Triploidite
Radial reddish triploidite from the Branchville Quarry, Branchville, Fairfield County, Connecticut, US (7.0 x 4.8 x 2.6 cm)
General
CategoryPhosphate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)		(Mn,Fe)2PO4OH
IMA symbolTpd[1]
Strunz classification8.BB.15
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupP21/a
Unit cella = 12.36 Å, b = 13.27 Å
c = 9.94 Å; β = 108.23°; Z = 16
Identification
ColorRed-brown, light pink, yellow-brown; light pink to light brown in transmitted light.
Crystal habitElongated and striated prismatic crystals; fibrous: columnar to spherulitic
CleavageOn {010}, good; on {120}, fair; on {110}, very poor.
FractureUneven to subconchoidal
Mohs scale hardness4+1⁄2 – 5
LusterAdamantine, vitreous, greasy
StreakWhite, off-white.
DiaphaneityTransparent, translucent
Specific gravity3.70 measured
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Refractive indexnα = 1.725 nβ = 1.726 nγ = 1.730
Birefringenceδ = 0.005
PleochroismWeak
Dispersionr > v strong
SolubilitySoluble in acids.
References[2][3][4]

Triploidite is an uncommon manganese iron phosphate mineral with formula: (Mn, Fe)2PO4OH. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system and typically occurs as elongated and striated slender prisms which may be columnar to fibrous. Its crystals may be pinkish to yellowish brown or red-orange.[2]

It was first described in 1878 for an occurrence in the Branchville Quarry, Branchville, Fairfield County, Connecticut. The name is derived from its resemblance to triplite.[3]

It typically occurs as a hydrothermal alteration product of primary phosphate minerals in granite pegmatites. It occurs with triplite, lithiophilite, triphylite, eosphorite, dickinsonite and rhodochrosite.[2][4]

It forms a solid solution series with the iron rich wolfeite.[3][4]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Triploidite.
  1. ↑ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. 1 2 3 Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. 1 2 3 Mindat
  4. 1 2 3 Webmineral data


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