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Hemimorphite

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Big Photo

Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Mun. de Mapimí, Durango, Mexico
© 2002 John H. Betts

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Formula:
Zn
 
4
Si
 
2
O
 
7
(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colorless, white, pale ...
Hardness:4½ - 5
Name:
In allusion to the hemimorphic morphology of the crystals.


Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Hemimorphite. Currently in public beta-test.

Classification of Hemimorphite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/C.08-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.BD.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
D : Si2O7 groups, with additional anions; cations in tetrahedral [4] and greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:56.1.2.1

56 : SOROSILICATES Si2O7 Groups, With Additional O, OH, F and H2O
1 : Si2O7 Groups and O, OH, F, and H2O with cations in [4] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.7.12

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
7 : Silicates of Ba, Sr and Zn
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Type Occurrence of Hemimorphite

Type Locality:Băiţa Mining District (Baita Bihor; Rézbánya), Nucet, Bihor Co., Romania
Year of Discovery:1853

Occurrences of Hemimorphite

Geological Setting:Secondary mineral in the weathered portions of zinc deposits.

Physical Properties of Hemimorphite

Lustre:Adamantine, Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colorless, white, pale blue, pale green, gray, brown
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):4½ - 5
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on {110}, poor on {101}, {001} rare
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.475 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.484 g/cm3

Crystallography of Hemimorphite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:Imm2
Cell Parameters:a = 8.367(5) Å, b = 10.73Å, c = 5.155(3) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.78 : 1 : 0.48
Unit Cell Volume:V 462.81 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Thin tabular crystals, sheaf-like or fan-like aggregates, stalagtitic, mammillary, botryoidal.
Twinning:On {101} rare
Crystal Atlas:
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Hemimorphite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Hemimorphite no.33 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Hemimorphite no.91 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Hemimorphite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.614 nβ = 1.617 nγ = 1.636
2V:Measured: 46° , Calculated: 44°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.022

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:strong r > v

Chemical Properties of Hemimorphite

Formula:
Zn
 
4
Si
 
2
O
 
7
(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, O, Si, Zn
All elements listed in formula:H, O, Si, Zn
Common Impurities:Cu,Fe

Relationship of Hemimorphite to other Species

Common Associates:
SphaleriteSmithsoniteRosasiteHydrozinciteGalena
ChrysocollaCerussiteCalciteAurichalciteAnglesite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.BD.05Bertrandite
Be
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(OH)
 
2
9.BD.15Junitoite
CaZn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
7
 · H
 
2
O
9.BD.20Axinite-(Fe)
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
9.BD.20Axinite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
9.BD.20Axinite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
(OH)
9.BD.20Tinzenite
(CaMn
2+
 
)
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
(OH)
9.BD.25Vistepite
SnMn
 
4
B
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
9.BD.30Boralsilite
Al
 
16
B
 
6
Si
 
2
O
 
37
9.BD.35Werdingite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
14
Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
37
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.7.1Sanbornite
Ba
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)
14.7.2Krauskopfite
BaSi
 
2
O
 
5
 · 3H
 
2
O
14.7.3Walstromite
BaCa
 
2
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
14.7.4Macdonaldite
BaCa
 
4
Si
 
16
O
 
36
(OH)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
14.7.5Ericssonite
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH)
14.7.6Ericssonite-2O
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH)
14.7.7Gillespite
BaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
14.7.8Andrémeyerite
BaFe
2+
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
14.7.9Pellyite
Ba
 
2
Ca(Fe,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
17
14.7.10Taikanite
Sr
 
3
BaMn
2+
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)O
 
2
14.7.11Willemite
Zn
 
2
SiO
 
4
14.7.13Zincsilite
Zn
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
14.7.14Hardystonite
Ca
 
2
Zn(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
14.7.15Petedunnite
Ca(Zn,Mn
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Si
 
2
O
 
6
14.7.16Clinohedrite
CaZn(SiO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
14.7.17Junitoite
CaZn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
7
 · H
 
2
O
14.7.18Larsenite
PbZnSiO
 
4
14.7.19Esperite
PbCa
 
2
Zn
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
14.7.20Hodgkinsonite
Mn
2+
 
Zn
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
14.7.21Gerstmannite
MnMgZn(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
14.7.22Gageite
Mn
 
21
O
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
 
2
(OH)
 
20
14.7.23Franklinfurnaceite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
 
Mn
2+
3
Mn
3+
 
(Zn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8

Other Names for Hemimorphite

Synonyms:
CalaminaElectric CalamineKieselgalmeiKieselgalmeySmithsonite (of Brooke and Miller)
Wagite
Other Languages:
Dutch:Hemimorfiet
German:Hemimorphit
Daviesit
Gemeiner Galmei
Kieselzinkerz
Kieselzinkspat
Wagit
Zinkglas
Zinkkieselerz
Hebrew:המימורפיט
Italian:Emimorfite
Japanese:異極鉱
Polish:Hemimorfit
Portuguese:Hemimorfita
Russian:Гемиморфит
Simplified Chinese:异极矿
Spanish:Hemimorfita
Daviesita
Hemimorphita
Wagita
Ukrainian:Геміморфіт

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:May be bluish under SW UV.
Electrical:Pyroelectric
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:Ore of zinc.

References for Hemimorphite

Reference List:

- +
Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 159: 47-48.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 146: 241-259.

European Journal of Mineralogy: 9: 803-810.

Internet Links for Hemimorphite

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  • Look for Hemimorphite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Hemimorphite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Hemimorphite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Hemimorphite

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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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    Locality Updated: Massa Garden Mine, Mount Bullion, Bagby-Mariposa-Mount Bullion-Whitlock District, Mother Lode Belt, Mariposa Co., California, USAFrom Chester S. Lemanski, Jr., 24th May 2013 15:25:44