Pengertiet

Pengertiet is a mineral species that belongs to the phosphate group. It is a hydrous zinc phosphate with the chemical formula Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O. The mineral was first described in 1933 from the Tsumeb Mine in Namibia and was named after the German mineralogist and chemist Karl Julius Püschel, who was known for his work on phosphates.

Pengertiet typically occurs as small, translucent to transparent crystals, often forming aggregates or crusts. It is usually found in the oxidized zones of polymetallic ore deposits, where it forms as a secondary mineral. Common associated minerals include other zinc phosphates, iron oxides, and various other secondary minerals.

The color of pengertiet can range from colorless to white, pale yellow, or even greenish. It has a vitreous luster and a hardness of approximately 3 on the Mohs scale. The mineral is brittle and exhibits a conchoidal to uneven fracture. Its specific gravity is around 3.0.

While pengertiet is not an economically significant mineral, it is of interest to mineral collectors and researchers due to its relatively rare occurrence and its occurrence in classic mineral localities. Its formation requires specific geological conditions involving the alteration of primary zinc-bearing minerals in the presence of phosphate sources and water.