Wardite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wardite is a hydrous sodium aluminium phosphate hydroxide mineral with formula: NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4ยท2(H2O). Wardite is of interest for its rare crystallography. It crystallizes in the tetragonal trapezohedral class and is one of only a few minerals in that class. Wardite forms vitreous green to bluish green to white to colorless crystals, masses, and fibrous encrustations. It has a Mohs hardness of 5 and a specific gravity of 2.81 - 2.87. It occurs with variscite in nodules and occurs in pegmatites and phosphate deposits through alteration of amblygonite.
Wardite was named for Henry Augustus Ward (1834-1906) of the University of Rochester in New York. It was discovered in 1896 in Clay Canyon, Fairfield, Utah County, Utah, USA. Though rare it has been reported from many locations worldwide.
