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Triphylite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

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.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

7/A.02-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

8.AB.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H₂O
B : With medium-sized cations

Related to:

Triphylite Group. Triphylite - Lithiophilite Series. Simferrite - Natrophilite Series.

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

Crystals rare, typically prismatic, several other forms. Commonly subhedral, to 6.5 m, cleavable, compact, massive.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[100] nearly Perfect, [010] Imperfect, [011] Interrupted

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven to Sub-Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

4.0 - 5.0

Density:

3.50 - 3.58 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Other:

Soluble in acids.

Optical Properties

Color:

Brownish Green, Greenish Gray, Bluish Gray, Brownish to Black where altered

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

Occurances

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

View mineral photos:

Triphylite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

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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