Images
Formula: MgFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2.8H2O
Hydrated phosphate containing hydroxyl, laueite group
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 2.38 measured, 2.40 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Streak: Pale yellow
Colour: Pale yellow, orange-yellow, orange, orange brown
Environments
Ushkovite is a rare phosphate. Common associates include
hydroxylapatite,
jahnsite, manganese oxides,
mitridatite,
siderite, stewartite and
strunzite (Mindat).
At Tom's quarry, Kapunda, Mount Lofty ranges, South Australia, ushkovite has been found associated with
apatite, leucophosphite,
mitridatite, xanthoxenite
and
natrodufrénite (AJM 17.1.26).
At the type locality, Pit No. 232, Bol'shoi Tatkul' Lake, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, ushkovite is found as a
supergene product of weathering of
triplite in granite
pegmatites associated with
triplite, manganese hydroxides,
carbonate-rich
fluorapatite,
mitridatite and beraunite
(Dana, AM 69.212, Webmin, Mindat).
Back to Minerals