Brown patches of scrutinyite from the famous Blanchard claims in New Mexico (Sunshine #1 Adit, Blanchard Mine, Bingham, Socorro County, New Mexico, United States of America). Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY 4.0
Scrutinyite
The α-form of lead dioxide — a rare mineral named for the scrutiny required to identify it.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Scrutinyite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula PbO₂.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pbcn). It is a member of the Columbite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 9.867; Dark brown streak; Submetallic luster.
IMA symbol Sny, IMA status: approved, named in 1984.
Found in the oxidized zone of hydrothermal lead-bearing ore deposits.
It is found associated with Murdochite, plattnerite, fluorite, quartz (Sunshine #1 mine, New Mexico, USA); plattnerite, rosasite, “limonite” (Mapimı́, Mexico).
The name comes from scrutiny, in allusion to the close examination necessary to recognize and characterize the species.