Epiebnerite

epiebnerite

ebnerite

sampleite

struvite

Images

Formula: (NH4)Zn(PO4)
Phosphate, monoclinic paramorph of hexagonal ebnerite
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 2.851 calculated
Hardness: 2
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless
Solubility: At room-temperature, epiebnerite is insoluble in water, but easily soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid
Environments

Sedimentary environments

Epiebnerite is a new mineral, approved in 2023 and to date (November 2024) reported only from the type locality.

Localities

At the type locality, the 125 foot level, Rowley Mine, Theba, Painted Rock Mining District, Painted Rock Mountains, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, epiebnerite and its paramorph ebnerite are new mineral species. They occur in an unusual bat-guano-related, post-mining assemblage of phases. Epiebnerite grows epitactically on ebnerite and replaces it. Ebnerite and epiebnerite are found in intimate association with alunite, halite, mimetite, newberyite, sampleite, struvite and wulfenite on hematite-rich quartzbaryte matrix.
Epiebnerite occurs as colourless prisms or blades, up to about 10 × 3 × 2 μm3, in parallel growth forming ribs with serrated edges epitactic on ebnerite prisms (MM 88.3.312–318).

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