A metallic nugget of the extremely rare mineral kempite in an analyzed specimen by SEM/EDS by the former owner of the specimen (The Vandenbrouke Museum). From: Oktyabrsky Mine, Talnakh, Noril'sk, Putoran Plateau, Taimyr Peninsula, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russian Federation. The sample is included in the epoxy resin used for the analysis. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. No duplicates available. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kempite
Kempite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the halide class, with the chemical formula Mn²⁺₂Cl(OH)₃.
It is a member of the Atacamite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3.5; specific gravity 2.94; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Kp, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1924.
Found in an erratic boulder with other manganese-bearing species.
It is found associated with Pyrochroite, hausmannite, rhodochrosite, tephroite, “psilomelane”.
The mineral was named to honor economic geologist James Furman Kemp (1859–1926), Professor of Geology, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA.