Reinerite is a rare arsenite

Arsenite

In chemistry an arsenite is a chemical compound containing an arsenic oxoanion where arsenic has oxidation state +3.The different forms of the anion are the next ones:* ortho-arsenite: AsO33-* meta-arsenite: AsO2-...

 (arsenate(III)) mineral with chemical formula Zn₃(AsO₃)₂. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system

Crystal system

In crystallography, the terms crystal system, crystal family, and lattice system each refer to one of several classes of space groups, lattices, point groups, or crystals...

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Physical properties

Reinerite is most commonly found as a sky blue colored mineral, however, it may also be a light yellowish green color. Reinerite has a relative hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs Scale which is equivalent to that of a knife blade and or shard of glass. It has a density of 4.27 g/cm³, and it exhibits a nonmetalic luster that may be described as glassy or vitreous.

Environment

Reinerite develops in dolostone

Dolostone

Dolostone or dolomite rock is a sedimentary carbonate rock that contains a high percentage of the mineral dolomite. In old U.S.G.S. publications it was referred to as magnesian limestone. Most dolostone formed as a magnesium replacement of limestone or lime mud prior to lithification. It is...

-hosted locations. It is known especially from Namibia

Namibia

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...

, Africa, within the mines of Tsumeb

Tsumeb

Tsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...

. At the Tsumeb location, Reinerite develops within the polymetallic lead-zinc-copper deposit, 800 m below the surface, in the second oxidation zone. It occurs in association with chalcocite

Chalcocite

Chalcocite, copper sulfide , is an important copper ore mineral. It is opaque, being colored dark-gray to black with a metallic luster. It has a hardness of 2½ - 3. It is a sulfide with an orthorhombic crystal system....

, bornite

Bornite

Bornite is a sulfide mineral with chemical composition Cu5FeS4 that crystallizes in the orthorhombic system .-Appearance:Bornite has a brown to copper-red color on fresh surfaces that tarnishes to various iridescent shades of blue to purple in places...

, willemite

Willemite

Willemite is a zinc silicate mineral and a minor ore of zinc. It is highly fluorescent under shortwave ultraviolet light.It occurs in all different colors in daylight, in fibrous masses, solid brown masses , and apple green gemmy masses.It was discovered in 1830 and named after William I of the...

, smithsonite

Smithsonite

Smithsonite, or zinc spar, is zinc carbonate , a mineral ore of zinc. Historically, smithsonite was identified with hemimorphite before it was realised that they were two distinct minerals. The two minerals are very similar in appearance and the term calamine has been used for both, leading to some...

, hydrozincite

Hydrozincite

Hydrozincite, also known as zinc bloom, is a white carbonate mineral consisting of Zn526. It is usually found in massive rather than crystalline form.It occurs as an oxidation product of zinc ores and as post mine incrustations...

, hemimorphite

Hemimorphite

Hemimorphite, is a sorosilicate mineral which has been mined from days of old from the upper parts of zinc and lead ores, chiefly associated with smithsonite. It was often assumed to be the same mineral and both were classed under the same name of calamine...

, adamite

Adamite

Adamite is a zinc arsenate hydroxide mineral, Zn2AsO4OH. It is a mineral that typically occurs in the oxidized or weathered zone above zinc ore occurrences. Pure adamite is colorless, but usually it possess yellow color due to Fe compounds admixture. Tints of green also occur and are connected with...

, olivenite

Olivenite

Olivenite is a copper arsenate mineral, formula Cu2AsO4OH. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system , and is sometimes found in small brilliant crystals of simple prismatic habit terminated by domal faces...

 and gebhardite.

History

Reinerite was first described in 1958 for an occurrence in the Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb

Tsumeb

Tsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...

, Namibia

Namibia

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...

and named for senior chemist Willy Reiner (1895-1965) of Tsumeb Corporation, who analyzed this mineral.