Sinkankasite

Sinkankasite

Sinkankasite
General
Category Phosphate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
H
2
MnAl(PO
4
)
2
(OH)·6H
2
O
Strunz classification 08.DB.20
Identification
Color Colourless
Crystal system Triclinic
Mohs scale hardness 4
Luster Vitreous
Diaphaneity Transparent

Sinkankasite, mineral formula: H
2
MnAl(PO
4
)
2
(OH)·6H
2
O
, was named after John Sinkankas (1915–2002), noted author and mineral collector, Scripps Institute of Oceanography.[1] It is triclinic; as colorless, bladed to prismatic crystals up to 4 mm in length, often as divergent, radial aggregates and as pseudomorphs after triphlyte crystals; occurs in the Barker pegmatite (formerly Ferguson pegmatite), east of Keystone, South Dakota, and in the Palermo pegmatite, North Groton, New Hampshire.[2]

References

  1. Burns P C, Hawthorne F C. 1995. "Sinkankasite." American Mineralogist, 80 (1995) p.620-627.
  2. Mitchelll, Richard S. 1986. "Who's Who in Mineral Names; John Sinkankas." Rocks and Minerals. Volume 61 (1), page 28.