Queitite

queitite

larsenite

leadhillite

melanotekite

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Formula: Zn2Pb4(Si2O7)(SiO4)(SO4)
Sorosilicate (Si2O7 groups)
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 6.07 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: White
Colour: Pale yellow, colourless
Solubility: Soluble with difficulty in hot nitric acid (AM 65.407)
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Queitite is an extremely rare mineral approved by the IMA as a mineral species in 1978.

Localities

At the type locality, the Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia, queitite occurs in in the oxidation zone as tabular and elongated crystals up to 1.0 cm on corroded galena, sphalerite and tennantite, in a partially oxidised lead ore from a dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit. Associated minerals include larsenite, alamosite, leadhillite, willemite, melanotekite and quartz (AM 64.1331, AM 65.407, HOM)

At Red Gill Mine, Roughton Gill, Caldbeck, Allerdale, Cumbria, England, UK, queitite was found in material consisting predominantly of massive cerussite with subordinate quartz, and represents the contents of a small cavity from the Red Gill vein. The cavity also contains leadhillite, susannite and caledonite in addition to the quietite, all deposited after the cerussite. The queitite forms a white encrustation about 0.5 mm thick, on leadhillite and susannite; caledonite was the last mineral to form (JRS 11.29-47, HOM).

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