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Leadhillite & Melanotekite

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SKY190797

Leadhillite & Melanotekite

Classic locality
Rare Mineral

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Tsumeb Mine, Otavi Highlands, Namibia
Size Range: 
Small miniature (3-4.5 cm)
Size: 
3 × 2.5 × 1 cm
Description

Leadhillite, a Pb carbonate-sulphate, is a rare mineral at Tsumeb labeled as R in Gebhard Tsumeb II book (rare, several occurrences with a few specimens). What is very interesting in this specimen is the black nice crust formed by individual black spheres covering the main leadhillite crystal in one corner of the specimen. These black crystals are very probably melanotekite (a Pb-Fe silicate) which appears associated to leadhillite. After Gebhard Tsumeb II book (p.254) we know that "extremely rare distintive melanotekite crystals of 1mm were found on leadhillite" which match with this specimen.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Leadhillite

Formula: 
Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2
Strunz: 
5.BF.40
Crystal System: 
Monoclinic
Hardness: 
2.5 - 3.0
Streak: 
White
Type Locality: 
Susanna Mine (Glennery Scar Vein; Susanna Vein [Scar Vein]; Portobello Vein; Humby Vein; Lead Vein), Leadhills, South Lanarkshire, Strathclyde (Lanarkshire), Scotland, UK

Melanotekite

Formula: 
Pb2Fe3+2(Si2O7)O2
Strunz: 
9.BE.80
Hardness: 
6.5
Type Locality: 
Långban, Filipstad, Värmland, Sweden

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