White acicular schaurteite crystals in a nice crystal cluster. Schaurteite is a very rare germanium mineral only known at Tsumeb (Tsumeb Mine, Otavi Highlands, Namibia), which of course is the type locality. It has 3 labels from old collections, see photos, including the D.Cathcart label. Schaureteite was labeled as RR (very rare, single occurrence with more than 10 specimens sknown) in Gebhard Tsumeb book. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Schaurteite
Schaurteite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfate class, with the chemical formula Ca₃Ge(SO₄)₂(OH)₆·3H₂O.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group P6_3/mmc). It is a member of the Fleischerite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 2.65; Silky luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Sht, IMA status: approved, named in 1967.
A rare secondary mineral formed in the oxidized zone of a dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit.
It is found associated with Germanite.
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Werner T. Schaurte (1893–1978), German chemist, Johannesburg, South Africa.