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Alforsite

Big Photo

Trumbull Peak, Incline, Mariposa Co., California, USA
© Pavel M. Kartashov

Formula:
Ba
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
System:HexagonalColour:Colourless
Hardness:5
Name:Named after John T. Alfors (b.1930), geologist, USA.


Apatite Group. The barium analogue of Chlorapatite.

Classification of Alforsite

IMA status:Approved 1980
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.39-120
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BN.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
N : With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 0.33:1
Dana 8th edition ID:41.8.5.2

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : A5(XO4)3Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:22.2.7

22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
2 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with chloride
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Type Occurrence of Alforsite

Co-type Localities:Big Creek, Rush Creek deposit, Big Creek-Rush Creek District, Fresno Co., California, USA
Esquire No. 7 claim, Big Creek, Rush Creek deposit, Big Creek-Rush Creek District, Fresno Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1981

Physical Properties of Alforsite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Colourless
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5

Crystallography of Alforsite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:a = 10.25Å, c = 7.64Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.745
Unit Cell Volume:V 695.14 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Alforsite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.700 nε = 1.700
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High

Chemical Properties of Alforsite

Formula:
Ba
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
Essential elements:Ba, Cl, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Ba, Cl, O, P

Relationship of Alforsite to other Species

Member of Group:
Apatite Supergroup:
A
 
5
(XO
 
4
)
 
3
Z
 
q
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.BN.05Belovite-(Ce)
NaSr
 
3
(Ce,La)[(F,OH)|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Carbonate-rich Apatite-(CaF)
Ca
 
5
[(F,O)|(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Carbonate-rich Apatite-(CaOH)
Ca
 
5
[(OH,O)|(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Apatite-(CaCl)
Ca
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Clinomimetite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Fermorite
(Ca,Sr)
 
5
(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
8.BN.05Apatite-(CaF)
Ca
 
5
[F|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Hedyphane
Pb
 
3
Ca
 
2
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Apatite-(CaOH)
Ca
 
5
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Johnbaumite
Ca
 
5
[OH|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Mimetite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Morelandite
(Ba,Ca,Pb)
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Pyromorphite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Apatite-(SrOH)
(Sr,Ca)
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH,F)
8.BN.05Svabite
Ca
 
5
[(F,Cl,OH)|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Turneaureite
Ca
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Vanadinite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(VO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Belovite-(La)
NaSr
 
3
(La,Ce)[(F,OH)|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Deloneite-(Ce)
NaCa
 
2
SrCe(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05Fluorcaphite
(Ca,Sr,Ce,Na)
 
5
[F|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Kuannersuite-(Ce)
NaBa
 
3
(Ce,Nd,La)[(F,Cl)|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Apatite-(CaOH)-M
(Ca,Na)
 
3
Ca
 
2
[(OH,Cl)|(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05Phosphohedyphane
Pb
 
3
Ca
 
2
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BN.05IMA2008-009
Sr
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.05IMA2008-068
Ca
 
2
Pb
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BN.10Arctite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
22.2.1Sampleite
NaCaCu
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
22.2.2Lavendulan
NaCaCu
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
22.2.3Apatite-(CaCl)
Ca
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.4Turneaureite
Ca
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.5Shubnikovite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
8
[Cl|OH|(AsO
 
4
)
 
6
] · 7H
 
2
O
22.2.6Richelsdorfite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
5
Sb[Cl|(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
22.2.8Morelandite
(Ba,Ca,Pb)
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.9Pyromorphite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.10Mimetite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.11Clinomimetite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.12Sahlinite
Pb
 
14
[O
 
9
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
|Cl
 
4
]
22.2.13Georgiadèsite
Pb
 
16
[(OH)
 
6
|Cl
 
14
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
]
22.2.14Vanadinite
Pb
 
5
[Cl|(VO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.15Kombatite
Pb
 
14
[O
 
9
|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
|Cl
 
4
]
22.2.16Leningradite
PbCu
 
3
[Cl|VO
 
4
]
 
2
22.2.17Hedyphane
Pb
 
3
Ca
 
2
[Cl|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
22.2.18Nealite
Pb
 
4
Fe
2+
 
[Cl
 
2
|AsO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Alforsite

Synonyms:
IMA1980-039
Other Languages:
German:Alforsit
Spanish:Alforsita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Alforsite

Reference List:Newberry, N.G., Essene, E.J., and Peacor, D.R. (1981) Alforsite, a new member of the apatite group, the barium analogue of chlorapatite. American Mineralogist: 66: 1050-1053.

Acta Crystallographica:: B35: 2382-2384.

Internet Links for Alforsite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Alforsite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Alforsite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Alforsite

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Mexico
     
    • Baja California Norte
      • Tres Pozos
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: "Handbook of Mineralogy", Vol. 4, 2000; American Mineralogist, Volume 69, pages 358-373, 1984
    USA
     
    • California
      • Fresno Co.
        • Big Creek-Rush Creek District
          • Rush Creek deposit
    		[Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index, 3rd Edition"]
    [MinRec 33:161]; American Mineralogist (1981), Volume 66, pages 1050-1053
      • Mariposa Co.
        • Incline
    		[MinRec 30:414]; American Mineralogist (1981), Volume 66, pages 1050-1053
      • Tulare Co.
        • Chickencoop Canyon
    Mineral and/or Locality
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