pharmacosiderite

TSNB273
Mineral
Second oxidation zoneSupergene

Mineral Species

pharmacosiderite

Type Locality

No

Composition

KFe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4·6-7H2O

Crystal System

Cubic

Status at Tsumeb

Believed valid

Abundance

Extremely rare

Distribution

Second oxidation zone

Paragenesis

Supergene

Entry Number

Species; TSNB273

General Notes

The earliest published record of pharmacosiderite at Tsumeb is that of Geier et al. (1971) who recognised the mineral as a very minor component of the type assemblage for tsumcorite. In a "cavernous" part of the ore body at E49 on 30 Level a complex paragenesis was observed including anglesite, beudantite, carminite, arseniosiderite, beaverite, scorodite, pharmacosiderite and tsumcorite.


Bartelke (1976; citing unpublished TCL reports and a 1976 pers. comm. from Walter Kahn) noted that small, translucent, admantine, yellow to olive-green crystals of pharmacosiderite were found on 30 Level, information repeated by Pinch and Wilson (1977), Keller (1984) and Gebhard (1999).


Keller and Innes (1986) recorded an occurrence of pharmacosiderite from the West 40 Stope on 32 Level where they also found paradamite, betpakdalite, pharmacosiderite and ojuelaite.