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letter above to view the list of gems. |
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| Chemistry:
Zn4Si2O7(OH)2ˇ(H2O)
[Hydrated Zinc Silicate Hydroxide] | Discovered
in 1853;
IMA
status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered). Hemimorphite
is named in allusion to the hemimorphic form of the crystals. |
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Classification
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Mineral
Classification: |
Silicates
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Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
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8/C.08-10 |
Nickel-Strunz 10th
Ed. ID:
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9.BD.10 |
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9 : SILICATES (Germanates) B : Sorosilicates D :
Si2O7 groups, with additional anions; cations in
tetrahedral [4] and greater coordination
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Related
to: |
Hemimorphite - Junitoite Series
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Crystal
Data
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Crystallography:
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Orthorhombic
- Pyramidal |
Crystal
Habit:
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Commonly
crystallized, thin tabular, striated, to 10 cm; doubly-terminated
crystals show hemimorphism. Typically in sheaf-like
or fan-shaped aggregates; stalactitic, mammillary, botryoidal;
as compact fibrous and chalky coatings.
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Twinning:
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On
[001], rare, with antilogous poles in contact.
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Physical
Properties
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Cleavage: |
[110]
Perfect
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Fracture: |
Uneven
to Conchoidal
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Tenacity:
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Brittle
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Moh's
Hardness: |
4.5
- 5.0 |
Density:
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3.40- 3.50 (g/cm3) |
Luminescence:
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May be bluish under SW UV. |
Radioactivity:
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Not
Radioactive
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Other: |
Strongly
Pyroelectric
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Optical
Properties
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Color: |
Colorless,
white, grey, yellow, green to apple-green, blue, pink, purple, bluish grey, and
brown from impurities |
Transparency: |
Transparent to Translucent |
Luster: |
Vitreous,
Subpearly, Adamantine, rarely Silky |
Refractive
Index: |
1.614
- 1.636 Biaxial ( + ) |
Birefringence: |
0.022 |
Dispersion: |
Strong;
r > v |
Pleochroism: |
None
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Occurances
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Geological
Setting: |
A
secondary mineral in the oxide zones of ore deposits
and in veins and beds in stratified calcareous rocks. |
Common
Associations: |
Anglesite,
Aurichalcite, Calcite, Chrysocolla, Cerussite, Galena,
Hydrozincite, Rosasite, Smithsonite, Sphalerite |
Common
Impurities: |
Cu,
Fe |
Type
Locality: |
Baita Mining District (Baita Bihor; Rézbánya), Nucet,
Bihor Co., Romania |
Year
Discovered: |
1853 |
View
mineral photos: |
Hemimorphite
Mineral Photos and Locations |
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More
Information
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|
Mindat.org Webmineral.com |
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Hemimorphite
is somewhat common as mineral specimen but rarely faceted
due to lack of clean crystals. It is usually available
as cabochons in beautiful shades of blue from Congo.
There are several sources throughout the southwestern
US and Mexico. However, faceted gems are only available
from Mexico thus far and are usually colorless. Facetable
crystals are rarely available from Mapimi, Durango,
and Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua.
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Hemimorphite
gems for sale:
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Gem:
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Hemimorphite |
Stock
#:
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HEMIM-001 |
Weight:
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1.640
ct |
Size: |
6.39
x 6.42 x 4.30 mm |
Shape: |
Cut-corner
Rectangle |
Color: |
Colorless |
Clarity: |
Translucent;
I |
Origin: |
Mexico |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$164.00
[
Make an offer ] |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
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A
very rare gem that is fairly large for
the type.
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