VOOZH about

URL: https://www.mindat.org/min-3288.html

⇱ Prosperite: Mineral information, data and localities.

👁 Image
Now Featuring: The Bruce Carter Collection at Heritage Auctions, Live May 16th
Log InRegister
AboutSupport UsPhotosDiscussionsSearchLearnMore

Prosperite

A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

About ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Formula:
Ca2Zn4(AsO4)4 · H2O
Previously given as CaZn2(AsO4)(HAsO4)(OH).
Colour:
Colourless, white
Lustre:
Vitreous, Silky
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
4.31
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
In honour of Prosper John Williams (1910–2001), of Toronto and Vancouver, Canada, South African-Canadian mineral dealer, supplier of many Tsumeb specimens.
This page provides mineralogical data about Prosperite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Mindat ID:
3288
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3288:5

IMA Classification of ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Approved
First published:
1979

Classification of ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
8.CA.60

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With small and large/medium cations
40.2.4.1

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : AB2(XO4)2·xH2O
20.3.10

20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
3 : Arsenates of Zn, Cd or Hg

Mineral SymbolsHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
PpeIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Vitreous, Silky
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, white
Comment:
Dense aggregates of crystals show a very faint blue tint.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Density:
4.31(1) g/cm3 (Measured)    4.40 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.746(2) nβ = 1.748(2) nγ = 1.768(2)
2V:
Measured: 34° (2), Calculated: 36°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.022
Based on recorded range of RI values above.

Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.

Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.

Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.

Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r >> v.
Optical Extinction:
Y = b; Z ∧ c = 27°.

Chemistry of ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Mindat Formula:
Ca2Zn4(AsO4)4 · H2O

Previously given as CaZn2(AsO4)(HAsO4)(OH).
Element Weights:
Element% weight
As32.739 %
O29.714 %
Zn28.570 %
Ca8.757 %
H0.220 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 19.238(2) Å, b = 7.731(1) Å, c = 9.765(1) Å
β = 104.47(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.488 : 1 : 1.263
Unit Cell V:
1,406.27 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Slender prismatic crystals in radiating groups and as subparallel aggregates in sheaf-like arrangements. Larger acicular prisms may be composed of several smaller crystals in parallel orientation. Elongate parallel to [001]. In order of decreasing importance, the forms are: a{100}, d{10t}, m{110}, p{111}, z{421}, n{540), k{210}, l{310}, o{301} and x{112}.
Twinning:
No evidence of twinning was found by single-crystal X-ray study or with the petrographic microscope and the universal stage (type material).
Comment:
Point Group: 2/m or m. ; Space Group: C2/c or Cc.

Crystal StructureHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File    Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0010846ProsperiteKeller P, Riffel H, Hess H (1982) Die kristallstruktur von prosperit, Ca2Zn4[H2O|(AsO4)4] Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 158 33-42👁 Image
1982Tsumeb, Nambia0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.723 Å(100)
2.992 Å(90)
3.11 Å(80)
3.78 Å(70)
3.36 Å(60)
2.614 Å(60)
3.86 Å(50)
Comments:
Tsumeb Mine, Namibia. Data from the type description.

Geological EnvironmentHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Paragenetic Mode(s):

Type Occurrence of ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
General Appearance of Type Material:
Slender prismatic crystals in radiating groups. Crystals up to 10 mm long and 1 mm in diameter. Also as subparallel aggregates in sheaf-like arrangements.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M35388, M35389, M35391.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1978,19.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 143732, 143733.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
A secondary mineral formed in vugs in partially altered massive sulfide ore.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.

Other Language Names for ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
8.CA.ApexiteNaMg(PO4) · 9H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.BrandãoiteBeAl2(PO4)2(OH)2(H2O)5Tric. 1 : P1
8.CA.DavidlloyditeZn3(AsO4)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.05ParafransoletiteCa3Be2(PO4)2(PO3OH)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.05FransoletiteCa3Be2(PO4)2(PO3OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CA.10EhrleiteCa4Be3Zn2(PO4)6 · 9H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.15FaheyiteBe2Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)4 · 6H2OTrig. 32 : P3121
8.CA.20MccrillisiteNaCs(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1-2H2OTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
8.CA.20GainesiteNa(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1.5-2H2OTet. 4mm : I41md
8.CA.20SelwyniteNaK(Be,Al)Zr2(PO4)4 · 2H2OTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd
8.CA.25PahasapaiteLi8(Ca,Li,K)10.5Be24(PO4)24 · 38H2OIso. 23 : I23
8.CA.30NizamoffiteMn2+Zn2(PO4)2(H2O)4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcm
8.CA.30ArsenohopeiteZn3(AsO4)2 · 4H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.CA.30HopeiteZnZn2(PO4)2 · 4H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.CA.35WarikahniteZn3(AsO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.40PhosphophylliteZn2Fe 2+(PO4)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CA.42SteinmetziteZn2Fe3+(PO4)2(OH) · 3H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.45ParascholziteCaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2OMon.
8.CA.45ScholziteCaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcm
8.CA.50KeyiteCu2+3Zn4Cd2(AsO4)6 · 2H2OMon. 2/m
8.CA.55PushcharovskiteK0.6Cu18[AsO2(OH)2]4[AsO3OH]10(AsO4)(OH)9.6 · 18.6H2OTric.
8.CA.65GengenbachiteKFe3+3(PO3OH)4[PO2(OH)2]2 · 6H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
8.CA.70ParahopeiteZn3(PO4)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.70ReaphookhilliteMgZn2(PO4)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CA.75StergiouiteCaZn2(AsO4)2 · 4H2OMon. m : Pb
8.CA.80LimousiniteBaCa[Be4P4O16] · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CA.85MinjiangiteBaBe2(PO4)2Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mmm
8.CA.85Wilancookite(Ba5Li2◻)Ba6Be24P24O96 · 26H2OIso. 23 : I23

Fluorescence of ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Not fluorescent.

Other InformationHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
IR Spectrum:
The infrared spectra indicates the presence of (OH).
Thermal Behaviour:
A prominent endothermic peak at 655°C is related to a 4.0 wt. % loss occurring between 469° and 682°C with the main loss between 641° and 665°C.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3288.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

References for ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.

Localities for ProsperiteHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.

Showing 1 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 👁 Image
symbol to view information about a locality. The 👁 Image
symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
👁 Image
- This locality has map coordinates listed. 👁 Image
- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 👁 Image
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 👁 Image
- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Namibia (TL)
  • Oshikoto Region
    • Tsumeb
American Mineralogist (1980) +2 other references
Quick NavTopAbout ProsperiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 6, 2026 20:36:08 Page updated: March 26, 2026 00:32:33
Go to top of page