Hemimorphite Properties, Meaning, Facts and Photos
What is Hemimorphite?
Hemimorphite is a zinc silicate, which is a chemical compound of zinc, silicon and oxygen atoms. It was once believed to be the same mineral as Smithsonite, which is a zinc carbonate. Zinc carbonate is a compound of zinc, carbon and oxygen atoms.
The confusion was caused by the similarity of the two minerals' external appearance. Until the early 1800s, both were known as 'calamine'.
The British chemist and mineralogist James Smithson then discovered from a chemical and crystallography perspective, that both were quite distinct. It was then confirmed they were two different minerals.
The zinc carbonate was later renamed Smithsonite after James Smithson.
The name 'Hemimorphite' came from the Greek words 'hēmi', meaning 'half', and 'morphē', meaning 'form', in reference to the stone's hemimorphism. A mineral that's hemimorphic has a different crystal habit at opposite ends of the same crystal.
Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher Pliny the Elder wrote about hemimorphite and referred to it as 'galmei'. Other ancient writers referred to it as cadmia, which is an oxide of zinc.
The name 'calamine' came from the corrupted Greek word cadmia. German geologist and mineralogist Gustav Kenngott [1818-1897] renamed it hemimorphite, albeit unofficially.
American clergyman and mineral dealer Ebenezer Seymour described hemimorphite in 1868 following studies of samples from Romania. The obsolete name 'calamine' remained in use until the 1930s.
Hemimorphite Crystal Properties
Hemimorphite is moderately hard and brittle and has a maze of hairline fractures. These characteristics make it an extremely difficult mineral to cut. For this reason, when used as a gemstone it tends to be polished as a cabochon.
Blue hemimorphite can resemble the mineral turquoise or is sometimes mistaken for larimar. In China, it's often sold as 'Chinese larimar'. I know people who have bought larimar from China only to discover it's hemimorphite.
Although white or colourless in its purest form, with impurities of copper or iron, hemimorphite can be blue, green or grey.
Hemimorphite grades 4.5 to 5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. It's known to occasionally fluoresce blue under shortwave ultraviolet light.
It can be found in several countries around the world, including on the Belgian-German border, Poland, the USA, North Africa, Thailand, Sardinia, Siberia, Austria, Namibia, Spain, Australia and England.
Some of the finest material, which includes colourless and transparent gemmy crystals, come from Mexico.
When used for its metaphysical healing properties, hemimorphite enhances self-esteem and self-respect. It facilitates personal evolvement, protects against malice, and brings joy and creativity.
Hemimorphite brings luck and will encourage inner strength to enable you to live a happy and creative life.
Article Pictures
Our photos of the mineral hemimorphite are courtesy of Ron Wolf. Both are clickable and redirect to the original image.
Pop-up images: Smithsonite and Copper - Courtesy of Stan Celestian.
