Thénardite

Thénardite was reported from Tsumeb by Joy Désor in October 2023 in association with abellaite and tsumgallite on a chalcocite and germanite-rich sulphide matrix (https://www.mindat.org/photo-1327205.html; accessed November 2023). Désor provided EDS and Raman spectra for abellaite but no supporting analytical data for thenardite.

Thénardite is highly soluble in water; it occurs in evaporite deposits and, less commonly, as a sublimate from volcanic gasses. Its occurrence at Tsumeb is somewhat surprising and questionable status is retained pending the availability of confirmatory analytical data. Conceivably, it might be of post-mining origin.

abellaite (?); chalcocite (?); germanite (?); tsumgallite (?)