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Formulae
Beaverite-(Cu): Pb(Fe3+2Cu)(SO4)2(OH)6
Beaverite-(Zn): Pb(Fe3+2Zn)(SO4)2(OH)6
Anhydrous sulphate containing hydroxyl, alunite group
Beaverite-(Cu) forms a series with plumbojarosite
Data for beaverite-(Cu)
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 4.36 measure, 4.31 calculated
Hardness: 3½ to 4½
Streak: Light yellow
Colour: Yellow
Solubility: Insoluble in water. Soluble in hydrochloric acid
(Mindat).
Environments
Beaverite is an uncommon secondary mineral in the oxidised zone
of lead-copper deposits, associated with
olivenite, conichalcite,
duftite, beudantite,
osarizawaite, hidalgoite,
corkite,
carminite, bindheimite,
plumbojarosite,
bayldonite, brochantite,
chrysocolla and galena
(HOM).
Localities
At Mineral Hill, Tallingaboolba, Condobolin, Kennedy County, New South Wales, Australia, beaverite has been identified
as a minor component associated with osarizawaite in encrustations on
quartz
AJM 11.2.108).
At the Northampton lead-copper field, Northampton Shire, Western Australia, beaverite-Cu occurs as
crusts coating specimens of sphalerite -
chalcopyrite - quartz or
galena, and country rock gneiss
(AJM 18.40).
At the Shangri La Mine, Kununurra, Wyndham-East Kimberley Shire, Western Australia, beaverite coats surfaces
and boxwork cavities in quartz. It is associated with
cerussite, and also galena and
iron oxides
(AJM 16.1.19).
At Otto mountain, near Baker, California, USA, beaverite is uncommon as microcrystalline crusts on
quartz
(R&M 86.2.132)>
The type locality is the Horn Silver mine, Frisco, San Francisco Mountains, Beaver county, Utah, USA.
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