Mimetite
Mimetite is a phosphate mineral prized by collectors for its exceptional color range, with known Chinese sources.
About Mimetite
Mimetite belongs to the phosphate class in the apatite supergroup (pyromorphite group) and has the chemical formula Pb5(AsO4)3Cl. It crystallizes in the hexagonal system and is one of the most visually varied minerals in the collector market. Its combination of structural character and global distribution make it a recognized species in both systematic and aesthetic collections.
Identification & care
Mimetite typically forms prismatic hexagonal crystals (barrel-shaped 'campylite' variety); globular clusters; botryoidal; acicular. Its color range is broad, including yellow, pale yellow, yellowish orange, white, colorless, brownish, and rarely green. The luster is resinous, sub-adamantine, the streak is white, and specimens range from translucent to transparent. The cleavage is imperfect on {10-11}. The fracture is subconchoidal to uneven, which aids identification.
Collector context
How it forms
In terms of geology, Mimetite forms in oxidized zone of lead-arsenic ore deposits; rare secondary mineral in gossans. It is commonly found in association with pyromorphite, vanadinite, cerussite, wulfenite, limonite, galena.
Classic Chinese localities
Mimetite is widely represented across Chinese provinces, including Hunan, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, Hubei.
Why collectors care
Mimetite is a frequently-sought species in serious collections because its habit is recognizable, its color often strong, and its best examples unmistakable even at a distance. Chinese material has driven much of the recent visual shift in the species — sharper crystals, deeper colors, cleaner matrix.
What affects value
Value in Mimetite is assessed, in typical order of weight, against: (1) locality provenance; (2) size relative to the species norm; (3) crystal form and termination sharpness; (4) color saturation and zoning; (5) transparency and internal clarity; (6) matrix quality and aesthetic balance; (7) condition (absence of damage, chips, or repair). Cleaning quality and verified locality documentation act as multipliers across the above.
Naming history
The name Mimetite has a specific etymological and historical context — see Mindat's reference entry for provenance details. We have retained naming data at the record level; published prose is paraphrased from factual fields rather than copied from source.