Mineral Database

Mineral Database
Mineralogy of Wales

Zincolivenite

Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Formula: CuZn(AsO4)(OH)
Status of Occurrence: Confirmed Occurrence
Distribution: Rare
Chemical Composition: Copper zinc arsenate hydroxide
Method(s) of Verification: Dolyhir Quarry - XRD and EPMA at Manchester Museum.

Zincolivenite forming an extensive area of sparkling green microcrystals associated with minor azurite. Sample from Dolyhir Quarry. Photo D.I. Green, © D.I. Green.

Zincolivenite forming apple-green microcrystalline crusts on calcite and azurite. Sample from Dolyhir Quarry. Photo D.I. Green, © D.I. Green.

Chemical Group:
  • Arsenates
Geological Context:
  • Supergene : in situ natural oxidation & weathering deposits
Introduction: an uncommon secondary mineral typically found only as microcrystals or microcrystalline crusts in the oxidized section of arsenide and sulpharsenide-bearing mineral deposits, particularly where tennantite is a primary mineral.
Occurrence in Wales: this newly described species (Chukanov et al., 2007) is identical to cuprian adamite discovered at Dolyhir Quarry in 1995.
Key Localities:
  • Dolyhir Quarry, Old Radnor, Powys: rich specimens were collected from fractures surrounding the ‘main’ sulphide vein within the Dolyhir Limestone Formation. It typically forms sparkling, apple green, drusy to botryoidal crusts to 50 x 15 mm in area, composed of crystals not exceeding 0.2 mm across, on calcite and azurite and with tyrolite in association.
References:
  • Bevins, R.E. & Mason, J.S., 1997 Welsh metallophyte and metallogenic evaluation project: Results of a minesite survey of Dyfed and Powys.  CCW Contract Science Report No. 156. National Museums & Galleries of Wales.
  • Chukanov, N.V., Pushcharovsky, D.Yu., Zubkova, N.V., Pekov, I.V., Pasero, M., Merlino, S., Möckel, S., Rabadanov, M.Kh., Belakovskiy, D.I., 2007 Zincolivenite CuZn(AsO4)(OH): A New Adamite-Group Mineral with Ordered Distribution of Cu and Zn.  Doklady Earth Sciences, Vol. 415A, No. 6, 841-845.