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| Chemistry:
Li(Fe2+,Mn2+)[PO4]
[Lithium Iron Manganese
Phosphate] | Discovered
in 1834;
IMA
status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered). Triphylite gets its name from the
Greek words tri meaning threefold and
fylon for family refering to the three
cations in the formula. |
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Classification
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Mineral
Classification: |
Silicates |
Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
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7/A.02-10
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Nickel-Strunz 10th
Ed. ID:
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8.AB.10 |
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8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES A : Phosphates, etc.
without additional anions, without H2O B : With medium-sized
cations
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Related
to: |
Triphylite
Group. Triphylite - Lithiophilite Series. Simferrite - Natrophilite Series.
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Crystal
Data
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Crystallography:
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Orthorhombic
- Dipyramidal
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Crystal
Habit:
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Crystals
rare, typically prismatic, several other forms. Commonly
subhedral, to 6.5 m, cleavable, compact, massive.
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Twinning:
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None
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Physical
Properties
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Cleavage: |
[100]
nearly Perfect, [010] Imperfect, [011] Interrupted
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Fracture: |
Irregular/Uneven
to Sub-Conchoidal
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Tenacity:
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Brittle
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Hardness
(Mohs): |
4.0
- 5.0
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Density:
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3.50
- 3.58 (g/cm3)
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Luminescence:
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None |
Radioactivity:
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Not
Radioactive
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Other: |
Soluble
in acids.
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Optical
Properties
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Color: |
Brownish
Green, Greenish Gray, Bluish Gray, Brownish to Black
where altered
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Transparency: |
Transparent
to Translucent |
Luster: |
Vitreous,
Resinous
to Subresinous |
Refractive
Index: |
1.675
- 1.702 Biaxial ( +/- ) |
Birefringence: |
0.0060 - 0.0080 |
Dispersion: |
Strong;
r < v |
Pleochroism: |
Very
Weak; some Lithiophilites may show deep reddish brown/green |
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Occurances
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Geological
Setting: |
The
most abundant primary phosphate in complex zoned granite
pegmatites. |
Common
Associations: |
Alluaudite,
Ferrisicklerite, Heterosite, Lithiophilite, many other
Fe–Mn phosphates and oxides. |
Common
Impurities: |
Mn,
Mg, Ca |
Type
Locality: |
Hühnerkobel Mt., Rabenstein, Zwiesel, Bavarian Forest,
Lower Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany |
Year
Discovered: |
1834
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View
mineral photos: |
Triphylite
Mineral Photos and Locations |
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More
Information
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Mindat.org Webmineral.com |
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Triphylite
is a rare phosphate mineral that forms a solid solution
series with the mineral Lithiophilite which it is often
associated with. Lithiophilite is rich in manganese
whereas Triphylite is rich in iron. The series is often
called the Triphylite Series and the two minerals are
often listed together in mineral references. Triphylite's
name in Greek means "family of three" referring
to its three ions: lithium, iron and manganese. Gems cut from Brazilian crystals can
be dichroic changing from shades of reddish brown to shades of
green. Both colors may vary widely. The reds may be
brick red to brownish red, the greens from brownish
green to green.
Triphylite
occurs at numerous localities worldwide but gemmy crystals
are only found at a few locations including Minas Gerais,
Brazil and North Groton, Grafton County, New Hampshire,
USA.
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Triphylite
gems for sale:
We
have not photographed our Triphylite
gems. Please
check back soon.
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