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Kovdorskite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Kovdorskite is named for the Kovdor massif, Russia, in which it was first found.

Discovered in 1979;   IMA status: Valid (IMA Approved 1980).

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Mg₅(PO₄)₂(CO₃)(OH)₂ · 3(H₂O)

Hydrated Magnesium Phosphate Carbonate Hydroxide

Molecular Weight:

486.56 gm

Composition: 

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Phosphates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

7/D.36-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

8.DC.22

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H₂O
C : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO₄ = 1:1 and < 2:1

Related to:

Kovdorskite - Gatumbaite Series

Synonyms:

IMA1979-066

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Orthorhombic - Pyramidal Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Rough prismatic crystals, to 2 cm, with measurable {110}, {010}, {580}, {001}, {101}, {111}; granular.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

None

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

4.0

Density:

2.28 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Colorless, pale Rose, bright Pink, pale Blue, may be Blue with Pink terminations; colorless to pale rose in transmitted light.

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.527 - 1.549  Biaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.0220

Dispersion:

Very Weak; r > v

Pleochroism:

None

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A very rare mineral in an explosive breccia pipe cutting an iron ore deposit in a carbonatized ultramafic-alkalic intrusive.

Common Associations:

Apatite, Collinsite, Dolomite, Forsterite, Hydrotalcite, Magnesite, Magnetite

Type Locality:

Kovdor Mine, Kovdor Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia

Year Discovered:

1979

View mineral photos:

Kovdorskite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Kovdorskite is a very rare phosphate mineral that is rarely available as a faceted gem. It is only found at one location: the Kovdor Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia. This locality is host to a long list of rare and obscure minerals, many of which are unique to the locality. Kovdorskite is a very attractive mineral with well formed crystals of pale blue or pale pink. Some crystals may even be blue with pink terminations.
 

  
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