Images
Formula: Zn(SO4).H2O
Hydrated sulphate, kieserite group
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 3.195 measured, 3.369 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Streak: White
Colour: White to colourless
Solubility: Rapidly soluble in cold water
Environments
Gunningite is of rare occurrence in dry areas of the oxidised portions of
sphalerite-bearing deposits; it also occurs as a post-mining
efflorescence on museum specimens
(HOM).
It may originate as a dehydration product of boyleite
(Mindat).
Localities
At the Willett mine, near Lardeau, Revelstoke Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada, gunningite is
associated with woodruffite and
smithsonite
(HOM).
There are two co-type localities, the Hector-Calumet mine, Calumet, Galena Hill, and the Comstock-Keno Mine,
Keno Hill, both in the Mayo mining district, Yukon, Canada.
At the Hector-Calumet mine, Calumet, Galena Hill, Mayo mining district, Yukon, Canada, gunningite
has been found
(Mindat photo).
Gunningite from the Hector-Calumet Mine -
Image
At the Comstock-Keno Mine, Keno Hill, Mayo mining district, Yukon, Canada, the deposits are veins and lodes in
faults that cut quartzite,
phyllite, schist and
greenstone.
The principal primary minerals are
siderite, quartz,
galena, sphalerite,
chalcopyrite, pyrite,
arsenopyrite and freibergite.
These are altered in the zones of oxidation to limonite, various hydrous
manganese oxides, scorodite,
jarosite, beudantite,
bindheimite, cerussite,
malachite, azurite,
smithsonite, anglesite and
gypsum. In addition some native silver,
pyrargyrite and hawleyite occur
in both the zones of oxidation and reduction.
The gunningite is generally found closely associated with incipiently oxidised
sphalerite in the veins and lodes and on the old mine dumps. In the
deposits, the mineral is present in those parts that are relatively dry, and on the dumps the gunningtonite
appears on the oxidising sphalerite after long periods of hot dry weather.
In all occurrences the gunningite appears as delicate efflorescences directly on the surface of
sphalerite, or as efflorescences on
limonite, scorodite,
gypsum, and other
supergene minerals closely associated with the
zinc sulphide
(CM 7.209-218).
At Les Valettes, Mont Chemin mining district, Martigny, Valais, Switzerland, gunningite is associated with
boyleite, coquimbite,
zincocopiapite, jarosite,
melanterite, römerite,
siderotil, voltaite,
chalcanthite, hexahydrite
and gypsum
(HOM).
At the Goldstrike Mines, Nevada, USA, gunningite is associated with
szomolnokite, starkeyite,
anhydrite and gypsum
(HOM).
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