Philipsburgite Locality: Black Pine Mine (Combination Mine; Black Pine Tailings; Black Pine Dump), Flint Creek Valley, John Long Mts, Philipsburg District (Flint Creek District), Granite County , Montana , USA ( Locality at mindat.org ) Size: 2.2 x 1.7 x 1.6 cm. A rich coating of lustrous apple-green crystals on a gemmy Quartz crystal. The Philipsburgite crystals are classic for the type locality - gemmy, rounded to about .5 mm in size, lustrous, and an attractive medium green. On one area they are spread out so they can be appreciated individually, on another part of the specimen they form a dense coating. Ex. Charlie Key. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Philipsburgite
Philipsburgite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula Cu₅Zn(AsO₄)(PO₄)(OH)₆·H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/c). It is a member of the Philipsburgite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3–4; specific gravity 4.07; Pale green streak; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Pbu, IMA status: approved, named in 1984.
A rare secondary mineral found in the oxidized zone of hydrothermal base-metal deposits.
It is found associated with Bayldonite, chrysocolla, mimetite, quartz (Black Pine mine, Montana, USA); cornwallite, bayldonite, mimetite, malachite (Potts Gill mine, England).
The name refers to the town of Philipsburg, Montana, USA, near which the mineral was first found.