Mineral Species: Hemimorphite
Chemical Formula: Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 - H2O
Chemical Name: Hydrated Zinc Silicate Hydroxide
Mineral Class: Sorosilicate
Mineral Notes: Hemimorphite is one of the most common Sorosilicates. It is a fascinating mineral because its crystals are polar. What this means is that the crystal structure produces a different termination at each end, hence hemimorphic crystals from where it gets its name. One termination, the "bottom" is blunt being dominated by a pedion face while the "top" end is terminated by the point of a pyramid.
Description: Glassy, partially transparent crystals of Hemimorphite is cavity on one side of a grey matrix. The crystals are well-formed and have an unusual botryoidal habit. These overlap giving the mineral an almost ripple-like appearance
Location: St Barbara Mine, Lavrion, Attica, Greece.
