Fleischerite is a type of mineral. Named after Michael Fleischer, a co-founder of the International Mineralogical Association.[1] Recognized in 1960. Has its own group made of itself, schaurteite, despujolsite, mallestigite, and genplesite.[2] It is often confused with dundasite.

Fleischerite
General
CategorySulfate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Pb3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O
IMA symbolfsh
Strunz classification7.DF.25
Dana classification31.07.06.03 (hydrated silicates containing hydroxyl or halogen)
Crystal systemHexagonal
Identification
ColorWhite, light reddish-pink
Crystal habitAccicular
Tenacitybrittle
Mohs scale hardness2.5-3
LusterSub-vitreous, silky
StreakWhite
Density4.3
Birefringence0.029
PleochroismNon-pleochroic

Occurrence

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Fleischerite is found only in Tsumeb (Ongopolo) Mine, Namibia. It forms in oxidized portions of a dolostone-hosted hydrothermal germanium-bearing polymetallic ore deposits.[3] The oldest samples are estimated to be 541 million years old.[4]

Appearance

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Very thin, up to 1.5 cm in length crystals with a tender reddish hue that form sheets of subparallel individuals or hedgehog-like aggregates.[5]

Paragenesis with other minerals

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  1. When fleischerite, cerussite, and mimetite cover a tennantite matrix, they create a rounded, matte white concretion.
  2. When a dolostone core is covered with plumbojarosite and mimetite, which give it a greenish hue, fleischerite grows on top of them all.
  3. Rarely, fleischerite enters paragenesis with alamosite, anglesite, hematite, leadhillite, melanotekite, mimetite, kegelite, larsenite, plumbojarosite, plumbotsumite and queitite.
  4. Fleischerite also may have paragenesis with other secondary germanium minerals.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Fleischerite". mindat.org. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  2. ^ "The Fleischerite Group of Minerals | Fred Haynes". 2016-12-14. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  3. ^ "Fleischerite Mineral Data". webmineral.com. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  4. ^ "Dynamic Earth Collection - About". dynamicearthcollection.com. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  5. ^ a b "fleischerite". mingen.hk. Retrieved 2024-12-05.