Zharchikhite is a halide mineral, a hydroxyl fluoride of aluminium; formula AlF(OH)2. It forms colourless, transparent crystals. Discovered in 1968, it is named after its original locality, the Zharchinskoya Deposit, which is in Buryatia, Russia.

Zharchikhite
General
CategoryHalide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
AlF(OH)2
IMA symbolZha[1]
Strunz classification3.AC.05
Crystal systemMonoclinic, pseudo-orthorhombic
Identification
ColourColorless
Crystal habitElongated prismatic cryatals, massive, drusy coatings
CleavagePerfect (010)
TenacityVery brittle
Mohs scale hardness4.5
LusterVitreous
DiaphaneityTransparent
Specific gravity2.81
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
Refractive indexnα = 1.532 nβ = 1.552 nγ = 1.567
Birefringenceδ = 0.035
2V angle80° (calculated)
References[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ Mindat.org - Zharchikhite
  3. ^ Handbook of Mineralogy - Zharchikhite