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Gainesite

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Nevel Quarry (Twin Tunnels; United Feldspar Quarry), Newry, Oxford Co., Maine, USA
© 2008, JGW

Formula:
Na(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 1.5-2H
 
2
O
System:TetragonalColour:pale blue to lavender ...
Hardness:4
This page provides mineralogical data about Gainesite.

Classification of Gainesite

IMA status:Approved 1978
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.02-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CA.20

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With small and large/medium cations
Dana 8th edition ID:40.5.4.1

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
5 : AXO4·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.3.11

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

Type Locality:Nevel Quarry (Twin Tunnels; United Feldspar Quarry), Newry, Oxford Co., Maine, USA

Physical Properties of Gainesite

Colour:pale blue to lavender blue
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):4
Cleavage:None Observed

Crystallography of Gainesite

Crystal System:Tetragonal

Optical Data of Gainesite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.618 nε = 1.630
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012

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

Chemical Properties of Gainesite

Formula:
Na(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 1.5-2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Be, Na, O, P, Zr
All elements listed in formula:Be, H, K, Li, Na, O, P, Zr

Relationship of Gainesite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.CA.05Fransoletite
Ca
 
3
Be
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.CA.05Parafransoletite
Ca
 
3
Be
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.CA.10Ehrleite
Ca
 
4
Be
 
3
Zn
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
6
 · 9H
 
2
O
8.CA.15Faheyite
(Mn,Mg,Na)Be
 
2
Fe
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
8.CA.20Mccrillisite
NaCs(Be,Li)Zr
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·1-2H
 
2
O
8.CA.20Selwynite
NaK(Be,Al)Zr
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CA.25Pahasapaite
Li
 
8
(Ca,Li,K)
 
10.5
Be
 
24
(PO
 
4
)
 
24
·38H
 
2
O
8.CA.30Hopeite
Zn
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.CA.30Parahopeite
Zn
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.CA.35Warikahnite
Zn
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
8.CA.40Phosphophyllite
Zn
 
2
Fe(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.CA.45Parascholzite
CaZn
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
8.CA.45Scholzite
CaZn
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
8.CA.50Keyite
(Cu,Zn,Cd)
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
8.CA.55Pushcharovskite
CuAsO
 
3
OH·H
 
2
O
8.CA.60Prosperite
CaZn
 
2
[OH|HAsO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
8.CA.65Gengenbachite
KFe
3+
3
[H
 
2
PO
 
4
|(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
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
19.3.12Roscherite
Ca(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
]
19.3.16Althausite
Mg
 
2
[(OH,F)|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 Gainesite

Synonyms:
IMA1978-020
German names:
Gainesit
Russian names:
Гайнесит
Spanish names:
Gainesita

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 Gainesite

Reference List:Moore, P. B., Araki, T., Steele, I. M., Swihart, G. H. and Kampf, A. R. (1983): Gainesite, sodium zirconium beryllophosphate: a new mineral and its crystal structure. Am. Mineral. 68, 1022-1028.

American Mineralogist: 80: 1074.

Foord, E. E., Brownfield, M. E., Lichte, F. E., Davis, A. M. and Sutley, S. J. (1994): Mccrillisite, NaCs(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4.1-2H2O, a new mineral species from Mount Mica, Oxford County, Maine, and new data for gainesite. Can. Mineral. 32, 839-42.

Internet Links for Gainesite

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    Localities for Gainesite

    (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.
    Brazil
     
    • Southeast Region
    		Van King
    USA
     
    • Maine
      • Oxford Co.
        • Newry
    		Amer.Min.(1983) 68, 1022-1028; "Mineralogy of Maine, Vol. 1" by King, V.T. & Foord, E.E., Maine Geologic Survey, 1994
    Mineral and/or Locality
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