Home > Skorpion, Broken Hill, Salmo – July 24 > MS1377 Hydroxylapatite after Tarbuttite

Hydroxylapatite after Tarbuttite - Sold


Tarbuttite is a zinc phosphate named in honor of Percy C. Tarbutt (?-1943), who provided material for characterization (Spencer, 1908). Generally zinc phosphates are much rarer and less widespread than their zinc arsenate counterparts. Tarbuttite has triclinic symmetry and the same crystal structure as paradamite (Finney, 1966).

Tarbuttite originally formed bladed aggregates to 1.9 cm protruding from matrix. Later fluids came in and dissolved the tarbuttite, leaving spongy casts of pale green hydroxylapatite. Zinc bearing solutions later deposited a sparkling crystalline crust of hemimorphite. Quite attractive and an unusual pseudomorph.