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Formula: NaZn4(SO4)(OH)6Cl.6H2O
Hydrated sulphate, namuwite group,
zinc-bearing mineral
Crystal system: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 2.627 measured, 2.640 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless, pale bluish, pale greenish
Luminescence: Not fluorescent under UV
Solubility: Soluble in cold hydrochloric or nitric acid
Environments
Localities
At the type locality, the San Francisco Mine, Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province,
Antofagasta, Chile, gordaite occurs as colourless flakes associated with
zincian paratacamite, and as
interlocking anhedral plates up to 20 mm across, in oxidised vein material from the base metal mine. Associated
minerals include anglesite,
christelite, hemimorphite,
paratacamite and quartz
(Mindat).
Gordaite from the San Francisco Mine -
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At the Mansfeld Basin, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, gordaite occurs on weathered mine dumps, associated with
connellite, anglesite and
chlorian bromargyrite
(HOM).
At the Juan de Fuca Ridge complex, East Pacific Rise, Pacific Ocean, gordaite occurs on the outside oxidised
portions of a sea floor chimney formed by the mixing of hydrothermal fluids with sea water. Associated minerals
include sphalerite, baryte,
pyrite, pyrrhotite,
sulphur and iron hydroxides
(HOM).
Gordaite from the Juan de Fuca Ridge complex -
Image
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