Zharchikhite
A colorless aluminium hydroxyl-fluoride discovered in 1968 at Buryatia's Zharchikhinskoye deposit.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Zharchikhite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the halide class, with the chemical formula Al(OH)₂F.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/a).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4.5; specific gravity 2.81; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Zha, IMA status: approved, named in 1986.
Found in cavities in hydrothermally mineralized fault breccia in trachyte in a stockwork molybdenum deposit.
It is found associated with Prosopite, ralstonite, gearksutite, barite, siderite.
The name refers to its occurrence in the Zharchikha deposit, Russia (the name simplified in transliteration).