Hemimorphite

Hemimorphite is a sorosilicate mineral that is used as an ore of Zinc – however, it is also popular with mineral collectors.

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Appearance

Hemimorphite occurs in a fair range of shapes and forms. It is commonly found in Zinc and Lead mines.

Uses and History

Hemimorphite is used as an ore of Zinc – however, it is also popular with mineral collectors. It is rarely faceted for collectors, these stones are not suitable for jewellery making really.

Until the late 1800s, both Hemimorphite and Smithsonite were considered the same mineral, and referred to as ‘calamine’.

Hemimorphite occurs in a fair range of shapes and forms. It is commonly found in Zinc and Lead mines.

Mineralogy

Chemistry
A sorosilicate mineral with the chemical formula Zn4Si2O7(OH)2·H2O.
Colours and VariationsWhite, grey, blue, pale green, brown, colourless
Streak
White
Luster
Vitreous, pearly, adamantine
Fracture
Uneven, sub-conchoidal
Transparency
Transparent, translucent, opaque
Crystal system
Orthorhombic
Crystal habit
Thin tabular crystals, fan-like, stalactitic, botryoidal, massive, sometimes forms as a crust or aggregate.
Mohs hardness
4.5-5
Specific Gravity
3.45 – 3.55
Easiest testing method
Common associations
Smithsonite, sphalerite, galena

Hazards and Warnings

Contains Zinc, which could be an ingestion risk if powdered.

Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis. When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.

Locales

Hemimorphite occurs around the world, so I have chosen some locations I find product excellent specimens, or locales that produce huge quantities of material that are on the mineral specimens market.

Africa

  • MFouati Mine, Bouenza Department, Republic of Congo

Antarctica

Asia

  • Wenshan Mine, Wenshan City, Wenshan, Yunnan, China

Australasia/Oceania

Europe

  • Băiţa mining district, Nucet, Bihor County, Romania
  • Leadhills, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK

North America

  • 79 Mine, Chilito, Hayden area, Banner Mining District, Gila County, Arizona, USA

South America

  • Cerro Challacollo, Pozo Almonte, Tarapacá, Chile
  • Mina Ojuela, Level 6, Municipio de Mapimi Durango, Mexico

 

Translations

Arabic:

  • الهيمامورفيت

Hindi:

  • हेमिमोर्फ़ाइट

Portuguese:

  • hemimorfita

Bengali:

Indonesian:

Punjabi:

English:

Italian:

  • emimorfite

Russian:

  • гемиморфит

French:

Japanese:

  • 異極鉱

Spanish:

  • hemimorfita

German:

Korean:

  • 반모형

Thai:

  • เฮมิมอร์ไฟต์

Gujurati:

Mandarin Chinese:

  • 异极矿

Urdu:

Further Reading / External Links