Beaverite

beaverite

tsumcorite

osarizawaite

plumbojarosite

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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

Hydrothermal 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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