Allanpringite

Allanpringite
Picture width 4 mm
General
CategoryPhosphate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Fe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3·5H2O
IMA symbolApg[1]
Strunz classification8.DC.50
Dana classification42.10.02.02
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupP21/n
Unit cella = 9.777, b = 7.358
c = 17.83 [Å]; β = 92.19°; Z = 4
Identification
Formula mass498.07 g/mol
ColorPale brownish yellow
Crystal habitAcicular
Cleavage{hk0} perfect, {010} good
FractureIrregular/uneven
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness3
LusterVitreous
StreakPale yellowish white
DiaphaneityTranslucent to transparent
Specific gravity2.54 (meas.), 2.583 (calc.)
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Refractive indexnα = 1.662
nβ = 1.675
nγ = 1.747
Birefringence0.085
2V angle48° (calc.)
References[2][3]

Allanpringite is a phosphate mineral named after Australian mineralogist Allan Pring of the South Australian Museum. Allanpringite is a Fe3+ analogue Al-phosphate mineral wavellite, but it has a different crystal symmetry – monoclinic instead of orthorhombic in wavellite. It forms needle-like crystals, which are always twinned and form parallel bundles up to about 2 mm long. They are often found in association with other iron phosphates in abandoned iron mines.[2][4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ a b Allanpringite. Mindat
  3. ^ Allanpringite. Webmineral
  4. ^ Kolitsch, U., Bernhardt, H.J., Lengauer, C.L., Blass, G., and Tillmanns, E., 2006. Allanpringite, Fe3(PO4)2(OH)3·5H2O, a new ferric iron phosphate from Germany, and its close relation to wavellite. European Journal of Mineralogy 18, 793-801