Mimetite Ojuela Mine Mapimi Durango Mexico
Mimetite, whose name derives from the Greek mimethes, meaning "imitator", is an arsenate mineral which forms as a secondary mineral in lead deposits, usually by the oxidation of galena and arsenopyrite. The name is a reference to mimetite's resemblance to the mineral pyromorphite. This resemblance is not coincidental, as mimetite forms a mineral series with pyromorphite (Pb5(PO4)3Cl) and with vanadinite (Pb5(VO4)3Cl). The most notable occurrences are Mapimi, Durango, Mexico and Tsumeb, Namibia. Industrially, mimetite is a minor ore of lead, especially when found in relatively large quantities. The chief use of mimetite is as a collector's specimen, often creating very attractive botryoidal crusts on the surface of the specimen. Though mimetite is also found in prismatic crystal forms, it is not used as a gemstone due to its softness.
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Keywords: 3cl, arsenate, aso4, botryoidal, chloro, crystal, crystals, durango, exotic, geology, globular, lead, mapimi, mexico, mimetite, mineral, minerals, ojuela, pb5, rare, rock, rocks, specimen, specimens
