caledonite

TSNB67

Species

Caledonite: Turquoise crystals (to 1 mm; XRD verified) in a vuggy matrix of cerussite and malachite. 34 mm specimen. M. Southwood Collection. MS2010.100.
Caledonite: Turquoise crystals (to 1 mm; XRD verified) in a vuggy matrix of cerussite and malachite. 34 mm specimen. M. Southwood Collection. MS2010.100.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood

Title

caledonite

Composition

Pb5Cu2(CO3)(SO4)3(OH)6

Crystal System

Orthorhombic

Status at Tsumeb

Confirmed

Abundance

Very rare

Distribution

First oxidation zone.

Paragenesis

Supergene.

Type Locality

No

Entry Type

Species TSNB67

General Notes

The distribution of caledonite appears to have been limited to the upper portion of the first oxidation zone. It was first documented by Maucher (1908a) who described a paragenesis in which rare caledonite occurred as a minor component associated with brochantite, linarite, cerussite and malachite.

Bartelke (1976) stated that caledonite at Tsumeb has only been found in association with linarite and that the small, needle-like blue-green crystals commonly enclose a core of cerussite. Keller (1984) repeated this description and added that caledonite can be confused with posnjakite.

Associated Minerals

anglesite; brochantite; cerussite; linarite; malachite