Mineralpedia Details for Hemimorphite
Hemimorphite
Named in reference to the mineral’s hemimorphic morphology as having different crystalline forms at the end of each of its crystallographic axes. Hemimorphite is relatively common and forms as a secondary mineral in oxidized zinc-rich mineral deposits. Localities for good material are in Romania, Slovakia, England, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Iran, the United States, and Mexico, and there are many other additional localities. Hemimorphite is strongly pyroelectric, generates a charge in response to heat, and can also fluoresce a blue color under short-wave ultraviolet light.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/hemimorphite.pdf
- Formula
- Zn4Si2O7(OH)2·H2O
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal Habit
- Massive, Stalactitic, Mammillary
- Cleavage
- Perfect, None, None
- Luster
- Vitreous (Glassy)
- Color
- brown, colorless, greenish gray, yellow brown, white
- Streak
- white
- Class
- Orthorhombic - Pyramidal
- Fracture
- Conchoidal
- Hardness
- 5
- WebMineral
- View Hemimorphite
- Mindat
- View Hemimorphite
Hemimorphite from Wenshan mine, Yunnan Province, China
Large botryoids to about 5-6mm covering 95% of the face. A vibrant blue color with a flat luster.
Hemimorphite from Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
Clear to white, bladed and divergent crystals to 3mm on lime green Conichalcite and 1cm waterclear and bladed crystals to 1cm with yellow Mimetite.
Hemimorphite from Bunker Hill mine, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States
Clear to white, bladed crystals to 4mm in radial aggregates to 8mm.
Hemimorphite from San Rafael mine, Nye Co., Nevada, United States
A 4cm cavity filled with radial sprays of Hemimorphite crystals to 3mm.
Hemimorphite from Friedensville mine, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania, United States
Spherical aggregates to 8mm of white to dirty light brown Hemimorphite.
Hemimorphite from 79 mine, Gila Co., Arizona, United States
Large blue botryoidal Hemimorphite with botryoids to 1.5cm across.
Hemimorphite from Elkhorn mine, Jefferson Co., Montana, United States
Light bluish balls composed of bladed Hemimorphite.
Hemimorphite from Mindouli, Mindouli dist., Pool Dept., Republic of the Congo
Crystal rounded aggregates of platey colorless to aqua-blue Hemimorphite crystals. The groups approximate 8mm maximun.
