Spencerite
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About Spencerite
Formula:
Zn4(PO4)2(OH)2 · 3H2O
Colour:
White, light green; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
3.123 - 3.145
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after Leonard James Spencer (1870-1959), Keeper of Minerals, British Museum of Natural History (London)
An uncommon secondary mineral occurring in some zinc-bearing hydrothermal deposits.
Classification of Spencerite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
7/D.07-60
8.DA.40
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
A : With small (and occasionally larger) cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
A : With small (and occasionally larger) cations
42.6.4.2
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : A2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : A2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
19.6.2
19 : Phosphates
6 : Phosphates of Zn
19 : Phosphates
6 : Phosphates of Zn
Pronounciation of Spencerite
Pronounciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon & Katya Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Spencerite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Comment:
Lustre pearly on cleavages.
Colour:
White, light green; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {100}, perfect; on {010}, good; on {001}, distinct.
On {100}, perfect; on {010}, good; on {001}, distinct.
Density:
3.123 - 3.145 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.282 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Spencerite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.586 nβ = 1.602 nγ = 1.606
2V:
Measured: 49°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.020

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
small
Chemical Properties of Spencerite
Formula:
Zn4(PO4)2(OH)2 · 3H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Spencerite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P2/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.43 Å, b = 5.27 Å, c = 11.19 Å
β = 116.8°
β = 116.8°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.979 : 1 : 2.123
Unit Cell V:
549.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Pseudo-orthorhombic. Crystals elongated [001], tabular on {100}, terminations commonly blunt and rectabgular with {102}, {001}, and {101}; lance-like at times with large {121} and {221}, with numerous additional forms. Commonly with a columnar to platy structure, stalactitic, massive.
Twinning:
Polysynthetic. Twin and composition plane {100}. The twinning results in {h0l being striated [010].
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Type Occurrence of Spencerite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Toronto, Canada: M9602, M9610, M9691, M9726. The Natural History Museum, London, England. Natural History Museum, Paris, France: 120.22. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: 98956. National Museum of Natural Histo
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Cave in oxidized zinc ore.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Spencerite
Other Language Names for Spencerite
Common Associates
Cerussite | PbCO3 |
Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
Hopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Hemimorphite | 2 photos of Spencerite associated with Hemimorphite on mindat.org. |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
8.DA.05 | Bearsite | Be2(AsO4)(OH) · 4H2O | Mon. |
8.DA.05 | Moraesite | Be2(PO4)(OH) · 4H2O | Mon. |
8.DA.10 | Roscherite | Ca2Mn2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
8.DA.10 | Zanazziite | Ca2Mg5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.DA.10 | Greifensteinite | Ca2Fe2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Mon. |
8.DA.10 | Atencioite | Ca2Fe2+3Mg2Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | |
8.DA.10 | Ruifrancoite | Ca2(◻,Mn)2(Fe3+,Mn,Mg)4Be4(PO4)6(OH)4(OH,H2O)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.DA.10 | Guimarãesite | Ca2Be4Zn5(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.DA.10 | Footemineite | Ca2Mn2+Mn2+2Mn2+2Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DA.15 | Uralolite | Ca2Be4(PO4)3(OH)3 · 5H2O | Mon. |
8.DA.20 | Weinebeneite | CaBe3(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
8.DA.25 | Tiptopite | K2(Na,Ca)2Li3Be6(PO4)6(OH)2 · H2O | Hex. |
8.DA.30 | Veszelyite | (Cu,Zn)2Zn(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.DA.35 | Kipushite | (Cu,Zn)5Zn(PO4)2(OH)6 · H2O | Mon. |
8.DA.35 | Philipsburgite | (Cu,Zn)6(AsO4,PO4)2(OH)6 · H2O | Mon. |
8.DA.45 | Glucine | CaBe4(PO4)2(OH)4 · 0.5H2O | |
8.DA.50 | Ianbruceite | [Zn2(OH)(H2O)(AsO4)](H2O)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
42.6.4.1 | Legrandite | Zn2(AsO4)(OH) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
19.6.1 | Tarbuttite | Zn2(PO4)(OH) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.6.3 | Hopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
19.6.4 | Parahopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.6.5 | Veszelyite | (Cu,Zn)2Zn(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
19.6.6 | Kipushite | (Cu,Zn)5Zn(PO4)2(OH)6 · H2O | Mon. |
19.6.7 | Scholzite | CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcm |
19.6.8 | Parascholzite | CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. |
19.6.9 | Ehrleite | Ca4Be3Zn2(PO4)6 · 9H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.6.10 | Faustite | (Zn,Cu)Al6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.6.11 | Aheylite | (Fe2+,Zn)Al6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.6.12 | Jungite | Ca2Zn4Fe3+8(PO4)9(OH)9 · 16H2O | Orth. |
19.6.13 | Schoonerite | ZnMn2+Fe2+2Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)2 · 9H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbam |
19.6.14 | Phosphophyllite | Zn2Fe(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in acids.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Spencerite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Phillips (1916) American Journal of Science: 42: 275.
Walker (1916) Mineralogical Magazine: 18: 76-83.
Walker (1917) Journal of the Washington Academy of Science: 7: 456.
Walker (1918) University of Toronto Stud., Geology Series, no. 10: 5.
Walker and Parsons (1921) University of Toronto Stud., Geology Series: 58.
Larsen, E.S. and Berman, H. (1934) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, Second edition, USGS Bulletin 848: 167.
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. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 931-933.
Fanfani, L., A. Nunzi, and P.F. Zanazzi (1972) Structure and twinning in spencerite. Mineralogical Magazine: 38: 687-692.
Canadian Mineralogist (1994): 32: 365.
Internet Links for Spencerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3722.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Specimens:
The following Spencerite specimens are currently listed for sale on minfind.com.
Localities for Spencerite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada (TL) | |
| Nature (1916): 97, 375; Mineralogical Magazine (1917): 18, 76-83; 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: 734, 933.; Walker T L (1916) Spencerite, a new zinc phosphate from British Columbia, Mineralogical Magazine 18, 76-81 ; British Columbia Minfile 082FSW004; U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.; Paradis, S., Keevil, H., Simandl, G. J., & Raudsepp, M. (2015). Carbonate-hosted nonsulphide Zn–Pb mineralization of southern British Columbia, Canada. Mineralium Deposita, 50(8), 923-951. |
UK | |
| Dunham, Sir K. C. Geology of the North Pennine Orefield, Volume 2 Stainmore to Craven (2nd Edition), pp 199. |
Zambia | |
| Braithwaite R.S.W., Spencerite from Kabwe, Zambia, and the infrared spectroscopy of Kabwe zinc phosphates, MinMag, March 1988, vol.82, pp.126-9. |
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Hudson Bay Mine, Salmo, Nelson Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada