Larsenite

Larsenite is an extremely rare lead and zinc silicate which was first observed at Tsumeb by Keller et al. (1979a). It is a minor component of the well-documented lead silicate paragenesis that includes several other rare minerals, notably alamosite, melanotekite, plumbotsumite and queitite. This paragenesis was rarely encountered and appears to have been restricted to the second oxidation zone, with the best-documented examples originating from 28 Level (Keller 1984) and the East 9 Pillar on 31 Level (Keller and Dunn 1986; Keller and Innes 1986).

Keller and Bartelke (1982) described radiating masses of very fine, dull white larsenite fibres (to 2 mm), with queitite and alamosite.

Larsenite is listed as a component of the type specimen for mathewrogersite which was recovered from the East 9 Pillar on 31 Level (Keller and Dunn 1986).

Gebhard (1999) observed white needles of larsenite (to 1 mm) in willemite and noted that the two minerals are difficult to distinguish.

alamosite; anglesite; cerussite; fleischerite; galena; kegelite; leadhillite; mathewrogersite; melanotekite; mimetite; plumbotsumite; quartz; queitite; schaurteite; sphalerite; tennantite-(Zn); willemite; wulfenite