Outstanding blue zdenĕkite crystals from the type locality: Cap Garonne Mine, Le Pradet, Var, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Zdenĕkite
Zdenĕkite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the arsenate class, with the chemical formula NaPbCu₅(AsO₄)₄Cl·5H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/n).
Key properties: specific gravity 4.1; Pale blue streak; Vitreous luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Zde, IMA status: approved, named in 1992.
A rare post-mining mineral formed in the oxidized zone of a red-bed sandstone Pb–Cu deposit (Cap Garonne mine, France).
It is found associated with Olivenite, geminite, antlerite, anglesite, covellite, tennantite, galena (Cap Garonne mine, France); mimetite, beudantite–segnitite (Broken Hill, Australia).
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Zdenek Johan (1935–), mineralogist and Director of Scientific Affairs, Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, Orlèans, France.