Hydrozincite
Mineral Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6
Also called Zinc bloom
About it
Chalky white crusts and masses on weathered zinc ores that glow bright blue-white under shortwave UV. A secondary zinc mineral, common at Sterling Hill, New Jersey, and in old zinc mines everywhere.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Carbonate (with hydroxide)
- Formula
- Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 2–2.5
- Specific gravity
- 3.2–4
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- silky, pearly, dull
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- white, grey, pale yellow, pale pink
- Transparency
- translucent, opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect in one direction
- Under UV light
- bright blue-white under shortwave UV
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.