.CH.05Halilsarpite[Mg(H2O)6][CaAs3+2(Fe3+2.67Mo6+0.33)(AsO4)2O7]Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
8.CH.10AnapaiteCa2Fe2+(PO4)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CH.15PicropharmacoliteCa4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 11H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CH.20Dittmarite(NH4)Mg(PO4) · H2OOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
8.CH.20Niahite(NH4)Mn2+(PO4) · H2OOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
8.CH.25TaranakiteK3Al5(PO3OH)6(PO4)2 · 18H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
8.CH.25FrancoanelliteK3Al5(PO3OH)6(PO4)2 · 12H2OTrig.
8.CH.25Macivorite(NH4)3Al5(PO3OH)6(PO4)2 · 18H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
8.CH.30Schertelite(NH4)2MgH2(PO4)2 · 4H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
8.CH.35Hannayite(NH4)2Mg3H4(PO4)4 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CH.40HazeniteKNaMg2(PO4)2 · 14H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
8.CH.40Struvite-(K)KMg(PO4) · 6H2OOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
8.CH.40Struvite(NH4)Mg(PO4) · 6H2OOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
8.CH.45Rimkorolgite(Mg,Mn)5(Ba,Sr,Ca)(PO4)4 · 8H2OOrth.
8.CH.50BakhchisaraitseviteNa2Mg5(PO4)4 · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CH.55SmolyaninoviteCo3Fe3+2(AsO4)4 · 11H2OOrth.
8.CH.60Barahonaite-(Fe)(Ca,Cu,Na,Fe3+,Al)12Fe3+2(AsO4)8(OH,Cl)x · nH2OMon. 2/m : P2/b
8.CH.60Barahonaite-(Al)(Ca,Cu,Na,Fe3+,Al)12Al2(AsO4)8(OH,Cl)x · nH2OMon. 2/m : P2/b
8.CH.70EpifanoviteNaCaCu5(PO4)4[AsO2(OH)2] · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
8.CH.75Esdanaite-(Ce)NaMnCe(PO4)2 · 4H2OOrth. 222 : P212121

Other InformationHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1436.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

References for FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.

Localities for FahleiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.

Showing 1 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 👁 Image
symbol to view information about a locality. The 👁 Image
symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
👁 Image
- This locality has map coordinates listed. 👁 Image
- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 👁 Image
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 👁 Image
- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Namibia (TL)
  • Oshikoto Region
    • Tsumeb
Medenbach et al. (1988)
Quick NavTopAbout FahleiteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 5, 2026 07:41:57 Page updated: March 9, 2026 10:06:18
Go to top of page