Falsterite
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CategoryPhosphate mineral
FormulaCa2MgMn2+2(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)4
Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)14
Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)14
| Falsterite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Phosphate mineral |
| Formula | Ca2MgMn2+2(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)4 Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)14 |
| IMA symbol | Fls[1] |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | P21/c |
| Unit cell | a = 6.39, b = 21.26 c = 15.37 [Å]; β = 90.56° (approximated); Z = 2 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Greenish-blue |
| Crystal habit | thin plates, rectangular laths |
| Cleavage | {010}, perfect |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Streak | Very pale greenish-blue |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Density | 2.78 (measured); 2.84 (calculated; approximated) |
| Optical properties | Biaxal (-) |
| Refractive index | nα=1.58, nβ=1.60, nγ=1.61 (approximated) |
| Pleochroism | Colorless to very pale yellow (X & Z), blue-green (Y) |
| Dispersion | Strong |
| References | [2][3] |
Falsterite is a rare phosphate mineral[3] with the formula Ca2MgMn2+2(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)4Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)14.[2] It is a pegmatitic mineral, related to the currently approved mineral ferraioloite.[3]
