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Zaratite & Dypingite

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Zaratite & Dypingite

Rare Mineral

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Lord Brassey Mine, Heazlewood, Waratah-Wynyard Municipality, Tasmania, Australia
Size Range: 
Miniature (4.5-7 cm)
Size: 
4.6 × 3.5 × 1.4 cm
Description

A vitreous green coating of zaratite, a rare nickel carbonate, features with white balls of the magnesium carbonate dypingite in a serpentine matrix.

Under a microscope I have observed minute patches of a silver mineral I thought may be heazlewoodite but due to the low hardness, is probably molybdenite. Quite heavy for the size of the specimen.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Zaratite

Formula: 
Ni3CO3(OH)4·4H2O
Strunz: 
5.DA.15
Crystal System: 
Isometric
Colour: 
Green
Type Locality: 
Manolita mine, Teixidelo, La Coruña, Galicia, Spain

Dypingite

Formula: 
Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·5H2O
Strunz: 
5.DA.05
Hardness: 
0.0
Colour: 
White
Type Locality: 
Dypingdal Serpentine-magnesite deposit, Snarum, Modum, Buskerud, Norway
Gondwana Minerals