Kipushite, Broken Hill, New South Wales
Mineral Matters #716
Kipushite, formula (Cu,Zn)5Zn(PO4)2(OH)6·H2O, is a rare mineral that occurs as emerald-green crystal aggregates with other phosphates in the oxidised zone of copper-bearing orebodies. It can be difficult to distinguish visually from other similar copper phosphates.
It was named in 1985 after the type locality at the Kipushi Mine, Kipushi, Lubumbashi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaïre). This is not to be confused with the Republic of the Congo, a near (smaller) neighbour to the west.
To confuse things a little bit more, kipushite is also recorded from the Republic of the Congo, in the Mfouati District!
At Broken Hill, kipushite is considered to be extremely rare.
Below: Kipushite, Block 14 Open Cut, Broken Hill, New South Wales. Width of view 3mm. Click on the image below for a higher resolution version.
