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Gaitite

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Big Photo

Twin Creeks Mine, Potosi District, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA
© 2007, JGW

Show Gaitite Photos (2)



Formula:
Ca
 
2
Zn(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicHardness:5
Member of:Fairfieldite Group
Name:The name honours Robert Irwin Gait (b. 1938), mineralogist, former Curator of the mineral and gem collection (1967-1996), Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, for his contributions to mineralogy and curatorial excellence.


Fairfieldite Group. Gaitite-Talmessite Series.

Classification of Gaitite

IMA status:Approved 1978
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.17-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CG.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:40.2.2.6

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : AB2(XO4)2·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:20.3.11

20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
3 : Arsenates of Zn, Cd or Hg
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Type Occurrence of Gaitite

Type Locality:Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia
Year of Discovery:1978

Physical Properties of Gaitite

Hardness (Mohs):5

Crystallography of Gaitite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.9Å, b = 7.61Å, c = 5.57Å
α = 111.67°, β = 70.83°, γ = 119.42°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.775 : 1 : 0.732
Unit Cell Volume:V 199.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Gaitite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.713 nβ = 1.730 nγ = 1.748
2V:Measured: 88° , Calculated: 90°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.035

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:weak

Chemical Properties of Gaitite

Formula:
Ca
 
2
Zn(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:As, Ca, H, O, Zn
All elements listed in formula:As, Ca, H, O, Zn

Relationship of Gaitite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Talmessite (see here)
Member of:Fairfieldite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Cassidyite
Ca
 
2
(Ni
2+
 
,Mg)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Collinsite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Fairfieldite
Ca
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Messelite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Nickeltalmessite
Ca
 
2
Ni(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Parabrandtite
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Talmessite
Ca
 
2
Mg(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
β-Roselite
Ca
 
2
(Co
2+
 
,Mg)(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.CG.05Cassidyite
Ca
 
2
(Ni
2+
 
,Mg)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.05Collinsite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.05Fairfieldite
Ca
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.05Messelite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.05Parabrandtite
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.05Talmessite
Ca
 
2
Mg(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.05Hillite
Ca
 
2
(Zn,Mg)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2 H
 
2
O
8.CG.10Brandtite
Ca
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.10Roselite
Ca
 
2
(Co
2+
 
,Mg)(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.10Wendwilsonite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Co
2+
 
)(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.10Zincroselite
Ca
 
2
Zn(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.10Rruffite
Ca
 
2
Cu(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.15Ferrilotharmeyerite
Ca(Fe
3+
 
,Zn)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(OH,H
 
2
O)
8.CG.15Lotharmeyerite
Ca(Zn,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.CG.15Mawbyite
Pb(Fe
3+
 
,Zn)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(OH,H
 
2
O)
8.CG.15Mounanaite
PbFe
3+
2
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(OH,F)
8.CG.15Thometzekite
Pb(Cu,Zn)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.CG.15Tsumcorite
Pb(Zn,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.CG.15Cobaltlotharmeyerite
Ca(Co,Fe
3+
 
,Ni)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.CG.15Cabalzarite
Ca(Mg,Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(OH,H
 
2
O)
8.CG.15Krettnichite
(Pb,Sr)(Mn
3+
 
,Co)
 
2
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(OH,H
 
2
O)
8.CG.15Cobalttsumcorite
Pb(Co,Fe
3+
 
,Ni)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.CG.15Nickellotharmeyerite
Ca(Ni,Fe
3+
 
,Co)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.CG.15Manganlotharmeyerite
Ca(Mn
3+
 
,Zn)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(OH,H
 
2
O)
8.CG.15Schneebergite
(Bi
3+
 
,Ca)(Co,Ni,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(OH,H
 
2
O)
8.CG.15Nickelschneebergite
(Bi
3+
 
,Ca)(Ni,Co,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(OH,H
 
2
O)
8.CG.20Gartrellite
Pb(Cu,Fe
3+
 
,Zn)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.CG.20Helmutwinklerite
Pb(Zn,Cu)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.20Zincgartrellite
Pb(Zn,Fe
3+
 
,Cu)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.CG.20Rappoldite
Pb(Co,Ni,Zn)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.20Phosphogartrellite
Pb(Cu,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.CG.20Lukrahnite
Ca(Cu,Zn)(Fe
3+
 
,Zn)(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.CG.25Pottsite
HPbBi(VO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CG.35Nickeltalmessite
Ca
 
2
Ni(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
20.3.1Adamite
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
20.3.2Paradamite
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
20.3.3Koritnigite
Zn(HAsO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
20.3.4Legrandite
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH) · H
 
2
O
20.3.5Warikahnite
Zn
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
20.3.6Köttigite
Zn
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
20.3.7Stranskiite
Zn
 
2
Cu(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
20.3.8Philipsburgite
(Cu,Zn)
 
6
(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · H
 
2
O
20.3.9Austinite
CaZn(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
20.3.10Prosperite
CaZn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(HAsO
 
4
)(OH)
20.3.12Zincroselite
Ca
 
2
Zn(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
20.3.13O'Danielite
Na(Zn,Mg)
 
3
H
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
20.3.14Johillerite
Na(Mg,Zn)
 
3
Cu(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
20.3.15Holdenite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
6
Zn
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
8
20.3.16Chudobaite
(Mg,Zn)
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
20.3.17Chlorophoenicite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH,O)
 
6
20.3.18Lotharmeyerite
Ca(Zn,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
20.3.19Metaköttigite
(Zn,Fe,Fe)
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 8(H
 
2
O,OH)
20.3.20Ojuelaite
ZnFe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
20.3.21Fahleite
Zn
 
5
CaFe
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
6
 · 14H
 
2
O
20.3.22Keyite
Cu
2+
3
Zn
 
4
Cd
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Gaitite

Synonyms:
IMA1978-047
Other Languages:
German:Gaitit
Russian:Гаитит
Spanish:Gaitita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Gaitite

Reference List:

- +
STURMAN, B.D. & DUNN, P.J. (1980): Gaitite, H2Ca2Zn(AsO4)2(OH)2, a new mineral from Tsumeb, Namibia. Canadian Mineralogist 18, 197-200.
KELLER, P., HESS, H. & RIFFEL, H. (1981) Die Krystallstruktur von zwei neuen Calcium-Zink-Arsenat-mineralien von Tsumeb/Namibia. Zeitschrift für Krystallographie und Mineralogie 156, 70-71 (in German).

Internet Links for Gaitite

Search Engines:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Gaitite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Gaitite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Germany
     
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Lahn valley
        • Bad Ems District
          • Frücht
    		Schnorrer, G., (1993): Mineralogische Notitzen VI, Der Aufschluss, Vol. 44, 44-58
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Agios Konstantinos [St Constantine] (Kamariza)
            • Kamariza Mines (Kamareza Mines)
    		No reference listed
    Lapis No.7/8 1999 p.70-74
    Namibia
     
    • Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region
      • Tsumeb
    		STURMAN, B.D. & DUNN, P.J. (1980): Gaitite, H2Ca2Zn(AsO4)2(OH)2, a new mineral from Tsumeb, Namibia. Canadian Mineralogist 18, 197-200. KELLER, P., HESS, H. & RIFFEL, H. (1981) Die Krystallstruktur von zwei neuen Calcium-Zink-Arsenat-mineralien von Tsumeb/Namibia. Zeitschrift für Krystallographie und Mineralogie 156, 70-71 (in German).
    USA
     
    • Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Potosi District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Min News (1999) 15:6 pp 1,5-8
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