Reinerite

(repeating unit)Zn3(AsO3)2IMA symbolRnr[1]Strunz classification4.JA.10Crystal systemOrthorhombicCrystal classDipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)Space groupPbam (no. 55)Unit cella = 6.092 Å, b = 14.407 Å
c = 7.811 Å; Z = 4
V = 685.55
a:b:c = 0.423 : 1 : 0.542IdentificationColorSky blue, yellow greenCrystal habitRough striated pseudohexagonal crystalsCleavageGood on {110}, {011} and {111}Mohs scale hardness5 - 5.5LusterVitreous to adamantineDiaphaneityTransparentSpecific gravity4.27Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)Refractive indexnα = 1.740 nβ = 1.790 nγ = 1.820BirefringenceMaximum δ = 0.080Other characteristicsRelief: very highReferences[2][3][4][5]

Reinerite is a rare arsenite (arsenate(III)) mineral with chemical formula Zn3(AsO3)2.[3][4] It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system.

Physical properties

Reinerite is most commonly found as a sky blue colored mineral, however, it may also be a light yellowish green color. Reinerite has a relative hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs Scale which is equivalent to that of a knife blade and or shard of glass. It has a density of 4.27 g/cm3,[2] and it exhibits a nonmetallic luster that may be described as glassy or vitreous.[6]

Environment

Reinerite develops in dolomite-hosted locations. It is known especially from Namibia, Africa, within the mines of Tsumeb. At the Tsumeb location, Reinerite develops within the polymetallic lead-zinc-copper deposit, 800 m (2,600 ft) below the surface, in the second oxidation zone.[5] It occurs in association with chalcocite, bornite, willemite, smithsonite, hydrozincite, hemimorphite, adamite, olivenite and gebhardite.[3]

History

Reinerite was first described in 1958 for an occurrence in the Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Namibia and named for senior chemist Willy Reiner (1895–1965) of Tsumeb Corporation, who analyzed this mineral.[2][4]

References

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ a b c Webmineral data
  3. ^ a b c Handbook of Mineralogy
  4. ^ a b c Mindat.org
  5. ^ a b American Mineralogist
  6. ^ Lutgens, Frederick, and Edward Tarbuck. Essentials of Geology. 10th. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. 42. Print.