Zincolibethenite

zincolibethenite

hopeite

tarbuttite

tsumebite

Images

Formula: CuZn(PO4)(OH)
Anhydrous phosphate with hydroxyl, olivenite group, forms a solid-solution series with libethenite
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 3.972 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Streak: Pale green
Colour: Bright green, bluish tint
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Zincolibethenite is a relatively new mineral, approved in 2003. It is a secondary mineral in the oxidised zone of a polymetallic mineral deposit, thought to have formed from a zinc-rich cupriferous fluid which possibly originated from the late-stage alteration of tarbuttite (Webmin, HOM).

Localities

At Block 14 opencut, Broken Hill, Broken Hill district, Yancowinna county, New South Wales, Australia, a specimen bearing zinc-rich zincolibethenite was recovered from ferruginous gossan. Associated minerals include corkite - hinsdalite, tsumebite, pyromorphite, sampleite, torbernite, dufrénite, strengite and beraunite. Zinc-rich libethenite and olivenite are also associated with the zone, together with members of the libethenite-olivenite series (AJM 12.1.3-7).

The Herdade dos Pendões Mine, São Luís, Odemira, Beja, Portugal, is noteworthy for its secondary microcrystals of chalcophanite, libethenite, santabarbaraite, zincolibethenite and members of the jahnsite group (EJM 31.1.167–172).

At the type locality, the Kabwe mine, Kabwe District, Central Province, Zambia, zincolibethenite occurs as bright blue-green, transparent, prismatic crystals less than 1 mm long, terminated by domes or prisms, in tightly packed sheaves and radiating clusters. Also as translucent, compact, radiating spherical clusters about 1 mm in diameter, along with aggregates of clusters in which individual crystals cannot be distinguished. Associated minerals are hopeite and tarbuttite (MM 69.2.145-153, Mindat).

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