BRACKEBUSCHITE

    Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Hydrated vanadates
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : Pb2(Mn,Fe)(VO4)2(OH)
    Rarity : Very rare

Brackebuschite is a rare vanadate of lead, iron and manganese. It is a secondary mineral of the oxidation zone of hydrothermal lead and zinc deposits, with a dark brown to black color. Its name was given to it in honor of Ludwig Brackebush, professor of mineralogy at the University of Cordoba in Argentina, who was the first to describe this mineral. It occurs in small striated needle-like crystals, sometimes lamellar, of 1.5 mm at most, frequently grouped in tufts, dendrites or botryoidal masses. It is an attendant of descloizite and vanadinite, two other more common vanadates.

Main photo : Brackebuschite from Venus Mine, Cordoba, Argentina © Stephan Wolfsried

Brackebuschite & descloizite from Venus Mine, Cordoba, Argentina © Stephan Wolfsried
Brackebuschite & descloizite from Venus Mine, Cordoba, Argentina © Stephan Wolfsried
Brackebuschite from Cordoba, Argentina © University of Arizona Museum
Brackebuschite from Venus Mine, Cordoba, Argentina © Stephan Wolfsried

Brackebuschite in the World

Brackebuschite is best known in the oxidation zone of lead-zinc vanadium deposits in the Sierra de Cordoba (Argentina). However, it is found in American deposits in Utah (Swisshelm Mountains) and Colorado (Paradox Valley), as well as in the uranium deposit of Mounana (Gabon).

Brackebuschite in France

Brackebuschite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

No known twin for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fake inventories for this mineral species.


Hardness : 4 to 5
Density : 6.05
Fracture : Sub-conchoidal
Trace : Yellow

TP : Translucent to opaque
RI : 2.280 to 2.490
Birefringence : 0.021
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : Visible
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -

Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None