Multitude of outstanding yellow orange sharp crystals of the very rare Pb-Fe vanadate mineral heyite known from a few localities worldwide. From: Hohenstein, Reichenbach, Odenwald, Hesse, Germany. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Heyite
Heyite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the vanadate class, with the chemical formula Pb₅Fe²⁺₂O₄(VO₄)₂.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/m). It is a member of the Brackebuschite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4; specific gravity 6.3; Amber-yellow streak; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Hyt, IMA status: approved, named in 1971.
A very rare secondary mineral found in the oxidized portions of a polymetallic sulfide deposit (Betty Jo claim, Nevada, USA); along a fault through a stockwork disseminated gold deposit (Gold Quarry mine, Nevada, USA).
It is found associated with Tungstenian wulfenite, pyromorphite, mimetite, cerussite, shattuckite, chrysocolla, quartz (Betty Jo claim, Nevada, USA).
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Max Hutchinson Hey (1904–1984), eminent British mineralogist and chemist, British Museum (Natural History), London, England.