ZINCOLIVENITE CuZn(AsO4)(OH): A NEW ADAMITE-GROUP MINERAL WITH ORDERED DISTRIBUTION OF Cu AND Zn

Abstract

A new mineral, zincolivenite CuZn(AsO4)(OH), the cation-ordered analogue of olivenite Cu2(AsO4)(OH) and adamite Zn2(AsO4)(OH), was found in samples from the Lavrion deposit, Attika Prefecture, Greece. The new mineral species and its name were approved by the Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names of the Russian Mineralogical Society and accepted by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature, and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association on January 31, 2007. The development of the Lavrion deposit commenced with the mining of lead and silver approximately 5000 years ago. Zincolivenite was identified in samples taken recently from the large dump accumulated in Kamariza mining area (hereafter, Kamariza dump) in the years 1864–1977 owing to resumption of mining in attic adits and processing of old wastes. Together with other wastes, barren rocks from the interconnected Hilarion, Serpieri, and Christiana mines were piled in the large Kamariza dump.