JH19049 Hydrozincite on Tarbuttite in Vug, Skorpion Mine, Namibia

Description

Up for bid is an unusual Tarbuttite filled Vug from the Skorpion mine in Namibia. The Tarbuttite has mostly altered to nonfluorescent Fluorapatite. Unaltered Tarbuttite fluoresce Orange LW, and as you can see in the Longwave picture, most of the Orange fluorescence has disappeared. However the Tarbuttite has picked up a nice daylight seafoam-green color in the alteration process.
The fan shaped Tarbuttite crystals are covered with a daylight white mineral that I am guessing is Hydrozincite. It fluoresce Grey-White under both SW and LW UV light. Finally there are a few Hemimorphite crystals that fluoresce White unde SW UV light. First picture is under SW UV, Second picture is under LW UV and third picture is under White Light.
The Skorpion Mine is the 8th largest Zinc mine in the world and is unique in several ways. It is one of the few Zinc deposits that is composed almost exclusively of Zinc Silicates like Sauconite (Formula: Na0.3Zn3(SiAl)4O10(OH)2·4H2O) and Hemimorphite (Formula: Zn4(Si2O7)(OH)2·H2O) and Zinc Carbonates like Smithsonite (Formula: ZnCO3) and Hydrozincite (Formula: Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6). Most other Zinc deposits contain Zinc Sulfides like Sphalerite (Formula: (Zn, Fe)S).
The Skoprion mine is also the only zinc processing facility to use solvent extraction-electrowinning metallurgy to process and refine its zinc products (others use conventional smelting and roasting). The combination of Zinc Silicate and Zinc Carbonate ores and the extraction-electrowinning process allow Skorpion to sell a Special High Grade (SHG), ultra-pure zinc product, which is so low in impurities that it commands a premium price.
Description: Hydrozincite (FL Grey White SW, MW, LW), Tarbuttite (Daylight Green, NF), Small crystals of Hemimorphite (FL White after Long Charging Time)
Location: Skorpion Mine, Rosh Pinah, Luderitz District, Karas Region, Namibia
Size: 2.9" x 2.7" x 1.8"
Weight: 8.4 oz
Contact me if you have any questions. Be sure to check out my eBay store:
Jim's Obscure Stuff
for more fluorescent minerals and other unusual items.
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