Pharmazincite is a rare potassium zinc arsenate that forms colorless imperfect prismatic to acicular crystals. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2014. It was first described from at the Arsenatnaya fumarole, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia.
Is this pharmazincite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch pharmazincite with a known reference. Pharmazincite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Pharmazincite leaves a orange-yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Pharmazincite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: imperfect prismatic to acicular crystals.
Often confused with
Pharmazincite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Pharmazincite leaves orange-yellow, Sphalerite leaves white to yellow-brown; luster reads vitreous on Pharmazincite and resinous to submetallic on Sphalerite.
How to tell apart: Pharmazincite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5-3); streak differs, so Pharmazincite leaves orange-yellow, Native Copper leaves copper-red; luster reads vitreous on Pharmazincite and metallic on Native Copper.
How to tell apart: Pharmazincite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2-2.5); streak differs, so Pharmazincite leaves orange-yellow, Cinnabar leaves scarlet; luster reads vitreous on Pharmazincite and adamantine on Cinnabar.
Often found alongside pharmazincite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pharmazincite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KZn(AsO₄)
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 4.748 g/cm³
- Streak
- Orange-yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Imperfect Prismatic to Acicular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Zinc Ore Bodies
Where rockhounds find pharmazincite
Classic worldwide localities
- at the Arsenatnaya fumarole, Kamchatka, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed zinc ore bodies country, the host setting where pharmazincite typically forms. If you start seeing franklinite, willemite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a imperfect prismatic to acicular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify pharmazincite?+
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What rocks look like pharmazincite?+
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Find pharmazincite on the map
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