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Althausite

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Tingelstadtjern Quarry, Snarum, Modum, Buskerud, Norway
© K.E.Larsen

Show Althausite Photos (7)
Formula:
Mg
 
2
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:light grey
Hardness:3½ - 4
Name:Named after Prof. Egon Althaus (1933-), University of Karlsruhe, Germany.
This page provides mineralogical data about Althausite.

Classification of Althausite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.04-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BB.25

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 about 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:41.6.5.1

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : A2(XO4)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.3.16

19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be and Mg
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Type Occurrence of Althausite

Type Locality:Tingelstadtjern Quarry, Snarum, Modum, Buskerud, Norway
General Appearance of Type Material:cleavable masses and crude tabular crystals to 3 cm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Mineralogical-Geological Museum, Oslo. Cat.No. 21978
Year of Discovery:1971
Geological Setting of type material:A serpentine-magnesite deposit
Associated Minerals at type locality:
SzaibélyiteHoltedahliteApatite

Physical Properties of Althausite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:light grey
Comment:turning brown on alteration to apatite
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Cleavage:Perfect
{010} perfect ; {110} distinct

Crystallography of Althausite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pnma {P21/n 21/m 21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 8.258(2) Å, b = 6.054(2) Å, c = 14.383(5) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.364 : 1 : 2.376
Unit Cell Volume:V 719.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8

Optical Data of Althausite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.588 nβ = 1.592 nγ = 1.598
2V:Measured: 70° , Calculated: 80°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

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

Chemical Properties of Althausite

Formula:
Mg
 
2
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
Essential elements:H, Mg, O, P
All elements listed in formula:F, H, Mg, O, P

Relationship of Althausite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.BB.05Amblygonite
LiAl[(F,OH)|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.05Montebrasite
LiAl[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.05Tavorite
LiFe
3+
 
[OH|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.10Triplite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[(F,OH)|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.10Zwieselite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
[F|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.15Sarkinite
Mn
2+
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
8.BB.15Triploidite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.15Wagnerite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[F|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.15Wolfeite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.15Stanĕkite
Fe
3+
 
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)[O|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.15Joosteite
Mn
2+
 
(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[PO
 
4
]O
8.BB.15Hydroxylwagnerite
Mg
 
2
[PO
 
4
](OH)
8.BB.20Holtedahlite
Mg
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.20Satterlyite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(OH,O)|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.30Adamite
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.30Eveite
Mn
2+
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
8.BB.30Libethenite
Cu
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.30Olivenite
Cu
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
8.BB.30Zincolibethenite
CuZnPO
 
4
OH
8.BB.30Zincolivenite
CuZn(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.30IMA2009-037
Fe
3+
 
Cu
2+
 
AsO
 
4
O
8.BB.35Paradamite
Zn
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
8.BB.35Tarbuttite
Zn
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
8.BB.40Barbosalite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BB.40Hentschelite
CuFe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BB.40Lazulite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BB.40Scorzalite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BB.40Wilhelmkleinite
ZnFe
3+
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BB.45Trolleite
Al
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
8.BB.50Namibite
Cu(BiO)
 
2
(VO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.55Phosphoellenbergerite
Mg
 
14
[(OH)
 
6
|(HPO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
6
]
8.BB.60Urusovite
Cu[AlAsO
 
5
]
8.BB.65Theoparacelsite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|As
 
2
O
 
7
]
8.BB.70Turanite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|VO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BB.75Stoiberite
Cu
 
5
[O
 
2
|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BB.80Fingerite
Cu
 
11
[O
 
2
|(VO
 
4
)
 
6
]
8.BB.85Averievite
Cu
 
6
[O
 
2
|Cl
 
2
|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BB.90Lipscombite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BB.90Richellite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
10
[(OH,F)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O (not confirmed)
8.BB.90Zinclipscombite
ZnFe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.3.1Moraesite
Be
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
19.3.2Beryllonite
NaBe[PO
 
4
]
19.3.3Hurlbutite
CaBe
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.3.4Hydroxylherderite
CaBe[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
19.3.5Glucine
CaBe
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 0.5H
 
2
O
19.3.6Fransoletite
Ca
 
3
Be
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.3.7Uralolite
Ca
 
2
Be
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.3.9Pahasapaite
Li
 
8
(Ca,Li,K)
 
10.5
Be
 
24
(PO
 
4
)
 
24
·38H
 
2
O
19.3.10Tiptopite
K
 
2
(Na,Ca)
 
2
Li
 
3
Be
 
6
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.3.11Gainesite
Na(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 1.5-2H
 
2
O
19.3.12Roscherite
Ca
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
6
] · 6H
 
2
O
19.3.13Faheyite
(Mn,Mg,Na)Be
 
2
Fe
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
19.3.14Farringtonite
Mg
 
3
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.3.15Holtedahlite
Mg
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
19.3.17Newberyite
MgHPO
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
19.3.18Phosphorrösslerite
MgHPO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
19.3.19Bobierrite
Mg
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
19.3.20Barićite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
19.3.21Panethite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.3.22Dittmarite
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
19.3.23Struvite
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
19.3.24Hannayite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
3
H
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·8H
 
2
O

Other Names for Althausite

Synonyms:
IMA1974-050
Other Languages:
German:Althausit
Russian:Альтхаузит
Spanish:Althausita

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 Althausite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 61: 502.

Raade, G. & Tysseland, M. (1975): Althausite, a new mineral from Modum, Norway. LITHOS 8, 215-219

Raade, G. (1979): Althausite, a new mineral from Modum, Norway: Addendum. LITHOS 12, 288

Rømming, C. & Raade, G. (1980): The crystal structure of Althausite. American Mineralogist, 65, 488-498

Internet Links for Althausite

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    Localities for Althausite

    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.
    Norway
     
    • Buskerud
      • Modum
        • Snarum
    		Rømming, C. & Raade, G.(1980): The crystal structure of Althausite. American Mineralogist, 65, 488-498
    Raade, G. (1975): Althausite, a new mineral from Modum, Norway. LITHOS 8, 215-219 ; AmMin 86:1536]
    Portugal
     
    • Castelo Branco District
      • Covilhã
        • Panasqueira
    		American Mineralogist, Volume 67, pages 854-860, l982
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 5th Nov 2009 01:19:57