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Formula: PbFe3+3(SO4)(PO4)(OH)6
Compound phosphate, beudantite group
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 4.295 measured, 4.31 calculated
Hardness: 3½ to 4½
Colour: Brown to light yellowish brown, pale yellow, yellowish green to dark green
Solubility: Readily soluble in warm hydrochloric acid
Environments:
Corkite is an uncommon secondary mineral formed at low
temperatures or by
weathering in oxidised hydrothermal base-metal deposits.
Localities
At the type locality, the Glandore Mine, Ireland, corkite is found in a
manganese-copper vein deposit associated with manganese oxides,
malachite,
goethite, cuprite and
baryte.
At Iron Crag, Roughton Gill, Caldbeck, Allerdale, Cumbria, England, UK, a small specimen has been found with microscopic
yellow-brown vitreous crystals of corkite with
goethite
(AESS).
Corkite from Iron Crag - Image
At the Kabwe mine, Central Province, Zambia, corkite is associated with
tarbuttite,
descloizite,
pyromorphite,
hemimorphite and
zincolibethenite
(R&M 94.2.124).
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