Outstanding dark green crystals of the very rare mineral paratacamite-(Ni) (IMA 2013-013) from the type and only known locality worldwide: Carr Boyd Ni Mine, Goongarrie, Western Australia, Australia. Associated minerals are the also rare nickel minerals hydrohonessite (yellow crystalline crust) and glaukosphaerite (green globules). Three very rare and aesthetic nickel minerals in a single specimen ! — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Paratacamite
A green copper-zinc hydroxychloride polymorphous with atacamite — a common coating on corroding bronze artifacts and oxidized copper ores.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Paratacamite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the halide class, with the chemical formula Cu₃(Cu,Zn)Cl₂(OH)₆.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group R-3). It is a member of the Atacamite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3; specific gravity 3.72–3.74; Green streak; Vitreous luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Pata, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1906.
An oxidation product of other copper minerals, especially under arid, saline conditions; in fumarolic deposits; a weathering product of sulfides in subsea black smoker deposits.
It is found associated with Clinoatacamite, caracolite, schwartzembergite, osarizawaite-beaverite, boleite (Sierra Gorda district, Chile).
Its name comes from the Greek for near, and for its relation to atacamite.