Reinerite , Legrandite , Adamite Field of view: 3.5 mm Locality: Tsumeb Mine (Ongopolo Mine), Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia Description: Got this piece as 'anglesite' - nope! It stems from the famous zinc-pocket on 44-level and bears gemmy pale-greenish to -yellowish reinerite (such as the xl in the center), intense orange legrandite (everywhere, but especially in the left corner below) and white(ish) adamite (in the right half of the picture). No further analysis done, as this assemblage is iconic. Wrong labels can be great, as long as the locality is correct! — Photo: Franz Neuhold (formerly Breier) · Public domain
Reinerite
A rare zinc arsenite (As³⁺) crystallizing in the orthorhombic system.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Reinerite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the arsenate class, with the chemical formula Zn₃(AsO₃)₂.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pbam).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 5–5.5; specific gravity 4.27; Vitreous to adamantine on fracture surfaces luster; refractive index 1.783; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Rnr, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1958.
Extremely rare in a deep oxidation zone in a dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit.
It is found associated with Chalcocite, bornite, willemite, smithsonite, hydrozincite, hemimorphite, adamite, olivenite, gebhardite.
The mineral was named to honor Willy Reiner (1895–1965), Senior Chemist, Tsumeb Corporation, Tsumeb, Namibia, who analyzed this material.