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Althausite

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

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Formula:
Mg
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH,F)
System:OrthorhombicColour:Pale gray, reddish brown.
Hardness:3½ - 4
Name:Named in 1975 by Gunnar Raade and Magne Tysseland in honor of Prof. Egon Althaus (February 15, 1933-), mineralogist at 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, 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 University, Oslo, Norway, 21978, 22044, 22045.
Year of Discovery:1971
Geological Setting of type material:A serpentine-magnesite deposit
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Xenotime-(Y)TalcSzaibélyiteMagnetiteMagnesite
HoltedahliteFluorapatite

Physical Properties of Althausite

Lustre:Sub-Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Pale gray, reddish brown.
Comment:turning brown on alteration to apatite
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
{010} perfect ; {110} distinct On {001}
Density (measured):2.97 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.91 g/cm3

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}
Space Group Setting:Pnma
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
Morphology:Rare crude crystals are elongated along [001], flattened on {010}, showing {010}, {110}, {131}, to 3 cm; generally as cleavable masses.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.59 (100)
3.42 (40)
3.32 (90)
3.02 (80)
2.89 (40)
2.79 (60)
2.70 (30)
2.64 (60)
Comments:29-869

Optical Data of Althausite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.588 nβ = 1.592 nγ = 1.598
2V:Measured: 70° , Calculated: 80°
Birefringence:0.010
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
Optical Extinction:Parallel
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Althausite

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

Relationship of Althausite to other Species

Common Associates:
WolfeiteVivianiteTopazThadeuiteTalc
SphaleriteSideriteQuartzPyrrhotitePanasqueiraite
MuscoviteMagnesiteFluorapatiteEnstatiteChlorite Group
ChalcopyriteArsenopyrite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.BB.05Amblygonite
LiAl(PO
 
4
)F
8.BB.05Montebrasite
LiAl(PO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.05Tavorite
LiFe
3+
 
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.10Triplite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(F,OH)
8.BB.10Zwieselite
Fe
2+
 
Mn
2+
 
(PO
 
4
)F
8.BB.15Sarkinite
Mn
2+
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.15Triploidite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.15Wagnerite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)F
8.BB.15Wolfeite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.15Stanĕkite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Fe
3+
 
(PO
 
4
)O
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
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.20Satterlyite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH,O)
8.BB.30Adamite
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.30Eveite
Mn
2+
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.30Libethenite
Cu
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.30Olivenite
Cu
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.30Zincolibethenite
CuZn(PO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.30Zincolivenite
CuZn(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.30Auriacusite
Fe
3+
 
Cu
2+
 
(AsO
 
4
)O
8.BB.35Paradamite
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.35Tarbuttite
Zn
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.40Barbosalite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BB.40Hentschelite
CuFe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BB.40Lazulite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BB.40Scorzalite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BB.40Wilhelmkleinite
ZnFe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BB.45Trolleite
Al
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
8.BB.50Namibite
Cu(BiO)
 
2
(VO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BB.55Phosphoellenbergerite
Mg
 
14
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(HPO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
8.BB.60Urusovite
CuAl(AsO
 
4
)O
8.BB.65Theoparacelsite
Cu
 
3
(As
 
2
O
 
7
)(OH)
 
2
8.BB.70Turanite
Cu
 
5
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BB.75Stoiberite
Cu
 
5
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
2
8.BB.80Fingerite
Cu
 
11
(VO
 
4
)
 
6
O
 
2
8.BB.85Averievite
Cu
 
6
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
2
Cl
 
2
8.BB.90Lipscombite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BB.90Richellite
CaFe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
2
8.BB.90Zinclipscombite
ZnFe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.3.1Moraesite
Be
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
19.3.2Beryllonite
NaBePO
 
4
19.3.3Hurlbutite
CaBe
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.3.4Hydroxylherderite
CaBe(PO
 
4
)(OH,F)
19.3.5Glucine
CaBe
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 0.5H
 
2
O
19.3.6Fransoletite
Ca
 
3
Be
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.3.7Uralolite
Ca
 
2
Be
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
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
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
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+
5
Be
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
4
 · 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
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
19.3.17Newberyite
Mg(HPO
 
4
) · 3H
 
2
O
19.3.18Phosphorrösslerite
Mg(HPO
 
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
)Mg(PO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
19.3.23Struvite
(NH
 
4
)Mg(PO
 
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

Fluorescence in UV light:Not fluorescent
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

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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
    		Raade, G. & Tyssedal, M. (1975): Althausite, a new mineral from Modum, Norway. LITHOS 8, 215-219; Rømming, C. & Raade, G.(1980): The crystal structure of Althausite. American Mineralogist, 65, 488-498
        • Snarum
    		Wilke, H.-J. (1976): Mineral-Fundstellen Band 4: Skandinavien. Chr. Weise Verlag, München, 370 pp. (p.111-113)
    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
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