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Formula: Ni3(CO3)(OH)4.4H2O
Hydrated carbonate containing hydroxyl, nickel-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 2.57 to 2.649 measured, 2.67 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Streak: Light green
Colour: Emerald-green, green in transmitted light
Solubility: Readily soluble in heated dilute hydrochloric acid with effervescence
Common impurities: Mg
Environments
Igneous environments
Metamorphic environments
Zaratite is an uncommon secondary mineral in basic igneous rocks and
serpentinite formed by alteration of chromite,
pentlandite, pyrrhotite and
millerite. Associated minerals include antigorite,
brucite, hydromagnesite,
calcite, aragonite and
dolomite, as well as chromite,
pentlandite and pyrrhotite
(HOM, Mindat, Dana).
Localities
At the Heazlewood district, Waratah-Wynyard municipality, Tasmania, Australia, zaratite occurs as an alteration product of
heazlewoodite
(Dana).
At Kraubath an der Mur, Leoben District, Styria, Austria, zaratite occurs with millerite and
chromite
(Dana).
At Rapice Hill, Nové Město pod Smrkem, Frýdlant, Liberec District, Liberec Region, Czech Republic, zaratite occurs as an alteration
product of millerite in geodes and sideritic septaria
(Dana).
At Lillaz, Cogne, Cogne Valley, Aosta Valley, Italy, zaratite occurs in serpentinite with
aragonite and nesquehonite
(Dana).
At the type locality, the Manolita mine, Teixidelo, Cedeira, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain, zaratite is associated with
magnetite
(Mindat).
At Swinna Ness, Unst, Shetland, Scotland, UK, zaratite occurs in serpentinite
(Dana).
At Wood's Chrome Mine, Texas, Little Britain Township, State Line Chromite Mining District, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, USA, zaratite
occurs with chromite
(Dana).
Alteration
Zaratite is an alteration product of chromite,
pentlandite, pyrrhotite,
millerite and meteoritic iron
(Dana, HOM).
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