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Prosperite

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

Formula:
CaZn
 
2
[OH|HAsO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, white
Hardness:4½
This page provides mineralogical data about Prosperite.

Classification of Prosperite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.23-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CA.60

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With small and large/medium cations
Dana 8th edition ID:40.2.4.1

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : AB2(XO4)2·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:20.3.10

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

Type Locality:Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia
Year of Discovery:1979

Physical Properties of Prosperite

Lustre:Vitreous, Silky
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, white
Hardness (Mohs):4½

Crystallography of Prosperite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 19.25Å, b = 7.73Å, c = 9.76Å
β = 104.53°
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.49 : 1 : 1.263
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,405.86 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Prosperite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.746 nβ = 1.748 nγ = 1.768
2V:Measured: 34° , Calculated: 36°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.022

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

Chemical Properties of Prosperite

Formula:
CaZn
 
2
[OH|HAsO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
Essential elements:As, Ca, H, O, Zn
All elements listed in formula:As, Ca, H, O, Zn

Relationship of Prosperite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.CA.05Fransoletite
Ca
 
3
Be
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.CA.05Parafransoletite
Ca
 
3
Be
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.CA.10Ehrleite
Ca
 
4
Be
 
3
Zn
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
6
 · 9H
 
2
O
8.CA.15Faheyite
(Mn,Mg,Na)Be
 
2
Fe
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
8.CA.20Gainesite
Na(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 1.5-2H
 
2
O
8.CA.20Mccrillisite
NaCs(Be,Li)Zr
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·1-2H
 
2
O
8.CA.20Selwynite
NaK(Be,Al)Zr
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CA.25Pahasapaite
Li
 
8
(Ca,Li,K)
 
10.5
Be
 
24
(PO
 
4
)
 
24
·38H
 
2
O
8.CA.30Hopeite
Zn
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.CA.30Parahopeite
Zn
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.CA.35Warikahnite
Zn
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
8.CA.40Phosphophyllite
Zn
 
2
Fe(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.CA.45Parascholzite
CaZn
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
8.CA.45Scholzite
CaZn
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
8.CA.50Keyite
(Cu,Zn,Cd)
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
8.CA.55Pushcharovskite
CuAsO
 
3
OH·H
 
2
O
8.CA.65Gengenbachite
KFe
3+
3
[H
 
2
PO
 
4
|(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
20.3.1Adamite
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
20.3.2Paradamite
Zn
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
20.3.3Koritnigite
Zn[HAsO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
20.3.4Legrandite
Zn
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
] · 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,Cu)
 
3
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
20.3.8Philipsburgite
(Cu,Zn)
 
6
[(OH)
 
3
|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
20.3.9Austinite
CaZn[OH|AsO
 
4
]
20.3.11Gaitite
Ca
 
2
Zn[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
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
[(OH)
 
8
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
20.3.16Chudobaite
(Na,K)(Mg,Zn)
 
2
H(AsO
 
4
)(OH,O)
 
6
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,Zn,Cd)
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2

Other Names for Prosperite

Synonyms:
IMA1978-028
German names:
Prosperit
Russian names:
Просперит
Spanish names:
Prosperita

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 Prosperite

Reference List:Canadian Mineralogist (1979): 17: 87-92.

American Mineralogist (1980): 65: 208.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 158: 33-42.

Internet Links for Prosperite

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

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    (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.
    Namibia
     
    • Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region
      • Tsumeb
    		Can Min 17 (1979), 87
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