ClassicGems.net

Anapaite

Discovered in 1902; IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Ca₂Fe²⁺(PO₄)₂ • 4(H₂O)

Hydrated Calcium Iron Phosphate

Molecular Weight:

398.01 gm

Composition:

Calcium

20.14 %

Ca

28.18 %

CaO

Iron

14.03 %

Fe

18.05 %

FeO

Phosphorus

15.56 %

P

35.66 %

P₂O₅

Hydrogen

2.03 %

H

18.11 %

H₂O

Oxygen

48.24 %

O

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Phosphates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

7/C.19-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

8.CH.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H₂O
H : With large and medium-sized cations, RO₄:H₂O < 1:1

Related to:

n/a

Varieties:

None

Synonyms:

Anapäite, Tamanite, ICSD 200477, PDF 34-148

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Triclinic - Pinacoidal

Crystal Habit:

Crystals are tabular on {110}, modified by {001}, {010}, {100}, {111}, {111}, {011}, to 1 cm. Commonly in rosettes and subparallel aggregates and crusts of crystals; fibrous, and in nodules. 

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Perfect on {001}, distinct on {010}

Fracture:

Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Flexible

Moh's Hardness:

3.5

Density:

2.816 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Green to pale green, greenish white, milky white; colorless to pale green in transmitted light

Transparency:

Transparent

Luster:

Vitreous, sub-vitreous, resinous, waxy, greasy

Refractive Index:

1.602 - 1.649  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.037 - 0.047

Dispersion:

r > v; marked

Pleochroism:

Not visible

Occurances

Geological Setting:

In oolitic iron ore, and in the stems of fossil trees (Anapa, Russia); in lacustrine sediments.

Common Associations:

Fairfieldite, Vivianite, Siderite

Common Impurities:

n/a

Type Locality:

Zheleznyi Rog (Zheleznaya balka), Anapa, Taman Peninsula, Krasnodarskiy Kray, Russia

Year Discovered:

1902

View mineral photos:

Anapaite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Anapaite is a rare and beautiful phosphate mineral. Mineral? Maybe, maybe not. Some mineral purists say that Anapaite should not be considered a mineral. This is because Anapaite has a somewhat organic origin. The purest definition of a mineral is that it must have an inorganic origin (ie. it is not made by a plant or animal). Anapaite is frequently found in fossil shell remains. Does this mean that the shell created the Anapaite or did it simply provide the calcium needed or change the environment of crystallization, such as pH, needed for Anapaite to form? In any case, Anapaite is classified as a mineral, a hydrated calcium iron phosphate mineral to be exact. It is a beautiful and unique mineral that commonly forms as lime green rosettes or rounded nodules in fossil shells. They almost look like a bright green pearl perched in the fossil shell. Anapaite crystals are indistinct within the rosettes and nodules and may look more like small bundles of glass shards than true crystals. Anapaite mineral specimens can be very attractive and collectible. Faceted Anapaite is a true rarity.

Anapaite was named by Arthur Sachs in 1902 for the type locality at Anapa, Taman Peninsula, Russia.

Locations for Anapaite: in Russia, at an iron mine on Cape Zheleznyi Rog Cape, near Anapa, Taman Peninsula. As fine specimens at Kerch, Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine. In the Castelnuovo and Allori mines, Santa Barbara lignite district, near San Giovani, Tuscany, Italy. At Messel, Hesse, Germany. In the Cerdanya basin, east to southwest of Belver, Catalonia Province, Spain. In the USA, from Lewis Well, near Corcoran, Kings County, California; at the MacArthur mine, near Yerington, Lyon County, Nevada; in the Palermo #1 mine, near North Groton, Grafton County, New Hampshire.

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