SCHNEIDERHÖHNITE

    Class : Oxides and hydroxides
    Subclass : Arsenites
    Crystal system : Triclinic
    Chemistry : Fe4As5O13
    Rarity : Very rare

Schneiderhöhnite is one of the rare representatives of the mineralogical subclass of arsenites. It is a very rare secondary mineral, present in the oxidation zone of various hydrothermal deposits. It was named in honor of Hans Schneiderhöhn, Professor of Mineralogy at the University of Freiberg (Germany). Schneiderhöhnite forms aggregates of millimeter-sized curved lamellar crystals, dark brown to almost black in color.

Main photo : Schneiderhöhnite from Tsumeb, Namibia © Neal Luppescu

Schneiderhöhnite from Oumlil Mine, Morocco © Elmar Lackner
Schneiderhöhnite from Urucum claim, Minas Gerais, Brazil © Stephan Wolfsried
Schneiderhöhnite from Urucum claim, Minas Gerais, Brazil © Christophe Boutry
Schneiderhöhnite from Tsumeb, Namibia © Giancarlo Lombardi

Schneiderhöhnite in the World

The best samples of schneiderhöhnite are crystals that reach 2 cm and that were discovered in the polymetallic hydrothermal deposit of Tsumeb (Namibia). Schneiderhöhnite is also known in the nickel deposit of Bou-Azzer (Morocco), and in the pegmatites of Tip Top (South Dakota), Belaj-Gora (Kazakhstan), and Corrego do Urucum, near Galiléia (Minas Gerais, Brazil).

Schneiderhöhnite in France

Schneiderhöhnite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

Twinning is common.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes listed for this mineral species.


Hardness : 3
Density : 4.3
Fracture : Micaceous
Streak : Brown

TP : Translucent
RI : 2.110 to 2.130
Birefringence : 0.020
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : Strong
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None