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Plancheite & Dioptase Psm Calcite

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PDM587801

Plancheite & Dioptase Psm Calcite

Pseudomorph

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Tantara Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
Class: 
Crystals on Matrix
Size Range: 
Miniature (4.5-7 cm)
Size: 
5.3 × 3.4 × 3.4 cm
Description

It is a very rare to find specimen from the old finds at the Tantara mine, previous to the Second World War, when plancheite-dioptase pseudomorphs after calcite were found. Most of these crystals are formed by dark blue plancheite, but some crystals present also a transformation to emerald green dioptase too. The surface is covered by light green “katangite”, a mixture of chrysocolla and malachite. The specimen was in the collection of Pierre Louis (BE), and afterwards it has been in my own collection for some years.

A complete study of these specimens can be found in: Vochten et al., (2005), Mineralogical Record. 36, 521-524.

Do not mistake this specimen with more recently found pseudomorphs of shattuckite and dioptase after calcite.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Plancheite

Formula: 
Cu8(Si8O22)(OH)4·H2O
Strunz: 
9.DB.35
Crystal System: 
Orthorhombic
Hardness: 
6.0
Type Locality: 
Sanda carriere (Sanda quarry; Sanda Mine), Mindouli, Mindouli District, Pool Department, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)

Dioptase

Formula: 
CuSiO3·H2O
Strunz: 
9.CJ.30
Crystal System: 
Trigonal
Hardness: 
5.0
Streak: 
Green
Type Locality: 
Altyn-Tyube dioptase deposit (Altyn-Tube), Altyn-Tyube area, Kirghiz Steppes (Asiatic Steppes), Karagandy Province (Qaragandy Oblysy; Karaganda Oblast'), Kazakhstan...

Calcite

Polymorph of: 
Formula: 
CaCO3
Strunz: 
5.AB.05
Crystal System: 
Trigonal
Hardness: 
3.0
Streak: 
White

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