Outstanding pink crystals of the very rare neodymium mineral gysinite-(Nd) from the TL in Kasompi (Kasompi Mine, Kolwezi, Lualaba, DR Congo), and only one of four localities known worldwide. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Gysinite-(Nd)
Gysinite-(Nd) is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the carbonate class, with the chemical formula PbNd(CO₃)₂(OH)·H₂O.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pnma). It is a member of the Ancylite structural group.
Key properties: White to pale pink streak; Vitreous to greasy luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Gys-Nd, IMA status: approved, named in 1981.
A rare secondary mineral found in the oxidized portions of rare-earth-bearing lead deposits, the rare-earths perhaps supplied from altered uraninite.
It is found associated with Schuilingite-(Nd), malachite, cerussite, wulfenite, kasolite, gold, bornite, garnet, “talc-chlorite” (Shinkolobwe, Congo); chrysocolla, agardite-(Y).
The mineral was named to honor Marcel Gysin (1891–1974), Professor of Mineralogy, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.