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Arsenate

Wilhelmkleinite

ZnFe³⁺₂(AsO₄)₂(OH)₂
Hardness4.5
Crystal systemMonoclinic
ClassArsenate
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Wilhelmkleinite specimen

Wilhelmkleinite is an extremely rare mineral from Tsumeb (Tsumeb Mine, Otavi Highlands, Namibia), only known from this mine worldwide and labeled as RRR in G.Gebhard Tsumeb II book (1999) (single specimen!). The mine was closed in 1996, so new discoveries will not take place in the future. The mineral is an Zn-Fe arsenate and occurs as a very small olive green single crystal. Analyzed by S.Mockel. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0

Wilhelmkleinite

Wilhelmkleinite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the arsenate class, with the chemical formula ZnFe³⁺₂(AsO₄)₂(OH)₂.

It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/n).

Key properties: Mohs hardness 4.5; specific gravity 4.364; Green streak; Dull, adamantine on fractures luster; optically biaxial.

IMA symbol Wkl, IMA status: approved, named in 1997.

Very rare from a deep oxidation zone in a dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit.

It is found associated with Scorodite, gerdtremmelite, adamite.

The mineral was named to honor Wilhelm Klein (1889–1939), Manager of the Otavi Mining and Railroad Company mines in Namibia (1916–1939), an early collector of Tsumeb minerals.

Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet. Browse more W minerals or help write this entry.