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Zincite

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Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
© Rob Lavinsky

Show Zincite Photos (44)
Formula:
(Zn,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)O
System:HexagonalColour:Red, orange, yellow, ...
Lustre:Sub-AdamantineHardness:4
Name:In allusion to the high zinc content.
This page provides mineralogical data about Zincite.

Classification of Zincite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/A.03-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.AB.20

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
B : M:O = 1:1 (and up to 1:1.25); with small to medium-sized cations only
Dana 8th edition ID:4.2.2.1

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
2 : AX
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.5.1

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
5 : Oxides of Zn, Cd and Hg
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Type Occurrence of Zincite

Co-type Localities:Franklin Mine, Franklin, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
Year of Discovery:1845
Geological Setting of type material:Metamorphic Precambrian zinc-manganese-iron oxide-silicate orebodies in crystalline Franklin marble.

Physical Properties of Zincite

Lustre:Sub-Adamantine
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Red, orange, yellow, white
Streak:Orange-yellow
Hardness (Mohs):4
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
{1010} perfect, but difficult.
Parting:On {0001} distinct at times.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):5.64 - 5.68 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.699 g/cm3

Crystallography of Zincite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6mm - Dihexagonal Pyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 3.24Å, c = 5.2Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.605
Unit Cell Volume:V 47.27 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals extremely rare. Hemimorphic pyramidal with a large negative pedion {0001}. Often rounded and corroded. Usually massive, foliated; also compact granular, and in rounded irregular masses.
Twinning:On {0001}, composition plane always {0001}.
Crystal Atlas:
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Zincite no.20 - 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

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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: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Zincite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 2.013 nε = 2.029
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.016

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Weak
Colour in reflected light:Light rose-brown

Chemical Properties of Zincite

Formula:
(Zn,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)O
Idealised Formula:
ZnO
Essential elements:O, Zn
All elements listed in formula:Fe, Mn, O, Zn
Common Impurities:Mn,Fe

Relationship of Zincite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
4.AB.05Crednerite
CuMnO
 
2
4.AB.10Tenorite
CuO
4.AB.15Delafossite
CuFeO
 
2
4.AB.15Mcconnellite
CuCrO
 
2
4.AB.20Bromellite
BeO
4.AB.25Bunsenite
NiO
4.AB.25Lime
CaO
4.AB.25Manganosite
MnO
4.AB.25Monteponite
CdO
4.AB.25Periclase
MgO
4.AB.25Wüstite
FeO
4.AB.30Palladinite
PdO
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
7.5.2Sweetite
Zn(OH)
 
2
7.5.3Ashoverite
Zn(OH)
 
2
7.5.4Wülfingite
Zn(OH)
 
2
7.5.5Gahnite
ZnAl
 
2
O
 
4
7.5.6Hetaerolite
ZnMn
 
2
O
 
4
7.5.7Hydrohetaerolite
ZnMn
 
2
O
 
4
·H
 
2
O
7.5.8Chalcophanite
(Zn,Fe,Mn)Mn
 
3
O
 
7
·3H
 
2
O
7.5.9Woodruffite
Zn(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)
 
5
O
 
10
·3½H
 
2
O
7.5.10Franklinite
Zn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
O
 
4
7.5.11Monteponite
CdO
7.5.12Montroydite
HgO

Other Names for Zincite

Synonyms:
AncramiteBrucite (of Dufrénoy)Red Oxide of ZincRed Zink OreRuby Zinc (of Alger)
SpartaliteSterlingite (of Alger)
French names:
Zinc oxydé
German names:
AncramitRothzinkerzRotzinkerzSpartalitZincit
ZinkitZinkoxidZinkoxyd
Japanese names:
紅亜鉛鉱
Russian names:
Цинкит
Spanish names:
AncramitaSpartalitaZincita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Yellow-green (SW UV)(light yellow material from Sterling Mine only).
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:Source of refined zinc oxide (Franklin ores only)

References for Zincite

Reference List:Bruce (1810), American Min. Journal: 1(2): 96 (as Red Oxide of Zinc).

Haidinger W. (1845), Handbuch der bestimmenden mineralogie (Vienna), 548.

Brooke and Miller (1852): 218 (as Spartalite.

Alger (1844): 565 (as Sterlingite).

Alger (1861), Boston Society of Natural History, Proceedings: 6: 145 (as Ruby Zinc).

vom Rath (1871), Ann. Phys.: 144: 580.

Palache, C. (1910), American Journal of Science: 29: 177.

Berman (1927), American Mineralogist: 12: 168.

Palache, C. (1935), Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, New Jersey, USG Professional Paper 180: 38.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume I: 504-506.

Acta Crystallographica (1989): B: 34.

Internet Links for Zincite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Zincite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Zincite

    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.
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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.
    Australia
     
    • Western Australia
      • Ningbing Homestead
    		Lead, Zinc and Silver Deposits of Western Australia, 1999
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • Reißeck group
          • Gmünd
    		M. Puttner: Carinthia II 184./104.:43-47 (1994)
    • Lower Austria
      • Türnitzer Alpen Mts
    		No reference listed
    • Styria
      • Niedere Tauern Mts
        • Öblarn
          • Walchen
    		[Lapis 1992: 2 p.19-30]
    Belgium
     
    • Liège Province
      • Verviers
        • Plombières-Vieille Montagne District
          • Plombières (Bleyberg)
    		van Tassel, R., (1979): Minéraux artificiels ou de néoformation à Plombières et Sclaigneaux, Belgique, Bulletin de la Societe Belge de Géologie, 88 (4), 273-279
    • Limburg Province
      • Dilsen-Stokkem
    • Namur Province
      • Andenne
    		No reference listed
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Liberec Region
    		Scharm, B.: Přehled minerálů nalezených v oblasti uranových koncentrací v severočeské křídě. Bulletin mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 1995, roč. 3, s. 169-172.
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Southern area
          • Lubumbashi (Elizabethville)
            • Kipushi
    		No reference listed
    Germany
     
    • Hesse
      • North Hesse
        • Richelsdorf District
          • Süss
            • Richelsdorf Smelter
    		S. Weiß: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz Mts
        • Goslar
          • Astfeld
    		No reference listed
          • Grane Reservoir
    		No reference listed
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Aachen
        • Stolberg
    International Association of Collectors of Slag
      • Sauerland
        • Arnsberg
          • Hüsten
    		D. Pawlowski: "Mineralfundstellen im Sauerland", Weise (Munich), 1991
        • Iserlohn
          • Letmathe
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Lahn valley
        • Bad Ems District
          • Braubach
    		Lapis, 16 (1), 38-53+58.
      • Siegerland
        • Niederfischbach
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", 1990
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
    		Lapis 30(7/8):78-80 (2005)
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
    		Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian, Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags
    Iran
     
    • East Azarbaijan Province
      • Takab (Takan Tepe)
    Italy
     
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Genova
          • Varenna Valley
    		Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 2 (Avril/Juin), 175-188.
      • Savona Province
        • Rialto
          • Melogno
    		Antofilli, Borgo & Palenzona, 1985. I nostri minerali. Geologia e mineralogia in Liguria. Edizioni Melita, La Spezia.
    • Lombardy
      • Bergamo Province
        • Brembana Valley
          • Vedra Valley
    		AA. VV., 1996. Collezionare minerali. Hobby & Work.
    • Sardinia
      • Carbonia-Iglesias Province
        • Iglesias
          • Masua
    		Stara, P., Rizzo, R., Tanca, G.A. (1996): Iglesiente-Arburese. Miniere e Minerali. Volume 1, EMSA, Ed., Cagliari, 239 pp.
    De Michele, V. (1974). Guida mineralogica d'Italia. Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara, 2 vol.
    AA. VV., 1996. Collezionare minerali. Hobby & Work.
      • 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.
    • Tuscany
      • Grosseto Province
        • Montieri
    		Bazzoni C. et al., 2003. Il "Filone di Boccheggiano": miniere e minerali. Riv. Miner. Ital., 2: 78-89
      • Livorno Province
        • Piombino
    		Muenchener Micromounter - Lithothek
      • Lucca Province
        • Apuan Alps
          • Stazzema
    		D'Achiardi A., 1872/72. Mineralogia della Toscana. Tip. Nistri, Pisa.
    Norway
     
    • Buskerud
      • Modum
        • Åmot
    		Goldschmidt (1911), p. 268; Neumann (1985), p. 53.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Magadanskaya Oblast'
        • Kolym (Kolyma) River Basin
          • Ducat District
            • Omsukchan
              • Ducat ore field
    		http://www.igem.ru/lmin/fil/metal.htm
    Slovakia
     
    • Košice Region
      • Eastern Slovenské Rudohorie Mts
        • Smolnik Mining District
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590
    Sweden
     
    • Dalarna
      • Hedemora
        • Garpenberg
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Maricopa Co.
        • Big Horn Mts
          • Osborn District
            • Tonopah
              • Belmont Mountain
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 429.
    • California
      • Kern Co.
        • Loraine
    		U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
      • San Bernardino Co.
    		U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
        • Holcomb Valley
          • Fawnskin
    		Leavens & Patton: Axis 4 (1)13p (2008)
    • Colorado
      • Fremont Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • Gilpin Co.
        • Central City District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    • Nevada
      • Eureka Co.
        • Lone Mountain District
    		NBMG Bull 64 Geology and Mineral Resources of Eureka County, Nevada
      • Lincoln Co.
        • Viola District
    		NBMG Bull 73 Geology and Mineral Resources of Lincoln County, Nevada
      • White Pine Co.
        • Duck Creek District
    		NBMG Spec Pub 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • New Jersey
      • Bergen Co.
    		The Minerals of New York City & Its Environs, New York Mineralogical Club Bull., Vol. 3, No. 1, Manchester, J.G. (1931): 76.
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
    		Palache(1935):39; Dunn(1995):Pt4:558-565.
    Palache(1935):39.
    Palache(1935):39; Dunn(1995):Pt4:558-565.
    Palache(1935):39; Dunn(1995):Pt4:558-565.
    Although no specific reference is citeable, zincite is pervasive throughout the Franklin orebody and zincite has been collected on the trotter mine dump.
          • Ogdensburg
            • Sterling Hill
    		Min.Rec.:19:273; Palache(1935):39; Dunn(1995):Pt4:558-565.
    • New Mexico
      • Luna Co.
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
      • Socorro Co.
    		Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd. rev. ed. (1996)
    • Utah
      • Summit Co.
        • Wasatch Mts
          • Park City District (Unita District)
    		U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    • Virginia
    		Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
    Zambia
     
    • Central Province
      • Kabwe (Broken Hill)
    		[MinRec 12:394]
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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