Click on a letter above to view the list of gems.  

Hydrozincite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  Zn₅(CO₃)₂(OH)₆  [Zinc Carbonate Hydroxide]

Discovered in 1853;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Hydrozincite is named for the non-carbonate essential chemical components, water and zinc.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Carbonates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

5/C.01-100

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

5.BA.15

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H₂O
A : With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn

Related to:

Azurite - Rosasite Group and related compounds

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Crystals usually very small to microscopic, lath-like or bladed, flattened on {100} and elongated [001], often tapering to a sharp point. Typically found as massive aggregates of either powdery material, earthy and porous, to compact material, with fibrous radial structure, may be reniform. Dense agate-like masses, stalactic, and pisolitic.

Twinning:

Contact twins on [100]

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[100] Perfect

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Tenacity:

Very Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

2.0 - 2.5

Density:

3.50 - 4.00 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

Fluoresces pale blue to lilac under SW UV

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Other:

Readily soluble in acids

Optical Properties

Color:

Colorless, White, Gray, pale shades of Yellow, Brown, Pink, Green, spherules may be concentrically color banded

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent, Opaque

Luster:

Pearly, Silky to Dull or Earthy in aggregates

Refractive Index:

1.630 - 1.750  Biaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.1200

Dispersion:

Strong; r < v

Pleochroism:

None

Occurances

Geological Setting:

Uncommonly formed in the oxidized portions of zinc-bearing deposits, at the expense of sphalerite or smithsonite, and as incrustations in mine workings and caves.

Common Associations:

Aurichalcite, Calcite, Cerussite, Hemimorphite, Limonite, Smithsonite, Willemite

Common Impurities:

Fe, Cu

Type Locality:

Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen Mts, Carinthia, Austria

Year Discovered:

1853

View mineral photos:

Hydrozincite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Hydrozincite is typically found as massive, earthy, powdery aggregates and encrustations of very small to microscopic crystals that are often opaque white. Crystals large and transparent/translucent enough to facet are very rare. Hydrozincite is an alteration product of Hemimorphite, Smithsonite or Sphalerite. Its color is typically white to gray but may also be stained a wide variety of hues by impurities with yellowish and brownish to pinkish hues being most common. Hydrozincite mineral specimens may be confused with the visually similar zinc carbonate-sulphate Brianyoungite. Or, it may be assumed to be some other more common mineral such as Aragonite or Calcite.

Hydrozincite is common worldwide but facetable crystals are very rare. One source of these crystals is Zhejiang Province, China.
 

  
Hydrozincite gems for sale:

We have not photographed our Hydrozincite gems. Please check back soon.