Triplite
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Triplite | |
---|---|
Category | Phosphate mineral |
Chemical formula | (Mn,Fe)2(PO4)(F,OH) |
Identification | |
Color | Brown, Salmon, Red |
Crystal habit | Prismatic, Massive to granular |
Crystal system | Monoclinic |
Cleavage | Good |
Fracture | Uneven - Flat surfaces |
Mohs Scale hardness | 5 |
Luster | Resinous - Greasy |
Refractive index | nα=1.650, nβ=1.660, nγ=1.680 |
Streak | Yellowish gray |
Specific gravity | 3.44 - 3.9 |
Triplite is a manganese iron(II) fluoro-hydroxide phosphate mineral with formula (Mn,Fe2+)2(PO4)(F,OH). Calcium and magnesium commonly substitute in the divalent cation site. It is black to brown to red in colour and is found in granite pegmatites and high temperature hydrothermal veins.
Triplite was first described in 1813 for an occurrence in Chanteloube, Limousin, France. The name is from the Greek triplos for triple, in reference to the three cleavage directions.