Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Otavite

Big Photo

Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia
© Brent Thorne

Show Otavite Photos (9)
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
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3040.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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

Relationship of Otavite to other Species

Related to:
  • Calcite Group
    • 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

    German names:
    Otavit
    Russian names:
    Отавит
    Spanish names:
    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.

    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

    Search Engines:
  • Look for Otavite on Google
  • Look for Otavite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Otavite on Webmineral
  • Look for Otavite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Otavite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Otavite on Mineralien Atlas
  • 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)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Find Otavite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Search for Otavite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Search for Otavite on minvision.com
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Otavite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (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
    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
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the 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 hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.