The mineral association of lithiophorite, cryptomelane/hollandite and hematite in quartz gangue was found in the material from the exploratory trenches in the forest track „U Kutaček“, 4 km NW of Kladská in the cadastre of the town of Lázně Kynžvart (Slavkovský les Mts., Czech Republic). Lithiophorite occurs as massive aggregates up to several cm in size, with a reniform or hemispherical surface. It is opaque, black, sometimes with a greenish or purplish tints. It is trigonal, space group R-3m, with the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data: a 2.9158(5), c 28.266(7) Å and V 208.11(7) Å3. Its chemical analyses (mean of 26 points) correspond to the empirical formula (Al0.66 Li0.27Cu0.03Co0.03Zn0.01)Σ1.00(Mn0.98Si0.02)Σ1.00O2(OH)2.06 on the basis of 2 cations apfu. Barium-rich (up to 0.24 apfu Ba) cryptomelane forms aggregates up to several cm in size, with a reniform or hemispherical surface. It is opaque, black, sometimes with a greenish or purplish tints. It is tetragonal, space group I4/m, with the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data: a 9.828(2), c 2.8497(9) Å and V 275.26(13) Å3. Its aggregates are distinctly zonal due to variable Ba and Al contents; thin zones corresponding to hollandite and not yet approved phases alumocryptomelane and alumohollandite were observed. In the material with Mn-minerals, abundant coatings and spherical aggregates of hematite were observed. Hematite is trigonal, space group R-3c, with the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data: a 5.0369(2), c 13.7571(7) Å and V 302.26(2) Å3.

Very rare hydrated molybdenum oxide, mineral zhenruite, was found in samples from the quartz - aplite vein with molybdenite at the abandoned adit 5. květen, Vrchoslav near Krupka, Krušné hory Mountains, northern Bohemia, Czech Republic. Zhenruite forms crystalline coatings on an area of up to several cm2 on quartz gangue with jordisite and molybdenite, which are composed of intergrown hemispherical aggregates up to 0.2 mm in size. These aggregates are composed of flattened needle-like crystals, radially or fan-shapedly arranged; the length of individual crystals ranges up to 0.1 mm and their cross-section is usually around 2 × 5 μm. Zhenruite crystals are translucent to transparent, colourless to very light bluish, with a vitreous lustre; the crystalline aggregates are then opaque, whitish, light or even pastel blue. Zhenruite is monoclinic, space group P21/m, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a 9.8607(10), b 3.7051(5), c 7.1122(6) Å, β 102.425(10)° and V 249.12(5) Å3. Results of semiquantitative chemical analysis (EDS) confirm the presence of Mo and O in the studied mineral. Raman spectroscopy documents the identity of studied mineral with zhenruite from type locality and presence of molecular water and Mo octahedra in the crystal structure of zhenruite. The origin of zhenruite in association with alunogen is interpreted as product of (sub)recent supergene alteration of jordisite and molybdenite in quartz gangue in environment of abandoned mine space.

Slags and fragments of metallurgical crucibles with remnants of baked batch, originating from a newly discovered locality in the Smetanova Street in the town of Jablonec nad Nisou, were studied using an electron microprobe. A rich phase composition was found. The remnants of baked batch contain metallic droplets composed of copper or Cu-Zn alloys with variable compositions, both often enclosing also inclusions of lead. These metal droplets are enclosed in a matrix formed by a Pb-rich glass, willemite, hardystonite, zincite, tenorite, cuprite and Pb-oxides. Slags have always a hemi-crystalline structure and contain silicate glass, spinelides (gahnite, franklinite, spinel, magnesioferite, cuprospinel, thermoaerogenite, magnetite), plagioclase (An68-97Ab0-25Or1-17Cu-fs0-8Slw0-1), K-feldspar (Or54-77Ab10-18An9-22 Cu-fs0-8Cn0-3Slw0-1), leucite, Ca-rich pyroxene, quartz, an unidentified Ca-Al-Fe-Mg silicate phase, zincite, tenorite, cuprite, Pb-oxides, Cu-S phases (anilite, spionkopite, geerite, digenite/roxbyite, djurleite), thiospinels (polydymite, fletcherite), sphalerite, lead, Cu-Zn alloys, copper, and remnants of (un)burnt coal. The used crucibles are common goods composed of quartzose fireclay. We suggest that the studied artifacts originated during a modern (<150 years) non-professional metallurgical activity focused largely to re-melting of metallic copper and brass. Heating of charged crucibles was realized in direct contact with burning coal. The aim of the studied metallurgical activity is not clear, it could be (i) a small hand-crafted workshop processing metal waste and producing small articles undemanding to alloy composition; (ii) an experimental hobby focused on practical learning of the metallurgical properties of the used metals, sulfides or alloys, or (iii) a crime-related activity aimed to prevent the identification of stolen artefacts made from non-ferrous metals.

A very interesting and world-unique association of Ag-Pb-Bi-Sb sulfosalts staročeskéite, izoklakeite-giessenite and terywallaceite has been found and determined from the Staročeské pásmo Lode of the Kutná Hora ore district, Czech Republic. Associated mineral include Sb-rich gustavite, Sb-rich treasurite, holubite, schirmerite (type 2), Bi-rich jamesonite and Ag,Bi-rich galena. The studied mineral association includes sulfosalts constituted by both Bi and Sb (staročeskéite, terrywallaceite, izoklakeite, holubite) as well as Sb-rich varieties of Bi-lillianite homologues and Bi-rich varieties of Sb sulfosalts (Bi-rich jamesonite). Staročeskéite has the empirical formula based on 11 apfu Ag0.72Cu0.01(Pb1.59 Fe0.02Cd0.01)Ʃ1.62(Bi1.31Sb1.44) Ʃ1.75S5.91, in a very good agreement with the ideal formula. The Bi-richest izoklakeite (Bi/(Sb + Bi) = 0.70) found so far anywhere in the world was determined among the compositions of minerals of the izoklakeite - giessenite series. The so far Bi-richest izoklakeite with Bi/(Sb + Bi) = 0.68 was reported from Otome mine, Japan. The observed succession trend progresses from the earliest Bi-richest minerals to youngest Sb-richest members, starting with Ag,Bi-rich galena and ending with Bi-rich jamesonite being the latest, in line with previously reported observations. Empirical formulas of main and associated minerals and degrees of substitutions are discussed.

A new locality of zeolite mineralization has been discovered in Malý Semerink, 500 m south of the Chřibská railway station in the Rybniště municipality, the Lužické hory Mts., Czech Republic. Zeolites occur in cavities of Tertiary alkaline basalts that penetrated the quartz sandstones of the Czech Cretaceous Basin. A total of eight zeolite species were discovered here: analcime, cowlesite, erionite-Ca, chabazite-Ca, lévyne-Ca, phillipsite-K, scolecite, and thomsonite-Ca. The most notable are the colorless to white cross-intergrowths of phillipsite-K crystals up to 1 cm in size, white hemispherical cowlesite, and abundant thin tabular lévyne-Ca overgrown with fine fibrous erionite-Ca. The WDS quantitative analyses, X-ray powder patterns, and refined unit cell parameters are given for all described mineral phases.

An interesting occurrence of secondary phosphates fluorwavellite, variscite and strengite in the Barrandian area has been newly discovered in Kamenný Újezd near Rokycany (Czech Republic). Phosphates crystallize on cracks of hornfels pebbles in weathered conglomerates and in cavities of quartz veins that penetrate them. Fluorwavellite forms white, needle-like, radially rayed aggregates with a diameter of up to 3 cm on the cracks and white to slightly yellowish spherical aggregates up to 1 cm in size in cavities. Variscite occurs in fissures in the form of flat radial aggregates of white colour and pearly lustre up to 0.8 mm in size. In the cavities of quartz veins, variscite forms spherical aggregates up to 0.8 mm in diameter and reniform layers of white, light beige, light gray, and light pink colours. Variscite is covered with a layer of strengite approximately 0.06 to 0.08 mm thick. The WDS quantitative analyses, X-ray powder patterns, and refined unit cell parameters are given for all described mineral phases.

A new locality of baryte was discovered NE from the Otrokovice town, southeastern Moravia, Czech Republic. The studied sample was collected by Vítězslav Skácel in 2003 during excavations associated with construction of highway D55. Isolated tabular baryte crystals up to 3 mm in size overgrow calcite crystals in a vug of calcite vein cutting Paleogene sandstones belonging to the Vsetín Member of the Zlín Formation, Rača Unit, Flysch Belt of the Outer Western Carpathians. Baryte crystals are zoned in terms of both colour (white core and colourless margin) and chemical composition. A distinct oscillatory zoning due to variable Sr contents is observed on BSE images of the studied baryte crystals, with 0.0 to 8.0 mol. % of the celestite component. The associated rhombohedral calcite crystals are characterized by elevated admixtures of Fe and Mn (2.0 - 2.4 mol. % of siderite and 0.6 - 0.9 mol. % of rhodochrosite components). The study site represents a new locality of epigenetic baryte mineralization, which is relatively rarely reported from the siliciclastic sediments of the Czech part of the Flysch Belt.

Migmatites from the Plaňany I quarry (Kutná Hora Crystalline Complex, Czech Republic) rarely contain small xenoliths of ultramafic rocks, which are dominated by serpentinites and pyroxenites. We studied a rare xenolith of a weakly serpentinized peridotite by means of an electron microprobe. The original (primary) mineral assemblage is represented by prevailing olivine (Fo90) and small amounts of clinopyroxene (Wo48-49En49-50Fs1-3), orthopyroxene (En92Fs8), chromspinelide (Chr45-65Spl20-46Mch0-12Mgt2-4Hrc0-5Ghn1-2Gal1Ulv0-1), and sulfides (pentlandite and cobaltopentlandite). The alteration phases include amphiboles (magnesiohornblende and tremolite), chlorite (clinochlore), minerals of the serpentine group, magnetite, heazlewoodite, orcelite, bornite, and an undetermined phase with high amount of Bi. The paragenetic position of calcite and an unnamed (Ni,Fe)4S3 phase was not recognized. Sulfides reacted much more sensitively to superimposed alterations than silicates in the studied rock: whereas olivine shows only weak serpentinization, the sulfide droplets dominated by (cobalto)pentlandite were in almost all cases deeply transformed to the association heazlewoodite + magnetite. The alteration fluids were poor in reduced sulfur and derived from outside of the xenolith because brought Na, K, F and Bi from the surrounding crustal rocks.

Very rare hydrated copper selenite, mineral clinochalcomenite, was found in samples from the mine dump material of the shaft No. 11A Příbram-Bytíz, the Příbram uranium and base metal ore district, central Bohemia, Czech Republic. Clinochalcomenite occurs as green to bluish green spherical crystalline aggregates up to 1 mm in size. Associated minerals are brochantite, aurichalcite, devilline, schoepite, piretite and probably new copper uranyl selenite. Clinochalcomenite is monoclinic, space group P21/n, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a 8.155(3), b 8.595(2), c 6.272(2) Å, β 97.27(3)o and V 436.1(2) Å3. Its chemical analyses correspond to the empirical formula Cu0.96(SeO3)1.00·2H2O on the basis of Se+S = 1 apfu. Raman spectroscopy documents the presence of molecular water and selenite groups in the crystal structure of clinochalcomenite. The origin of clinochalcomenite is interpreted as product of (sub)recent supergene alteration of primary Cu selenides in calcite gangue in environment of mine dump material.

Rare zinc hydroxyl carbonate sulfate, mineral brianyoungite, was found in the area of skarn body near the hydrothermal vein No. 13 (2nd level of the shaft Vladimír), Plavno deposit, the Jáchymov ore district, Krušné hory Mountains, Czech Republic. Brianyoungite occurs as very thin white crystalline coatings on an area of up to several cm2 on altered skarn or more rarely it forms irregular crystalline aggregates up to 2 mm in size or spherical to hemispherical aggregates composed of small thin tabular crystals. Associated minerals are gypsum, hexahydrite, hydromagnesite, nesquehonite, serpierite, smithsonite, šlikite, Zn-rich malachite and ktenasite-like mineral. Brianyoungite is probably monoclinic, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a 15.747(4), b 6.254(2), c 5.482(2) Å, β 90.63(4)°, and V 539.8(4) Å3. Its chemical analyses (mean of 4 points) correspond to the empirical formula Zn3.00 [(CO3)0.74(SO4)0.23(SiO4)0.03]Σ1.00(OH)3.95 on the basis of 3 apfu Zn. Raman and infrared spectroscopy confirm presence of (OH)-, (CO3)2- and (SO4)2- groups in its crystal structure. The origin of brianyoungite is interpreted as product of (sub)recent supergene alteration of primary sphalerite and other minerals in skarn rock in environment of abandoned mine corridors.