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Prosperite

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Big Photo

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




Formula:
CaZn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(HAsO
 
4
)(OH)
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, white
Hardness:4½
Name:In honour of Prosper John Williams (1910– ), of Toronto, Canada, South African-Canadian mineral dealer, supplier of many Tsumeb specimens.
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
(AsO
 
4
)(HAsO
 
4
)(OH)
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
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.CA.05Parafransoletite
Ca
 
3
Be
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
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.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
2+
3
Zn
 
4
Cd
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CA.55Pushcharovskite
K
 
0.6
Cu
 
18
(AsO
 
4
)(HAsO
 
4
)
 
10
(H
 
2
AsO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
9.6
·18.6H
 
2
O
8.CA.65Gengenbachite
KFe
3+
3
(HPO
 
4
)
 
4
(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.CA.70Parahopeite
Zn
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
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)
20.3.11Gaitite
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
(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 Prosperite

Synonyms:
IMA1978-028
Other Languages:
German:Prosperit
Russian:Просперит
Spanish: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

Search Engines:
  • Look for Prosperite on Google
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    • External Links:
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  • Look for Prosperite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Prosperite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Prosperite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Prosperite

    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.
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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
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. 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. 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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