Zaïrite
A bismuth-iron-aluminium phosphate of the crandallite group, named for Zaïre (Congo).
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Zaïrite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula BiFe³⁺₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group R-3m). It is a member of the Alunite-crandallite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4.5; specific gravity 4.37; Waxy luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Zaï, IMA status: approved, named in 1975.
A rare mineral found in the weathering zone of quartz wolframite deposits.
It is found associated with Bismuth, bismutite, quartz, mica.
The name refers to the country, Zaire (now Congo), where the first specimens were collected.
Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data and a Wikipedia introduction — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet.
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