Mineral Database

Mineral Database
Mineralogy of Wales

Ramsbeckite

Crystal System: Monoclinic
Formula: (Cu,Zn)15(SO4)4(OH)12·6H2O
Status of Occurrence: Confirmed Occurrence - 1st UK recording
Distribution: Rare
Chemical Composition: Basic hydrated copper zinc sulphate
Method(s) of Verification: Penrhiw Mine - XRD (National Museum of Wales, NMW X-795); Brynyrarian Mine - XRD (NHM, London); Dylife Mine - XRD (NHM, London).

Ramsbeckite crystals (1.5 mm), from Penrhiw Mine showing characteristic shape. J.S. Mason Collection (JMPR501). © National Museum of Wales, photo D.I. Green.

Bottle-green ramsbeckite microcrystals associated with pearly, pale blue, schulenbergite from Penrhiw Mine in the Central Wales Orefield. Specimen and photo S.A. Rust. © S.A. Rust.

A deep green, somewhat cylindrical, ramsbeckite crystal with linarite and schulenbergite from Dylife Mine. Specimen and photo S.A. Rust. © S.A. Rust.

Chemical Group:
  • Sulphates
Geological Context:
  • Supergene : post-mining oxidation & weathering deposits
Introduction: ramsbeckite occurs in mine tips where sulphide-rich spoil has undergone weathering, and is also known from weathered metalliferous slags. It is invariably associated with other rare Cu-Zn bearing supergene species such as schulenbergite, namuwite and serpierite. The association most frequently occurs within voids in corroded vein carbonates adjacent to part-weathered sulphides. The visual identification of ramsbeckite is assisted by its crystal morphology (diamond-shaped crystals) and colour (a distinctive, lustrous bottle-green).
Occurrence in Wales: only first described as a mineral in 1987, ramsbeckite is one of a considerable number of microcrystalline supergene minerals restricted in their occurrence to the post-mining mineralization environment. The first UK occurrences of ramsbeckite date from the period 1985-1990 (Rust, 1992); however the finds at Penrhiw Mine between 1992 and 1995 set a new standard for the species (Mason & Green, 1995). Since then further minor UK occurrences have been discovered, most of which have been in Central Wales.
Key Localities:
  • Brynyrarian Mine, Tre-Taliesin, Ceredigion: rare poorly-crystallized masses and scattered microcrystals (Rust, 1992).
  • Dylife Mine, Penegoes, Powys: bright green pseudo-orthorhombic crystals and elongate rod-like prisms (Rust, 1992).
  • Eaglebrook (Nantycagl) Mine, Ceulanymaesmawr, Ceredigion: emerald green crystals (up to 0.5 mm) associated with linarite and hemimorphite (S.A. Rust collection).
  • Frongoch Mine, Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion: emerald-green pseudo-orthorhombic crystals up to 0.7 mm (Green et al., 1996).
  • Llangynog Mine, Llangynog, Powys: crystals up to 0.5 mm in size (S.A. Rust collection).
  • Penrhiw Mine, Ystumtuen, Ceredigion: extensive crystalline crusts with crystals up to 3 mm in size, associated with well-crystallized schulenbergite, which it post-dates. It occurs both on weathered sulphide-rich veinstone and within voids in weathered dolomitic carbonate veinlets in mudstone, the latter producing the best specimens (Mason & Green, 1995).
  • Ystrad Einion Mine, Furnace, Ceredigion: minute emerald-green blocky crystals on schulenbergite; extremely rare (Mason & Rust, 1997).
References:
  • Green, D.I., Rust, S.A. & Mason, J.S., 1996 Classic British mineral localities: Frongoch Mine, Dyfed.  UK Journal of Mines & Minerals, 17, 29-38.
  • Mason, J.S. & Green, D.I., 1995 Supergene minerals including exceptional ramsbeckite from Penrhiw Mine, Ystumtuen, Dyfed.  UK Journal of Mines & Minerals, 15, 21-27.
  • Mason, J.S. & Rust, S.A., 1997 The Mineralogy of Ystrad Einion Mine, Dyfed, Wales.  U.K. Journal of Mines and Minerals, 18, 33-36.
  • Rust, S.A., 1992 Ramsbeckite, the first three British occurrences.  U.K. Journal of Mines and Minerals, No. 11, 24-25.