Formula: Ca6Cu3(SO4)3(OH)12.2H2O
Hydrated sulphate containing hydroxyl
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 2.82
Hardness: 4
Streak: Light blue
Colour: Deep blue
Environments
Vonbezingite is an extremely rare mineral, to date (May 2020) found only at the type locality, where fewer than
50 specimens have
been found, the finest of them being 5 cm long
(R&M 94.3.250-253).
Vonbezingite Formed during a period of evaporation of surface or ground waters at ambient temperature and
atmospheric pressure (Webmin).
At the type locality, the Wessels Mine, Hotazel, Kalahari manganese field, Northern Cape, South Africa, vonbezingite
was formed
during a period of evaporation of surface or groundwaters at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure (HOM, Dana).
It was found
in a single solution cavity which was coated with minerals including
bultfonteinite,
gypsum, calcite,
baryte and azurite, but dominated by
sturmanite crystals. Dark blue vonbezingite crystals were dispersed among the
light-colored minerals lining the cavity. Backscattered electron imaging of vonbezingite showed micrometer-sized
inclusions of
baryte and azurite (AM 77.1292-1300).
Tobermorite, ettringite and
thaumasite have also been found in association with vonbezingite
(Mindat, R&M 94.3.250-253).
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