Carpholite

minerals

sudoite

bertrandite

zinnwaldite

Formula: Mn2+Al2Si2O6(OH)4
Inosilicate (chain silicate), carpholite group, forms a series with ferrocarpholite
Specific gravity: 3.0
Hardness: 5 -5½
Streak: White
Colour: Straw-yellow
Solubility: Insoluble in acids
Common impurities: Ti,Fe,V,Zn,Mg,Ca,Na,K
Environments:

Metamorphic environments
Hydrothermal environments

Carpholite is a manganese-bearing mineral that occurs in hydrothermal veins in low-grade metamorphosed shale (HOM, Dana) associated with sudoite, garnet, chloritoid and fluorite (HOM). It is a mineral of the eclogite facies.

Localities

At the type locality, Horní Slavkov, Sokolov District, Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic, carpholite is associated with fluorite and quartz in tin deposits (Dana).

At the Sawtooth batholith, Idaho, USA, a lithium, potassium, fluorine bearing carpholite has been found as needles in miarolitic cavities. The associated minerals are quartz, microcline, albite, beryl, topaz, bertrandite, zinnwaldite, fluorite, hematite and apatite. The nature of the occurence indicates a relatively low pressure and medium temperature environment for its origin (AM 74.1084-1090).

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