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Formula: PbFe3+3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6
Hydrated phosphate containing hydroxyl, plumbogummite group,
alunite supergroup, forms a
solid-solution series with corkite.
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 4.34 (calculated)
Hardness: 4
Streak: Pale yellowish green
Colour: Cream to yellowish green and brownish yellow
Kintoreite is a rare secondary mineral in the
oxidised zone of a lead -
zinc deposit. Associated
minerals include segnitite,
pyromorphite, mimetite,
libethenite, hinsdalite,
rockbridgeite–dufrénite,
apatite and goethite
(HOM).
Localities
There are two co-type Localities, Block 14 opencut, Broken Hill, and the Kintore opencut, Broken Hill South Mine,
both at the Broken Hill district, Yancowinna county, New South Wales, Australia. Kintoreite occurs as
clusters and
coatings of cream to yellowish green rhombohedral crystals up to 2 mm in size. It also forms waxy, yellowish green
globular crusts and hemispheres on other phosphate minerals. These associated species include
pyromorphite,
libethenite,
rockbridgeite –
dufrénite,
apatite and goethite.
Kintoreite formed during oxidation of primary ore
rich in
galena, in the presence of solutions with high P:(As + S) ratios
(MM 59.143-148).
At the Tripi mine, Alì Terme, Messina, Messina Province, Sicily, Italy, kintoreite occurs as yellow equant
crystals, up to 0.05 mm in size, on quartz, associated with another
alunite-supergroup mineral currently (September 2022) under study.
Kintoreite may play an environmental role in the Alì area, where previous authors detected high
concentrations
of potentially toxic elements in soils
(MM 86.548–556).
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