Talmessite

talmessite

gaitite

roselite

wendwilsonite

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Formula: Ca2Mg(AsO4)2.2H2O
Hydrated arsenate, fairfieldite group
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 3.421 measured, 3.53 calculated
Hardness: 5
Colour: White, colourless, translucent pale green (nickeloan), brownish pink (cobaltoan)
Environments:

Hydrothermal environments

Talmessite is a rare secondary arsenate typically formed in the oxidised zone of some hydrothermal mineral deposits. It is an alteration product of realgar, orpiment or copper-nickel arsenides, associated with gaitite, erythrite, annabergite, picropharmacolite, pharmacolite, austinite, fluorite, baryte, aragonite, calcite and dolomite (HOM).

Localities

At Luceram, Ales-Maritimes, France, talmessite is associated with baryte (Dana).

At the type locality, the Talmessi Mine, Esfahan Province , Iran, talmessite occurs in the oxidation zone asssociated with aragonite and dolomite (AM45.1315, Dana).

At Bou Azzer, Morocco, talmessite is quite widespread, although it is rare worldwide. Here it occurs inter-grown with anorthoroselite on a dolomite matrix associated with wendwilsonite (Minrec 38.5).

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