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Formula: BiCo2(AsO4)2(OH).H2O
Hydrated arsenate,
tsumcorite group, bismuth-
and cobalt- bearing mineral
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 5.28 calculated
Hardness: 4 to 4½
Streak: White to pale brown
Colour: beige-white to yellowish brown, brown
Environments
Localities
At the type locality, the Roter Berg mining district, Zschorlau, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany,
schneebergite may be considered as an in situ formations in the near to the surface oxidation zone. The type
specimen is approximately 3 cm across, with aggregates of elongated crystals grown in small vugs of coarse
quartz; associated minerals are
scorodite and
bariopharmacosiderite.
On other schneebergite/nickelschneebergite samples
associated minerals are cobalt- and
nickel- bearing
ferrilotharmeyerite,
cobaltlotharmeyerite,
nickellotharmeyerite,
preisingerite, waylandite
and zeunerite. Due to solid solution both schneebergite and
nickelschneebergite may occur even on the same specimen.
Most crystals are tabular; the length to thickness ratio is normally 3:1 to 10:1; the crystals of schneebergite
reach up to 0.5 mm in length. In general the colour depends on the iron content, turning from brown to beige to nearly
colourless with decreasing iron content.
(EJM 14.1.115-126).
Schneebergite from Roter Berg - Image
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