Attikaite Locality: Christiana Mine, Kamariza Mines (Kamareza Mines), Agios Konstantinos [St Constantine] (Kamariza) , Lavrion District Mines, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Greece ( Locality at mindat.org ) Field of view 5 mm. Specimen and photo Leon Hupperichs. — Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0
Attikaite
A copper-calcium-aluminium arsenate named after Greece's Attica region, where it was first identified.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Attikaite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the arsenate class, with the chemical formula Ca₃Cu₂Al₂(AsO₄)₄(OH)₄·2H₂O.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2–2.5; specific gravity 3.2; Very pale blue streak; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Atk, IMA status: approved, named in 2006.
Found in the oxidized portions of polymetallic sulfide-quartz veins.
It is found associated with Arsenocrandallite, arsenogoyazite, conichalcite, olivenite, philipsbornite, azurite, malachite, carminite, beudantite, goethite, quartz, allophane.
The name refers to the place of its first occurrence, the historically significant region, Attika, Greece.