Hydrozincite
- Zinc flower
- Marionit
Brown, pink green,
Hydrozincite, also known under the name of mining zinc flower or the outdated synonym Marionit, is a rarely occurring mineral from the mineral class of " carbonates ( and relatives ) ." It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with the chemical composition Zn5 [( OH) 6 | (CO3 ) 2] and developed mostly opaque white, earthy or massive mineral aggregates, rarely but also transparent, colorless to yellowish-white, tabular crystals in the millimeter range. Occasionally, due to foreign admixtures also bluish or pink aggregates.
Special Features
Occasionally shows hydrozincite under UV light a bluish fluorescence.
Before the blowpipe Hydrozincite is infusible.
Etymology and history
Was first found Hydrozincite 1853 in Bad Bleiberg in the district of Villach-Land in Austria and described by Gustav Adolf Kenngott that contains the mineral in terms of its chemical composition, zinc and hydroxide ions.
Following his often occurring crystalline form as crusty coatings or efflorescence the mineral got its name mining zinc flower.
Classification
In the now outdated but still in use 8th edition of the mineral classification by Strunz the Hydrozincite still belonged to the common mineral class of " carbonates, nitrates and borates " and then to the Department of " C. Anhydrous carbonates with foreign anions ", where he along with Aurichalcit, azurite, Brianyoungit, Georgeit, Glaukosphärit, Kolwezit, Loseyit, McGuinnessit, malachite, Nullaginit, Pokrovskit, Rosasit, Sclarit and Zinkrosasit the " Azurite- Rosasit series " with the system No. V/C.01 formed.
The 9th edition valid since 2001 and of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA ) used the Strunz'schen Mineral classification assigns the Hydrozincite also in the department of " Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O" one. However, this is now precisely divided by the participating cations, so that the mineral according to its composition in the subsection "With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn " can be found, where he named along with Aurichalcit after the two minerals group with the system number. 5.BA.15 forms.
The mostly commonly used in English-speaking classification of minerals according to Dana assigns the Hydrozincite in the department of " Carbonate - hydroxyl or halogen " and then in the sub-division of " Carbonate - hydroxyl or halogen having the general formula (AB ) 5 ( XO3 ) 2ZQ " where it is found as the only member of the unnamed group 16a.4.1.
Education and Locations
Hydrozincite produced in the oxidation zones of zinc deposits as masses or crusts. Crystals are rarely found. Is Hydrozincite, although present in many minerals samples, disregarded or often confused with the more common minerals such as calcite or aragonite. Accompanying minerals include Aurichalcit, calcite, cerussite, hemimorphite, smithsonite, sphalerite, willemite and limonite.
Worldwide, Hydrozincite so far (as of 2010) are detected at around 725 localities, including, inter alia Egypt, Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, India, Iran, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Zambia, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Czech Republic, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Kingdom ( UK), in the United States of America ( USA) and in Vietnam.
Crystal structure
Hydrozincite crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2 / m ( Raumgruppen-Nr. 12) with the lattice parameters a = 13.62 Å; b = 6.30 Å; c = 5.42 Å and 95.8 ° β = and 2 formula units per unit cell.
Use
Hydrozincite can indeed contain up to 60 % zinc, however, an economic loss worth only local accumulation of the mineral.