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Otavite

Formula:
CdCO
 
3
System:TrigonalColour:White to yellow-brown or ...
Lustre:AdamantineHardness:3½ - 4
Name:From the locality, the Tsumeb Mine, near Otavi, Namibia.
Isostructural with:Calcite


Calcite Group.

A secondary mineral found in oxidized zones of ore bodies.

Classification of Otavite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/B.02-90
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.AB.05

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 8th edition ID:14.1.1.7

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.6.10

11 : Carbonates
6 : Carbonates of Zn and Cd
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Type Occurrence of Otavite

Type Locality:Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia
Year of Discovery:1906
Associated Minerals at type locality:
SmithsonitePyromorphiteOliveniteMalachiteCerussite
Azurite

Physical Properties of Otavite

Lustre:Adamantine
Colour:White to yellow-brown or reddish
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Density (measured):4.96 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.03 g/cm3

Crystallography of Otavite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Cell Parameters:a = 4.93Å, c = 16.27Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 3.3
Unit Cell Volume:V 342.46 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crusts of minute rhombohedral crystals, {101¯1}.

Epitaxial Relationships of Otavite

Epitaxial Minerals:
Smithsonite
Epitaxi Comments:Otavite oriented growths on smithsonite (Tsumeb).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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

Chemical Properties of Otavite

Formula:
CdCO
 
3
Essential elements:C, Cd, O
All elements listed in formula:C, Cd, O
CAS Registry number:513-78-0

CAS Registry numbers are published by the American Chemical Society

Relationship of Otavite to other Species

Member of Group:
Calcite Group:
AXO
 
3
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.AB.05Calcite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.05Gaspéite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)CO
 
3
5.AB.05Magnesite
MgCO
 
3
5.AB.05Rhodochrosite
MnCO
 
3
5.AB.05Siderite
FeCO
 
3
5.AB.05Smithsonite
ZnCO
 
3
5.AB.05Spherocobaltite
CoCO
 
3
5.AB.10Ankerite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Dolomite
CaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Kutnohorite
Ca(Mn,Mg,Fe)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Minrecordite
CaZn(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.15Aragonite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.15Cerussite
PbCO
 
3
5.AB.15Strontianite
SrCO
 
3
5.AB.15Witherite
BaCO
 
3
5.AB.20Vaterite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.25Huntite
CaMg
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
5.AB.30Norsethite
BaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.35Alstonite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.40Olekminskite
Sr(Sr,Ba)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.40Paralstonite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.45Barytocalcite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.50Carbocernaite
(Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.55Benstonite
(Ba,Sr)
 
6
(Ca,Mn)
 
6
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
13
5.AB.60Juangodoyite
Na
 
2
Cu(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.6.1Smithsonite
ZnCO
 
3
11.6.2Hydrozincite
Zn
 
5
[(OH)
 
3
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
11.6.3Rosasite
(Cu,Zn)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
11.6.4Zincrosasite
(Zn,Cu)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
11.6.5Aurichalcite
(Zn,Cu)
 
5
[(OH)
 
3
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
11.6.6Claraite
(Cu,Zn)
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
11.6.7Minrecordite
CaZn(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.6.8Loseyite
(Zn,Mn
2+
 
)
 
7
[(OH)
 
5
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
11.6.9Sclarite
(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
4
Zn
 
3
[(OH)
 
5
|CO
 
3
]
 
2

Other Names for Otavite

Other Languages:
German:Otavit
Russian:Отавит
Spanish:Otavita

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.
External LinksSearch for toxicity information at the United States National Library of Medicine

References for Otavite

Reference List:de Schulten (1897) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 20: 196.

Schneider (1906) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 388.

Zachariasen (1928) Norske Videnskaps-Akademi, Skrifter, Oslo, no. 4.

Ramdohr and Strunz (1941a) Zentralblatt Mineralien: 97.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 181.

Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR (1979): 245: 1099.

American Mineralogist (1997): 82: 643-646.

Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America: 11.

Tiegeng Liu, Lin Xie, Xingli Wang, and Rongjun Si (2005): First discovery of otavite in China. Chinese Geology 32(3), 443-446 (in Chinese with English abstract).

Internet Links for Otavite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Otavite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Otavite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Otavite

    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.
    (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.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Yancowinna Co.
        • Broken Hill
    Australian Min. 3:1 (1997)
    China
     
    • Guizhou Province
      • Qiannan Autonomous Prefecture
        • Duyun Co.
    Tiegeng Liu, Lin Xie, Xingli Wang, and Rongjun Si (2005): Chinese Geology 32(3), 443-446.
    Germany
     
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Niederberg area
        • Wülfrath
          • Rohdenhaus
    Lapis 1988(1), 16-35
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium)
            • Lavrion Mines
    No reference listed
    Hungary
     
    • Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Co.
      • Zempléni Mts.
        • Legyesbénye
    Ireland
     
    • Co. Clare
      • The Burren
        • Carron
    Dr. David Green
    Italy
     
    • Sardinia
      • Medio Campidano Province
        • Arbus
    Binotto, C., Boi, G., Cocco, E., Preite, D., Sitta, S. (1988): Minerali dalle miniere di Montevecchio e da altri giacimenti collegati al granito dell'Arburese. 4° Parte, 1/1988, 5-16.
      • Sassari Province
        • Ozieri
    Orlandi, P. & Campostrini, I. (2005): Zibaldone. Aggiornamenti di mineralogia italiana 2004. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 3/2005, 184-191.
    Namibia
     
    • Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region
      • Tsumeb
    National Bureau of Standards, Circular 539/7 (1957), 11
    Republic of Macedonia
     
    • Probistip
    Collection of NHM, Vienna
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
        • Verkhoyansk
    M.I. Novgorodova
    UK
     
    • England
      • North Yorkshire
        • North Pennines
          • Pateley Bridge District
            • Greenhow
    Young, B.; Ryback, G.; Braithwaite, R. S. W.; Francis, J. G. (1997): Prosopite, doyleite and otavite from Coldstones quarry, Pateley bridge, North Yorkshire. Mineral. Mag. 61, 895-897.
    • Scotland
      • Strathclyde (Renfrewshire)
        • Bishopton
    [J. Russell Soc. 2001 - 94]
    • Wales
      • Powys (Radnorshire)
        • Old Radnor
          • Wethel
    British Micromount Society
    USA
     
    • Michigan
      • Baraga Co.
        • Huron River
    Rocks & Minerals 82:298-308
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
          • Ogdensburg
            • Sterling Hill
    The Picking Table:28(2):3 (per Dr. Sidney Williams); Dunn(1995):Pt4:613.
    • New Mexico
      • Socorro Co.
        • Hansonburg District
          • Bingham
    M Massis collection
    Rocks & Minerals: 78(6): 380-389.
    Vietnam
     
    Johan, Z.: Mineralogie kadmia na ložisku Mo Ba, Vietnamská demokratická republika. Časopis pro mineralogii a geologii, 1962, roč. 7, č. 2, s. 132-138.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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