Zincolivenita
Zincolivenita is a mineral with formula ZnCu(AsO₄)(OH), in the Arseniatos group. This specimen comes from Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto, Namibia and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
Specimen showing three species on a single face, an uncommon association. Crystals coat a pseudocircular cavity in silvery sulphide matrix. Gartrellite formed first and appears as a yellow alteration halo at the cavity margin. On it grow very lustrous zincolivenite crystals, deep green with a translucent appearance, together with elongated olive-green olivenite crystals, both intergrown.
History of this specimen
This piece still has Mike Sweeney's adhesive-tape label; he, the previous owner, identified it as cuproadamite, as it was only relatively recently that these Tsumeb pieces were recognised as zincolivenite.
About Zincolivenita
A zinc-copper hydroxy-arsenate, member of the olivenite group. Recognised as a species very recently, and many specimens labelled as adamite from Tsumeb have proved to be zincolivenite.
About the locality
Tsumeb is in a league of its own. It was one of the most complex and celebrated deposits in the world and yielded an exceptionally rich mineralogy. It produced fine specimens of many species, together with a long list of rare minerals and first-rate study material. Its importance arose from an uncommon coincidence: singular geology, aesthetic production of the first order, and real historical weight. For decades it supplied museums, mineralogical research, and the high-end market. It produced more than 300 mineral species, and several were first described there. It closed in 1996 due to economic difficulties. It ranks at the very top in mineral collecting.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0095
- Composition
- ZnCu(AsO₄)(OH)
- Name
- Zincolivenita
- Group
- Arseniatos
- Category
- Cavella
- Matrix
- Galena
- Associations
- gartrellita, olivenita
- Mine
- Tsumeb Mine
- District / Municipality
- Tsumeb
- Province
- Oshikoto
- Country
- Namibia
- Size (cm)
- 9.5 x 7.5 x 5
- Weight
- 437.5 g
- Acquired
- 2025
- Ex-collection
- Mike Sweeney
- Etymology
- From English "zinc" and "olivenite", for a zinc-rich member of the olivenite group.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Adamita — México
- Adamita — México
- Adamita (Cuprífera) — Grecia
- Adamita — México
- Adamita — México