Reinerite
| Reinerite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | arsenite |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Zn3(AsO3)2 |
| IMA symbol | Rnr[1] |
| Strunz classification | 4.JA.10 |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Crystal class | Dipyramidal (mmm) H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
| Space group | Pbam (no. 55) |
| Unit cell | a = 6.092 Å, b = 14.407 Å c = 7.811 Å; Z = 4 V = 685.55 a:b:c = 0.423 : 1 : 0.542 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Sky blue, yellow green |
| Crystal habit | Rough striated pseudohexagonal crystals |
| Cleavage | Good on {110}, {011} and {111} |
| Mohs scale hardness | 5 - 5.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous to adamantine |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Specific gravity | 4.27 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (-) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.740 nβ = 1.790 nγ = 1.820 |
| Birefringence | Maximum δ = 0.080 |
| Other characteristics | Relief: very high |
| References | [2][3][4][5] |
Reinerite is a rare arsenite (arsenate(III)) mineral with chemical formula Zn3(AsO3)2.[3][4] It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system.
Physical properties[edit]
Reinerite is most commonly found as a sky blue colored mineral, however, it may also be a light yellowish green color. Reinerite has a relative hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs Scale which is equivalent to that of a knife blade and or shard of glass. It has a density of 4.27 g/cm3,[2] and it exhibits a nonmetallic luster that may be described as glassy or vitreous.[6]
Environment[edit]
Reinerite develops in dolomite-hosted locations. It is known especially from Namibia, Africa, within the mines of Tsumeb. At the Tsumeb location, Reinerite develops within the polymetallic lead-zinc-copper deposit, 800 m (2,600 ft) below the surface, in the second oxidation zone.[5] It occurs in association with chalcocite, bornite, willemite, smithsonite, hydrozincite, hemimorphite, adamite, olivenite and gebhardite.[3]
History[edit]
Reinerite was first described in 1958 for an occurrence in the Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Namibia and named for senior chemist Willy Reiner (1895–1965) of Tsumeb Corporation, who analyzed this mineral.[2][4]
References[edit]
- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ a b c Webmineral data
- ^ a b c Handbook of Mineralogy
- ^ a b c Mindat.org
- ^ a b American Mineralogist
- ^ Lutgens, Frederick, and Edward Tarbuck. Essentials of Geology. 10th. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. 42. Print.