Waylandite

waylandite

bismutite

bismutotantalite

schneebergite

Images

Formula: BiAl3(PO4)2(OH)6
Anhydrous phosphate, plumbogummite group, alunite supergroup, bismuth-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 4.08 calculated
Hardness: 4 to 5
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless, white, pale blue, pale brown
Environments

Pegmatites

Waylandite is a rare secondary mineral replacing primary bismuth minerals (HOM).

Localities

At the Kobokobo pegmatite, Shabunda Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo, waylandite is associated with bismutotantalite (HOM).

At Johanngeorgenstadt, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany, specimens of waylandite have been found at the Schaar shaft, as lustrous yellow microcrystals less than 0.1 mm in size. The watery green to yellowish cloudy rhombohedra and crystal aggregates resemble the waylandite from Roten Berg (see below). Spherical aggregates are probably pseudomorphs after beyerite. Waylandite has also been reported from the Himmelfahrt mine (Minrec 55.5.625).

At the Roter Berg mining district, Zschorlau, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany, schneebergite and nickelschneebergite were discovered on samples from the former mining area; associated minerals are scorodite, bariopharmacosiderite, ferrilotharmeyerite (cobalt-bearing, bismuth-bearing), preisingerite and waylandite (EJM 14.1.115–126).
Waylandite from Roter Berg

At the type locality, Wampewo Hill, Busiro county, Wakiso, Central Region, Uganda, waylandite occurs as veinlets and marginal crusts as a replacement of bismutotantalite in the lithium pegmatite (AM 48.216).

At the Restormel Royal Iron Mine, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, England, UK, waylandite is associated with bismutite (HOM).

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