Scholzite Locality: Reaphook Hill, Martins Well, South Flinders Ranges, Flinders Ranges , South Australia , Australia ( Locality at mindat.org ) Size: 9.7 x 6.6 x 3.2 cm. Scholzite is a very rare hydrated calcium zinc phosphate and the well-known Reaphook Hill locality in Australia has probably produced the world’s finest specimens of this rare species. The sturdy gossan matrix is totally covered with lustrous, acicular crystals in a striking jackstraw pattern. This outstanding piece is probably from the 1960s finds. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Scholzite
Scholzite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula CaZn₂(PO₄)₂·2H₂O.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pbcn).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3–4; specific gravity 3.11–3.13; White streak; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Slz, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1948.
May be a primary mineral, but more commonly a secondary mineral in Zn phosphate-bearing granite pegmatites and sediments.
It is found associated with Parascholzite, sphalerite, triplite (Hagendorf, Germany); parahopeite, collinsite (Reaphook Hill, Australia); tarbuttite (Kabwe, Zambia).
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Adolph Scholz (1894–1950), chemist and mineral collector, Regensburg, Germany.