Mineralpedia Details for Descloizite
Descloizite
Named after Alfred Lewis Oliver Legrand Des Cloizeaux (1817-1897), a Professor of Mineralogy at the University of Paris in France who was the first to describe the mineral. Occurs widespread in the oxidation zone of hydrothermal ore deposits rich in lead and zinc. Crystals often as flaming orange red drusy crusts and micro thin platy crystals. Can occur in beautiful dark chocolate plumose aggregates with dipyramidal crystals in the centimeter range.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at
http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/descloizite.pdf
- Formula
- PbZnVO4(OH)
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal Habit
- Plumose, Tabular, Encrustations
- Cleavage
- None, None, None
- Luster
- Greasy (Oily)
- Color
- dark brownish black, dark reddish brown, orange red, reddish brown, black
- Streak
- light brownish green
- Class
- Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
- Fracture
- Brittle
- Hardness
- 3.5
- WebMineral
- View Descloizite
- Mindat
- View Descloizite
Descloizite from Grey Horse mine, Pinal Co., Arizona, United States
Root beer colored micro crystals to 0.75mm.
Descloizite from C&B mine, Gila Co., Arizona, United States
Micro platy rosettes of Descloizite crystals to 0.5mm.
Descloizite from Richmond Sitting Bull mine, Galena, Lawrence Co., South Dakota, United States
Beautiful rosettes of this tabular Descloizite cystals to 1mm.
Descloizite from Commercial Cramer mine, Grant Co., New Mexico, United States
Bright orange rosettes of descloizite to less than 0.7mm.
Descloizite from San Carlos dist., Chihuahua, Mexico
Burnt orange, glassy, rosette-like crystals to 1.5mm.
