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Formula: ZnMn4+3O7.3H2O
Multiple oxide, chalcophanite group
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 3.907 to 4.1 measured, 3.85 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Streak: Dark brown, red-brown
Colour: Iron-black, bluish black, dark red (in thin plates)
Solubility: Soluble in hydrochloric acid
Environments
Chalcophanite is a common component of the weathered zones above zinc and manganese bearing base metal deposits. Associated
minerals include cryptomelane, manganite,
hetaerolite, birnessite,
todorokite, woodruffite,
kaolinite and quartz
(HOM).
Localities
At the Kintore opencut, Broken Hill South Mine, Broken Hill district, Yancowinna county, New South Wales, Australia, chalcophanite
occurs as crystals to 1 mm on coronadite and goethite.
It has been found with smithsonite and
chlorargyrite and with smithsonite and
hemimorphite
(AJM 3.1.31).
At the Red Lead Mine, Dundas mineral field, Zeehan district, West Coast municipality, Tasmania, Australia, chalcophanite is a common
associate of crocoite
(AJM 12.2.76).
At the Wolftone Mine, Carbonate Hill, Leadville, Lake county, Colorado, USA, chalcophanite occurs with
limonite, smithsonite and
hemimorphite
(Dana).
At the type locality, the Passaic pit, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA,
chalcophanite occurs in the oxidation zone of a franklinite and
zincite deposit, associated with zincite,
willemite, quartz and
franklinite
(Mindat).
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