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Formula: Pb2Cu(PO4)(SO4)(OH)
Compound phosphate, brackebuschite supergroup
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 6.13 measured, 6.22 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Streak: White to faint green
Colour: Emerald-green sometimes bluish green; green in transmitted light
Solubility: Readily soluble in hydrochloric acid and slowly soluble in nitric acid
Environments:
Tsumebite is a rare secondary mineral in polymetallic
ore deposits (Mindat), occurring in the oxidised zone of some arsenic-bearing lead -
copper deposits with other lead-bearing phosphates and sulphates (Webmin),
associated with azurite, smithsonite,
malachite, cerussite,
mimetite, wulfenite and
olivenite
(HOM).
At Block 14 open cut, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, tsumebite has been found on etched
garnet-quartz rocks associated with
corkite-hinsdalite,
pyromorphite, zinc-rich
libethenite, and less commonly with
scholzite and torbernite
(AJM 3.1.53).
At the type locality, the Tsumeb Mine, Oshikoto Region, Namibia, tsumebite is associated with
smithsonite, cerussite,
malachite and azurite. Chemically
verified Tsumeb tsumebite is rare and most unanalysed specimens labeled tsumebite are probably
arsentsumebite
(Mindat).
At Morenci, Arizona, USA, tsumebite occurs predominantly as twinned crystals associated with
wulfenite, olivenite and
opal variety hyalite.
At the Reward mine, Inyo county, California, USA, tsumebite is associated with
pyromorphite, corkite and
other phosphates
(Min Rec 41.2.190).
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