Descloizite
A variety of Adelite-descloizite Group
What is Descloizite?
Descloizite, named for a 19th century French minerologist, is a rare mineral that often sports a distinctive, glassy appearance. Crystals of descloizite may range in hue from black to brown to deep red (impressively-colored specimens like these are highly sought after). This mineral is occasionally mined for its lead or zinc.
Etymology & Origins
It was discovered in the Sierra de Córdoba deposit in Córdoba, Argentina in 1854 and named in honor of the French mineralogist Alfred Des Cloizeaux (1817–1897).
Uses & Applications
Descloizite is largely composed of lead and zinc, but it is such a rare mineral that it is not a very valuable ore for either element. It is primarily valued as a collectors item, though its close association with other lead-bearing minerals make it a good indicator of lead nearby.
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Key Characteristics
Rock Types of Descloizite
A variety known as cuprodescloizite is dull green in color; it contains a considerable amount of copper replacing zinc and some arsenic replacing vanadium. There is also an arsenate analogue called arsendescloizite.
Formation of Descloizite
It was discovered in the Sierra de Córdoba deposit in Córdoba, Argentina in 1854 and named in honor of the French mineralogist Alfred Des Cloizeaux (1817–1897). It occurs as small prismatic or pyramidal crystals, usually forming drusy crusts and stalactitic aggregates; also as fibrous encrusting masses with a mammillary surface. Descloizite occurs in oxidised portions of veins of lead ores in association with pyromorphite, vanadinite, wulfenite, mottramite, mimetite and cerussite. The Otavi ("O-tarvi") Mountainland of northern Namibia was once considered home to the greatest vanadium deposits in the world, including those at Berg Aukas ("OW-cuss"), Abenab ("UB-en-ub"), Baltika ("BUL-tika") and Uitsab ("ATE-sub"). Descloizite and mottramite were the main ore minerals in each of these deposits, which are now exhausted. Other localities are the Sierra de Cordoba in Argentina; Lake Valley in Sierra County, New Mexico; Arizona; Phoenixville in Pennsylvania and Obir, Carinthia Austria.
Health & Safety Information
- ⚠️Harm Reason: Descloizite dust is toxic because it contains heavy metals Lead, Zinc, Vanadium.
- ⚠️Heavy Metal: Lead, Zinc, Vanadium
- ⚠️How to prevent the risks of Descloizite?
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Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- Brownish red, red-orange, reddish brown to blackish brown, nearly black
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3 - 3.5
- Density
- 6.202 g/cm³
- Streak
- Orange to brownish red
- Luster
- Greasy, Resinous, Waxy, Sub-vitreous
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Formula
- PbZn(VO4)(OH)
- Elements
- H, O, Pb, V, Zn
Also Known As
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