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Formula: CuZn(PO4)(OH)
Anhydrous phosphate with hydroxyl, olivenite group, forms a solid-solution
series with libethenite
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 3.972 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Streak: Pale green
Colour: Bright green, bluish tint
Environments
Zincolibethenite is a relatively new mineral, approved in 2003. It is a
secondary mineral in the oxidised zone of a polymetallic
mineral
deposit, thought to have formed from a zinc-rich
cupriferous fluid which possibly originated from the late-stage alteration
of tarbuttite
(Webmin, HOM).
Localities
At Block 14 opencut, Broken Hill, Broken Hill district, Yancowinna county, New South Wales, Australia, a specimen
bearing zinc-rich zincolibethenite was recovered from
ferruginous gossan. Associated
minerals include corkite -
hinsdalite,
tsumebite, pyromorphite,
sampleite, torbernite,
dufrénite, strengite and
beraunite. Zinc-rich
libethenite and olivenite
are also associated with the zone, together with members of the
libethenite-olivenite series
(AJM 12.1.3-7).
The Herdade dos Pendões Mine, São Luís, Odemira, Beja, Portugal, is noteworthy for its
secondary microcrystals of
chalcophanite,
libethenite,
santabarbaraite, zincolibethenite and members of the
jahnsite group
(EJM 31.1.167–172).
At the type locality, the Kabwe mine, Kabwe District, Central Province, Zambia, zincolibethenite occurs as
bright blue-green, transparent, prismatic crystals less than 1 mm long, terminated by domes or prisms, in tightly
packed
sheaves and radiating clusters. Also as translucent, compact, radiating spherical clusters about 1 mm in diameter,
along
with aggregates of clusters in which individual crystals cannot be distinguished. Associated minerals are
hopeite and tarbuttite
(MM 69.2.145-153, Mindat).
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