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Formula: Ca2Sb(OH)4[H(AsO44)2].6H2O
Valence: Ca2Sb5+(OH)4[H(As5+O4)2].6H2O
Hydrated arsenate, antimony-bearing
mineral
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 2.72 measured, 2.709 calculated for the ideal formula
Hardness: 3½
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless to white
Luminescence: Not fluorescent under UV
Solubility: Insoluble in water, readily soluble in 10% hydrochloric acid at room temperature
Environments
Smamite is a realtively new mineral, approved in 2019. It is named for the type locality district,
Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.
Localities
At the type locality, the Giftgrube mine, Sankt Jakob vein, Neuenberg, Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, Colmar-Ribeauvillé,
Haut-Rhin, Grand Est, France, smamite is a supergene
mineral found in quartz-carbonate
gangue with disseminated to massive
tennantite-tetrahedrite
series minerals, native arsenic, Ni-Co
arsenides and
supergene minerals
picropharmacolite,
fluckite and pharmacolite.
Smamite occurs as lenticular crystals growing in aggregates up to 0.5 mm across; it is whitish to colourless,
transparent with a vitreous lustre and a white streak
(AM 105.4.555-560).
Smamite from the Giftgrube mine - Image
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