Mimetite is a popular mineral among collectors, and is a lead arsenate mineral. It is usually found in the oxidised zone of lead ore deposits, and occurs a variety of habits including flat tabular hexagonal crystals, long prismatic hexagonal crystals, rounded crystals, and even some that look fibrous! However, not all mimetite-looking crystals are mimetite. It can be difficult to distinguish them visually from pyromorphite or vanadinite.
![Mimetite, Tsumeb, Namibia](https://crocoite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1429-Mimetite-Sphalerite-Tsumeb-Mine-Tsumeb-Otjikoto-Region-Namibia-18.5mm-ZCXH-200-d-r-wp-1024x651.jpg)
And the colour range, well, wow! It can be colourless, white, and various shades of yellow, orange, red, brown and green. A wide variety to be sure. Sometimes, crystals are even colour-zoned.
![Mimetite, Guatomo Mine, Thailand](https://crocoite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20058-Mimetite-Guatomo-Mine-Hat-Yai-mimetite-locality-Tham-Thalu-Bannang-Sata-District-Yala-Province-Thailand-11mm-ZCH-f5.6-130-d-r-wp-1024x683.jpg)
Excellent specimens of this mineral have been found in Tsumeb, Namibia; the Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Mexico; the Rowley Mine in Arizona, and from the Guatomo Mine (‘Hat Yai’ mimetite locality), Thailand. But these are just a few localities…
![Mimetite (Campylite habit), Dry Gill, Cumbria, England](https://crocoite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/5094-mimetite-cumbria-1-1024x576.jpg)
In Cumbria, England, there is an unusual habit known as “campylite”. These are very distinctive with most specimens from this area have orange to brown rounded barrel-shaped crystals.
![Yellow-green mimetite with darker green duftite, Mount Bonnie, Northern Territory](https://crocoite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2170-Mimetite-Duftite-Mount-Bonnie-Mine-Grove-Hill-Victoria-Daly-Region-Northern-Territory-8.63mm-LXH-142-wp-1024x682.jpg)
In Australia, the best localities are Mount Bonnie in the Northern Territory; Broken Hill; the Elura Mine in New South Wales; and the Magnet Mine in Tasmania.
![Mimetite, Kintore open cut, Broken Hill, New South Wales](https://crocoite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/M436-mimetite-kintoreopencut-brokenhill-newsouthwales-5mm-16-d-r-1024x683.jpg)
So if you don’t have mimetite specimens in your collection, you should seriously think about it!
![Mimetite (Bellite), Magnet Mine, Waratah District, Tasmania](https://crocoite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/1789-Mimetite-Bellite-Magnet-Mine-Waratah-District-Tasmania-2.5mm-Z-f5.6-70-d-r-2k-1024x682.jpg)
Find out more about this popular mineral on Mindat.org.
And don’t forget to check out other mineral entries here!