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Mélonjosephite

Big Photo

Sandamab pegmatite (Sandamap pegmatite), Usakos, Karibib District, Erongo Region, Namibia
© Elmar Lackner

Formula:
CaFe
2+
 
Fe
3+
 
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
Colour:Dark green, nearly black.Hardness:5
This page provides mineralogical data about Mélonjosephite.

Classification of Mélonjosephite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.23-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BG.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
G : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 0.5:1
Dana 8th edition ID:41.10.5.1

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
10 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.14.18

19 : Phosphates
14 : Phosphates of Fe and other metals
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Type Occurrence of Mélonjosephite

Type Locality:Angarf-South pegmatite, Tazenakht, Ouarzazate Province, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, Morocco

Physical Properties of Mélonjosephite

Lustre:Adamantine, Greasy
Colour:Dark green, nearly black.
Streak:Greenish
Hardness (Mohs):5

Optical Data of Mélonjosephite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.720 nβ = 1.770 nγ = 1.800
2V:Measured: 80° to 85°, Calculated: 72°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.080

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

Chemical Properties of Mélonjosephite

Formula:
CaFe
2+
 
Fe
3+
 
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
Essential elements:Ca, Fe, H, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Fe, H, O, P

Relationship of Mélonjosephite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.BG.05Arsentsumebite
Pb
 
2
Cu[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
8.BG.05Bearthite
Ca
 
2
Al[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.05Brackebuschite
Pb
 
2
(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.05Gamagarite
Ba
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.05Goedkenite
(Sr,Ca)
 
2
Al[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.05Tsumebite
Pb
 
2
Cu[OH|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
8.BG.05Arsenbrackebuschite
Pb
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Zn
2+
 
)[(OH,H
 
2
O)|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.05Feinglosite
Pb
 
2
(Zn,Fe
2+
 
)[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
8.BG.05Bushmakinite
Pb
 
2
Al[OH|PO
 
4
|VO
 
4
]
8.BG.05Tokyoite
Ba
 
2
(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.05Calderónite
Pb
 
2
Fe
3+
 
[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.15Tancoite
LiNa
 
2
Al[OH|HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
19.14.1Cyrilovite
NaFe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.2Kidwellite
NaFe
3+
9
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.14.3Rosemaryite
(Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe
2+
 
)(Fe
3+
 
,Mg)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.14.4Wyllieite
(Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe)(Fe,Mg)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.14.5Ferrowyllieite
(Na,Ca,Mn)(Fe,Mn)(Fe,Fe,Mg)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.14.6Natrodufrénite
NaFe
2+
 
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
5
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.7Leucophosphite
KFe
3+
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.8Spheniscidite
(NH
 
4
,K)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.9Burangaite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
5
[(OH,O)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.10Satterlyite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(OH,O)|PO
 
4
]
19.14.11Ushkovite
MgFe
3+
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.14.12Garyansellite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,O)·1.5H
 
2
O
19.14.13Thadeuite
Ca(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.14.14Anapaite
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.14.15Xanthoxenite
Ca
 
4
Fe
3+
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.14.16Calcioferrite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 7H
 
2
O
19.14.17Mitridatite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
3
[O
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
19.14.19Delvauxite
CaFe
 
4
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
·4-6H
 
2
O not confirmed·
19.14.20Collinsite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.21Segelerite
Ca
 
2
 Mg
 
2
 Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.14.22Kingsmountite
Ca
 
4
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.14.23Vauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.14.24Metavauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.14.25Paravauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.14.26Sigloite
Fe
3+
 
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
19.14.27Cacoxenite
Fe
3+
24
Al[(OH)
 
12
|O
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
17
] · 17H
 
2
O
19.14.28Koninckite
Fe
3+
 
[PO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
19.14.29Lazulite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.14.30Scorzalite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.14.31Souzalite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.32Gormanite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.33Zaïrite
Bi(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]

Other Names for Mélonjosephite

Synonyms:
IMA1973-012
German names:
Mélonjosephit
Spanish names:
Mélonjosephita

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 Mélonjosephite

Reference List:Fransolet, A.-M. (1973): La mélonjosephite, CaFe2+Fe3+(PO4)2(OH), une nouvelle espèce minérale. Bull. Soc. fr. Minéral., 96, 135–142 (in French with English abs.).

American Mineralogist (1975): 60: 946.

Kampf, A.R. and P.B. Moore (1977): Melonjosephite, calcium iron hydroxy phosphate: its crystal structure. Am. Mineral., 62, 60–66.


Internet Links for Mélonjosephite

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    Localities for Mélonjosephite

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    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.
    Bolivia
     
    • Potosí Department
      • Bustillos Province
        • Llallagua
    		Min Rec (2006) 37:117-162
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Central Bohemia Region
    		Povondra, P., Pivec, E. (eds.) et al.: Přibyslavice peraluminuous granite. Acta universitatis carolinae, Geologica, 1987, no. 3, s . 183 – 283.
    Morocco
     
    • Souss-Massa-Draâ Region
      • Ouarzazate Province
        • Tazenakht
    		Fransolet, A.-M. (1973): La mélonjosephite, CaFe2+Fe3+(PO4)2(OH), une nouvelle espèce minérale. Bull. Soc. fr. Minéral., 96, 135–142 (in French with English abs.).
    Namibia
     
    • Erongo Region
      • Karibib District
        • Usakos
    		http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/melonjosephite.pdf
    Mineral and/or Locality
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