Hydrokenoelsmoreite

Hydrokenoelsmoreite

White stolzite grains accent rich yellow veins of Hydrokenoelsmoreite microcrystals
General
Category Oxide minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
2W2O6H2O
Strunz classification 04.DH.15
Identification
Color White
Crystal system Isometric
Cleavage None
Fracture Splintery
Tenacity Brittle
Mohs scale hardness 3
Luster Adamantine
Streak White

Hydrokenoelsmoreite is a hydrous tungsten oxide mineral with formula □2W2O6(H2O). Hydrokenoelsmoreite is a colorless to white, translucent isometric mineral. It has a Mohs hardness of 3, exhibits no cleavage and has a splintery fracture. It has a vitreous to adamantine luster. It is optically isotropic with an index of refraction of n = 2.24.

It forms from the oxidation of ferberite within granitic pegmatite dykes and in pegmatitic greisen veins. It has a structure based on a defect pyrochlore lattice (A2B2O6O’).

It was first described for an occurrence in Elsmore Hill, New South Wales, Australia from where it takes its name.

References