Messelite

messelite

triphylite

ludlamite

whitlockite

Images

Formula: Ca2Fe2+(PO4)2.2H2O
Hydrated normal phosphate, fairfieldite group
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 3.15 to 3.16 measured
Hardness: 3½
Streak: White
Colour: White, pale grey white, creamy white
Environments

Pegmatites
Hydrothermal environments

Messelite occurs principally as a late stage hydrothermal alteration product in zoned complex granite pegmatites. Associated minerals include triphylite, anapaite, vivianite, ludlamite, siderite, goyazite, whitlockite, herderite, amblygonite, eosphorite, brazilianite, graftonite, fairfieldite, phosphoferrite, hureaulite and jahnsite group minerals (HOM, Mindat).

Localities

At the type locality, the Messel mine, Messel, Darmstadt-Dieburg, Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany, messelite occurs in bituminous clay associated with anapaite (Mindat).

At the Prinz von Hessen Mine, Messel, Darmstadt-Dieburg, Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany, messelite occurs in the coal mine as a late hydrothermal product rimmed with anapaite in a granite pegmatite (Dana).

At the Chickering Mine, Walpole, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, USA, messelite-fairfieldite is moderately common as masses of bladed crystals to 2 mm. They occur where triphylite has altered to secondary phosphates, with ludlamite as a common associate (R&M 90.5.419)

At the Palermo No. 1 Mine, Groton, Grafton county, New Hampshire, USA, messelite occurs as a late hydrothermal mineral in the pegmatite in two ways:
Firstly, as pale greenish white to greenish grey masses associated principally with siderite, plagioclase and quartz, whilst other associated minerals include goyazite, whitlockite, herderite, amblygonite, eosphorite, brazilianite and sphalerite.
Secondly as almost pure white masses either deposited on crystals of ludlamite in veinlets cutting triphylite, or embedded in veinlets or patches of granular material composed largely of siderite, quartz and plagioclase with minor amounts of amblygonite, ludlamite, whitlockite and sphalerite (AM 40.828-833).

At the Bull Moose Mine, Custer, Custer Mining District, Custer county, South Dakota, USA, messelite occurs with hureaulite in the pegmatite (Dana).

At the Tip Top Mine, Fourmile, Custer Mining District, Custer county, South Dakota, USA, messelite occurs in altered triphylite in the pegmatite (Dana).

At Big Chief Mine, Glendale, Keystone Mining District, Pennington county, South Dakota, USA, messelite occurs in the pegmatite as large crystals with siderite and ludlamite (Dana).

Dan Patch Mine, Keystone, Keystone Mining District, Pennington county, South Dakota, USA, messelite occurs with triphylite (Dana).

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