Hydrozincite - Goodsprings, Nevada
Contributed by: Chris Clemens
Date: Apr 26th, 2026
Locality: Goodsprings Mining District, Spring Mountains, Clark County, Nevada, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 7.6 x 2 x 9.5 cm
Description:
Normally I am not a big fan of cutting or polishing rocks, as I prefer them in their original, natural condition. I will make an exception with this one though. It is from Goodsprings, Clark County, Nevada, and is a cut end slab of dolomitized limestone with an outer coating of brightly fluorescent hydrozincite. Hydrozincite is a zinc carbonate hydroxide, and occurs as an oxidation product of zinc ores, typically forming masses or crusts. Under shortwave UV the hydrozincite fluoresces bright blue/white. The interior cut surface reveals fluorescent veins of hydrozincite following the internal cracks in the limestone host rock.
Located in the Spring Mountains, approximately 40 miles southwest of Las Vegas, the Goodsprings area was mined extensively for lead, zinc, copper, gold, silver, and other minerals.
Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2017.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Hydrozincite (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue