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www.mineralgallery.co.za Minerals A-E |
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Descloizite |
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Name
Descloisite
Chemistry
PbZn(VO4)(OH) , Lead Zinc Vanadate Hydroxide
Uses
As an ore of lead and zinc and as mineral specimens
Color
Color is typically brown to reddish brown to black also yellow to orange with increase in copper content.
Hardness
3-3.5
Specific gravity
6.2 (heavy)
Crystals
Orthorhombic
Accompanied by:
Lead Zinc deposites like wulfenite, vanadinite mottramite, pyromorphite and cerussite.
Fracture
Even
Luster
Translucent.
Streak
Orange to brownish red.
Similar to:
Wulfenite
Descloisite crystals are transparent to opaque.
The crystal habit is typically in small, flat platelets that have a rounded triangular shape or in a pyramidal form, also in tiny druzy crusts and stalactitic masses.
Some crystals can appear arrowhead shaped.
Descloizite is the namesake of the descloizite group of minerals. The group is composed of rather rare members of which descloizite is its most common member.
Descloizite is an end member of a series composed of the mineral mottramite.
Mottramite is the copper rich end member while
Descloizite is the zinc rich member. Both minerals usually contain significant percentages of both elements and are rarely pure.
Descloizite can form nice well shaped crystals that have a nice luster and striking color. Its rarity and attractiveness are the reason for the typically high prices one would expect to pay for a fine specimen.
Notable occurrences include Berg Aukas, Namibia. We at the mineral gallery has some fine examples of this beautifull mineral
