What is "gordaite"

n. (context mineral English) A trigonal-pyramidal mineral containing chlorine, hydrogen, oxygen, sodium, sulfur, and zinc.

Gordaite is a sulfate mineral composed primarily of hydrous zinc sodium sulfate chloride hydroxide with formula: NaZn(SO)(OH)Cl·6HO. It was named for the discovery location in the Sierra Gorda district of Chile. Gordaite forms as tabular trigonal crystals.

Gordaite first appeared after a research dive in September 1984 from the Juan de Fuca Ridge of the northeastern side of the Pacific Ocean. Gordaite was also described from weathered slag deposits as a result of copper smelting in Hettstedt, Germany. The mineral exhibits a hexagonal shape with clear or white (green if cuprian – Cu) crystals ranging from planar to broad habit and has a point group of . Gordaite commonly occurs near minerals such as sphalerite, boleite and gypsum. The most recent finding occurred in the San Francisco mine in Chile where copper-zinc sulfide deposits were found.