Biehlite is an exceptionally rare mineral, an antimony arsenic-bearing molybdate with formula [(Sb, As)O]2MoO4. It is a rare secondary mineral from an oxidized zone in a dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit. It comes from Tsumeb. It was named after Dr. Friedrich Karl Biehl (1887–), a mineralogist, associated with the Westfalische-Wilhelms University in Munster, Germany, who worked on an early dissertation on the Tsumeb species.
General Information
- Category: Oxide minerals
- Formula: [(Sb, As)O]2MoO4
- Crystal system: Monoclinic
- Crystal class: Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol).
Properties
Biehlite can be identified in the field by its white color. Its translucent form has a vitreous-silky luster, with a white streak. The fracture of this mineral is flexible.
The hardness of biehlite is 1 to 1.5 – approximate to talc, or a little harder.
- Color: white
- Luster: vitreous, silky
- Streak: white
- Diaphaneity: Translucent
- Fracture: Flexible – Flexible fragments.
- Habit: Fibrous – Crystals made up of fibers.
- Hardness: 1-1.5 – Talc or a little harder
Occurrence
Biehlite occurs in a rare secondary mineral from an oxidized zone in a dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit. It is often associated with minerals such as anglesite and wulfenite.
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