Warikahnite

A variety of Minerals

Warikahnite specimen - rock identification

What is Warikahnite?

Warikahnite is a rare zinc arsenate mineral of the triclinic crystal system with Hermann- Mauguin notation 1, belonging to the space group P1. It occurs in the Tsumeb mine in Namibia on corroded tennantite in the second oxidation zone under hydrothermal conditions in a dolomite-hosted polymetallic ore deposit. It is associated with adamite, stranskiite, koritnigite, claudetite, tsumcorite, and ludlockite. The origin of discovery was in a dolosmite ore formation within an oxidized hydrothermal zone, in the E9 pillar, 31st level of the Tsumeb Mine in Namibia, Southwest Africa. It has also been found at Lavrion, Greece and Plaka, Greece as microscopic white needles.

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North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

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Key Characteristics

Characteristics of Warikahnite

Warikahnite has perfect cleavage on the c-axis {001}; and good cleavage on both the a- and b-axes ({100} and {010}). It has bladed subhedral crystals up to 3 x .5 x .5 mm, elongated on {100} and flattened on {010}, with a hardness of approximately 2 as presented in table two. Its specific gravity is 4.24 and it exhibits a colorless to pale yellow hue, along with a white streak and vitreous luster. This triclinic 1 specimen classified under the space group P1 features striated crystals up to two centimetres in radial to subparallel aggregates. The Handbook of Mineralogy further states the cell dimensions of biaxial Warikahnite to be calculated as a = 6.710(1) Å, b = 8.989(2) Å, and c = 14.533(2) Å, with unit cell volume as 788.58 Å.

More Images

Warikahnite specimen 2
© Robert M. Lavinsky

Quick Facts

Physical Properties

Color
Colourless to light yellow
Density
4.29 g/cm³

Chemical Properties

Chemical Formula
Zn3(AsO4)2 · 2H2O
Elements
As, H, O, Zn
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