Formula: Cd(CO3)
Anhydrous carbonate, calcite group,
cadmium-bearing mineral, epitaxial on
smithsonite
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 4.96 measured, 5.03 calculated
Hardness: 3½ to 4
Streak: White
Colour: White to yellow-brown or reddish
Environments
Otavite is a rare secondary mineral in the oxidised zone of
hydrothermal base-metal deposits. Associated minerals include smithsonite,
cerussite, hydrozincite,
hemimorphite, azurite,
malachite, rosasite,
olivenite, pyromorphite,
calcite and fluorite
(HOM).
Localities
At Block 14 opencut, Broken Hill, Broken Hill district, Yancowinna county, New South Wales, Australia, otavite has been found as
crystals up to 1 mm long, associated with smithsonite,
cerussite, rosasite and
pyromorphite
(AJM 3.1.38).
Otavite from the Block 14 Opencut - Image
At Devon's Cut, Braeside Station, Gregory Ranges District, East Pilbara Shire, Western Australia, otavite has been found in
cavities containing the hemimorphite-hydrozincite
assemblage, forming clusters on
hemimorphite masses. It is the last-formed mineral in the cavities
(AJM 13.2.60).
At the Shangri La Mine, Kununurra, Wyndham-East Kimberley Shire, Western Australia, microscopic crystals of otavite occur
associated with hemimorphite, cerussite,
smithsonite, calcite,
dolomite and rosasite. Generally it
formed late in the paragenetic sequence, overgrowing quartz,
cerussite, hemimorphite,
smithsonite and rosasite
(AJM 16.1.22).
At the type locality, the Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia, otavite is associated with
smithsonite, pyromorphite,
olivenite, malachite,
cerussite and azurite
(Mindat, Dana).
Otavite from the Tsumeb Mine - Image
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