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Alforsite

Big Photo

Trumbull Peak, Incline, Mariposa Co., California, USA
© 2007, JGW

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, Fresno Co., California, USA
Esquire No. 7 claim, Big Creek, 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

Related to:
  • Apatite Supergroup
    • 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

    Search Engines:
  • Look for Alforsite on Google
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    • External Links:
  • Look for Alforsite on Webmineral
  • Look for Alforsite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Alforsite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Alforsite on Mineralien Atlas
  • 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)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Search for Alforsite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Alforsite specimens
  • Search for - Alforsite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
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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.
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    (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.
    		[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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