Phosphophyllite

phosphophyllite

vivianite

rockbridgeite

strengite

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Formula: Zn2Fe2+(PO4)2.4H2O
Hydrated phosphate, a zinc-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 3.08 to 3.13 measured, 3.12 calculated
Hardness: 3 to 3½
Streak: White
Colour: Bright blue-green to colourless, colourless in transmitted light
Luminescence: Fluoresces violet in short wave UV
Solubility: Soluble in acids
Common impurities: Mn
Environments

Pegmatites
Hydrothermal environments

Phosphophyllite typically occurs as a secondary mineral in zoned complex granite pegmatites, as an alteration product of sphalerite and iron-manganese phosphates. Phosphophyllite also occurs in hydrothermal vein deposits (HOM).

Localities

At Reaphook Hill, Martins Well station, South Flinders Ranges, Flinders Ranges, South Australia, phosphophyllite is associated with hillite in a gossan-like mass covering unmetamorphosed siltstone. Other mineral associated with hillite here include scholzite, tarbuttite, parahopeite, zinc-bearing collinsite and switzerite (Minrec 35.4.352).

At the type locality, the Hagendorf North Pegmatite, Hagendorf, Waidhaus, Neustadt an der Waldnaab District, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany, phosphophyllite occurs in a zoned granite pegmatite. Associated minerals include triplite, triphylite, sphalerite, apatite, vivianite, rockbridgeite, strengite, fluorapatite, fairfieldite and phosphosiderite (Dana, HOM, Mindat).

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