Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Azurite vs. Smithsonite
It's carbonate-vs-carbonate to kick off Mineral Cup 2026 with copper-rich Azurite against zinc-rich Smithsonite.
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Schneebergite

A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
03104080017271929715815.jpg
Schneebergite

Roter Berg mining district, Zschorlau, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany
02219630017271929743552.jpg
Schneebergite

Roter Berg mining district, Zschorlau, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany
09354950017271929765696.jpg
Schneebergite

Roter Berg mining district, Zschorlau, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany
03104080017271929715815.jpg
Schneebergite

Roter Berg mining district, Zschorlau, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany
02219630017271929743552.jpg
Schneebergite

Roter Berg mining district, Zschorlau, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany
09354950017271929765696.jpg
Schneebergite

Roter Berg mining district, Zschorlau, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany
03104080017271929715815.jpg
Schneebergite

Roter Berg mining district, Zschorlau, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany
02219630017271929743552.jpg
Schneebergite

Roter Berg mining district, Zschorlau, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany
Hide all sections | Show all sections

About SchneebergiteHide

03180250017271929802393.jpg
View of the Schneeberg mining area, ca. 1908.

Neustädtel, Schneeberg, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, Germany
Formula:
BiCo2(AsO4)2(OH) · H2O
Colour:
beige-white to yellowish brown, brown
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
4 - 4½
Specific Gravity:
5.28 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
After the type locality at Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany. The metals bismuth, cobalt, and arsenic are characteristic for the mining region. Schneeberg has a 600 year history of mining and is the type locality for more than 30 mineral species.
Tsumcorite Group.

Not to be confused with Schneebergite (of Brezina), a variety of roméite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
11378
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:11378:0

Similar NamesHide

Schneebergite (of Brezina)A variety of Roméite Group(Ca,Fe2+)2Sb2(O,OH,H2O)7

IMA Classification of SchneebergiteHide

Classification of SchneebergiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
8.CG.15

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:1

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
SnbIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of SchneebergiteHide

Lustre:
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Beige-white to yellowish brown, brown
Streak:
White to pale brown
Hardness:
4 - 4½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN15=250 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
5.28 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of SchneebergiteHide

Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.93 nβ = 1.95 nγ = 1.98
2V:
Calculated: 85°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.050
Based on recorded range of RI values above.

Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.

Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.

Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.

Surface Relief:
Moderate
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Weak to distinct, depending on Fe content. With X = Z = pale yellow, Y = brown.

Chemistry of SchneebergiteHide

Mindat Formula:
BiCo2(AsO4)2(OH) · H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Bi32.668 %
O25.011 %
As23.424 %
Co18.425 %
H0.473 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
As, Bi, Co, H, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of SchneebergiteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.005 Å, b = 6.211 Å, c = 7.44 Å
β = 115.19°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.45 : 1 : 1.198
Unit Cell V:
376.55 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Tabular on {201}, also showing {001}, {101}, {101}, {102} and {111}.

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File    Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0006924SchneebergiteKrause W, Bernhardt H J, Effenberger H, Witzke T (2002) Schneebergite and nickelschneebergite from Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany: the first Bi-bearing members of the tsumcorite group European Journal of Mineralogy 14 115-1262002Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates]

Type Occurrence of SchneebergiteHide

Synonyms of SchneebergiteHide

Other Language Names for SchneebergiteHide

Simplified Chinese:砷钴铋石
Traditional Chinese:砷鈷鉍石

Relationship of Schneebergite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Tsumcorite Group
Other Members of Tsumcorite Group:
AlumolukrahniteCa[CuAl](AsO4)2(H2O,OH)2Tric. 1 : P1
CabalzariteCaMg2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
CobaltlotharmeyeriteCaCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
CobalttsumcoritePbCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
FerrilotharmeyeriteCaZnFe3+(AsO4)2(OH) · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
GartrellitePbCuFe3+(AsO4)2(OH) · H2OTric. 1 : P1
HelmutwinkleritePbZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
KaliochalciteKCu2(SO4)2[(OH)(H2O)]Mon. 2/m : B2/m
KrettnichitePbMn3+2(VO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
LotharmeyeriteCaZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
LukrahniteCaCuFe3+(AsO4)2(OH,H2O)2Tric. 1 : P1
ManganlotharmeyeriteCaMn3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
MawbyitePbFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
MounanaitePbFe3+2(VO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
NatrochalciteNaCu2(SO4)2(OH) · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
NickellotharmeyeriteCaNi2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
NickelschneebergiteBiNi2(AsO4)2(OH) · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
NickeltsumcoritePb(Ni,Fe3+)2(AsO4)2(H2O,OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
PhosphogartrellitePbCuFe3+(PO4)2(OH,H2O)2Tric. 1 : P1
RappolditePbCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
ThometzekitePbCu2+2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
TsumcoritePbZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
YancowinnaitePbCuAl(AsO4)2OH · H2O Tric. 1 : P1
ZincgartrellitePbZn2(AsO4)2(H2O,OH)2Tric. 1 : P1

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
6 photos of Schneebergite associated with QuartzSiO2
3 photos of Schneebergite associated with NickelschneebergiteBiNi2(AsO4)2(OH) · H2O
1 photo of Schneebergite associated with WaylanditeBiAl3(PO4)2(OH)6

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

8.CG.FluckiteCaMn2+(AsO3OH)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.DondoelliteCa2Fe(PO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.'Ca-Huréaulite'CaMn5(PO4)4 · 4H2O
8.CG.AlumolukrahniteCa[CuAl](AsO4)2(H2O,OH)2Tric. 1 : P1
8.CG.05ParabrandtiteCa2Mn2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.05TalmessiteCa2Mg(AsO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.05CollinsiteCa2Mg(PO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.05MesseliteCa2Fe2+(PO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.05GaititeCa2Zn(AsO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.05AnorthoroseliteCa2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2OTric.
8.CG.05CassidyiteCa2Ni(PO4)2 · 2H2OTric.
8.CG.05FairfielditeCa2Mn2+(PO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.05HilliteCa2Zn(PO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.05'Unnamed (Fe2+-analogue of Parabrandtite)'Ca2Fe2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O
8.CG.10ZincroseliteCa2Zn(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CG.10RoseliteCa2Co(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CG.10RruffiteCa2Cu(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CG.10WendwilsoniteCa2Mg(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CG.10BrandtiteCa2Mn2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CG.10'Unnamed (Fe2+-analogue of Brandtite)'Ca2Fe2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O
8.CG.15MawbyitePbFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15ThometzekitePbCu2+2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15YancowinnaitePbCuAl(AsO4)2OH · H2O Tric. 1 : P1
8.CG.15CabalzariteCaMg2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15NickelschneebergiteBiNi2(AsO4)2(OH) · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15LotharmeyeriteCaZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15NickeltsumcoritePb(Ni,Fe3+)2(AsO4)2(H2O,OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15MagnesiofluckiteCaMg(AsO3OH)2(H2O)2Tric. 1 : P1
8.CG.15KrettnichitePbMn3+2(VO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15CobalttsumcoritePbCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15ManganlotharmeyeriteCaMn3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15TsumcoritePbZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15FerrilotharmeyeriteCaZnFe3+(AsO4)2(OH) · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15CobaltlotharmeyeriteCaCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15MounanaitePbFe3+2(VO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.15NickellotharmeyeriteCaNi2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
8.CG.20LukrahniteCaCuFe3+(AsO4)2(OH,H2O)2Tric. 1 : P1
8.CG.20HelmutwinkleritePbZn2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.20PhosphogartrellitePbCuFe3+(PO4)2(OH,H2O)2Tric. 1 : P1
8.CG.20GartrellitePbCuFe3+(AsO4)2(OH) · H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.20ZincgartrellitePbZn2(AsO4)2(H2O,OH)2Tric. 1 : P1
8.CG.20RappolditePbCo2(AsO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.25Pottsite(Pb3xBi4-2x)(VO4)4 · H2O (0.8 < x < 1.0)Tet. 4/m : I41/a
8.CG.25Armellinoite-(Ce)Ca4Ce4+(AsO4)4 · H2OTet. 4/m : I41/a
8.CG.35NickeltalmessiteCa2Ni(AsO4)2 · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CG.55IrhtemiteCa4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2OMon.

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for SchneebergiteHide

References for SchneebergiteHide

Localities for SchneebergiteHide

Showing 2 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Germany (TL)
 
  • Saxony
    • Erzgebirgskreis
      • Zschorlau
Krause et al. (2002)
Spain
 
  • Andalusia
    • Córdoba
      • Cardeña
        • Azuel
Calvo Rebollar et al. (2022)
Quick NavTopAbout SchneebergiteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 1, 2026 11:18:58 Page updated: August 16, 2026 17:58:07
Go to top of page