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Otavite from Montevecchio, Sardinia, Italy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

Pierfranco Lattanzi
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Cagliari, Via Trentino 51, I-09127 Cagliari, Italy
Paola Zuddas
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Cagliari, Via Trentino 51, I-09127 Cagliari, Italy
Franco Frau
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Cagliari, Via Trentino 51, I-09127 Cagliari, Italy

Abstract

The rare mineral otavite CdCO3 was found at the abandoned Pb-Zn mine of Montevecchio (SW Sardinia, Italy). Otavite occurs in the oxidised gossan, in association with aurichalcite. SEM imaging shows that otavite is composed of lenticular hollow structures containing aggregates of tiny rhombohedral crystals. Oxidation of primary Cd-bearing sulphides (sphalerite and greenockite) releases up to 24 ppm of Cd to drainage waters of the Montevecchio area. These waters are generally saturated with respect to otavite. Therefore, this mineral might play an important role in controlling Cd mobility in the environment.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1998

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