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Millisite

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Iron Monarch open cut, Iron Knob, Middleback Range, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, Australia
© crocoite.com

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Formula:
(Na,K)CaAl
 
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
9
 · 3H
 
2
O
System:TetragonalColour:White, light gray; ...
Hardness:5½
Member of:Wardite Group
Name:After Mr. F.T. Millis of Lehi, Utah, who collected the first specimens.


Wardite Group.
Closely related to wardite.
Needs reinvestigation by modern methods.

Classification of Millisite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.51-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DL.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
L : With large and medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 2:1
Dana 8th edition ID:42.7.9.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.8.20

19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals
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Type Occurrence of Millisite

Type Locality:Clay Canyon, Fairfield, Oquirrh Mts, Utah Co., Utah, USA
Year of Discovery:1930
Associated Minerals at type locality:
WarditeVariscite

Occurrences of Millisite

Geological Setting:Phosphatic laterite; weathered phosphorite.

Physical Properties of Millisite

Colour:White, light gray; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):5½
Density (measured):2.83 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.87 g/cm3

Crystallography of Millisite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:a = 7.00Å, c = 18.99Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 2.713
Unit Cell Volume:V 930.51 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Chalcedonic crusts or spherules with a fine-fibrous structure.
Comment:Other values reported: 7.00, 19.07 (Owens et al., 1960).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
6.6 (40)
4.84 (100b)
3.93 (30)
3.48 (30)
3.09 (60b)
2.98 (80b)
2.81 (80b)
Comments:Similar to wardite.

Optical Data of Millisite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.584 nβ = 1.598 nγ = 1.602
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.018

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

Chemical Properties of Millisite

Formula:
(Na,K)CaAl
 
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
9
 · 3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Ca, H, Na, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, H, K, Na, O, P

Relationship of Millisite to other Species

Member of:Wardite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Cyrilovite
NaFe
3+
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Wardite
NaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
Common Associates:
WavelliteWarditeTurquoiseQuartzLimonite
KaoliniteGoethiteCrandalliteAugeliteApatite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DL.05Foggite
CaAl(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
8.DL.10Cyrilovite
NaFe
3+
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DL.10Wardite
NaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Agardite-(Nd)
NdCu
 
6
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Agardite-(Y)
(Y,Ca)Cu
 
6
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
,HAsO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Agardite-(Ce)
CeCu
 
6
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Agardite-(La)
(La,Ce)Cu
 
6
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Goudeyite
(Al,Y)Cu
 
6
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Mixite
BiCu
 
6
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Petersite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Nd)Cu
 
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Zálesíite
(Ca,Y)Cu
 
6
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(HAsO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Plumboagardite
(Pb,REE,Ca)Cu
 
6
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(HAsO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Calciopetersite
CaCu
 
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.20Cheremnykhite
Pb
 
3
Zn
 
3
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
(TeO
 
6
)
8.DL.20Dugganite
Pb
 
3
Zn
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(TeO
 
6
)
8.DL.20Kuksite
Pb
 
3
Zn
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(TeO
 
6
)
8.DL.20Wallkilldellite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 9H
 
2
O
8.DL.20Wallkilldellite-(Fe)
(Ca,Cu)
 
4
Fe
2+
6
(AsO
 
4
,SiO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH,O)
 
8
 · 18H
 
2
O
8.DL.25Angastonite
CaMgAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.8.1Montebrasite
LiAl(PO
 
4
)(OH)
19.8.2Brazilianite
NaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
19.8.3Wardite
NaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.8.4Tancoite
LiNa
 
2
Al(PO
 
4
)(HPO
 
4
)(OH)
19.8.5Bertossaite
(Li,Na)
 
2
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH,F)
 
4
19.8.6Tinsleyite
KAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
19.8.7Taranakite
(K,NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH) · 9H
 
2
O
19.8.8Francoanellite
K
 
3
Al
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.8.9Gordonite
MgAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.8.10Aldermanite
Mg
 
5
Al
 
12
(PO
 
4
)
 
8
(OH)
 
22
 · 32H
 
2
O
19.8.11Overite
CaMgAl(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
19.8.12Montgomeryite
Ca
 
4
MgAl
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
4
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.8.14Foggite
CaAl(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.8.15Gatumbaite
CaAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.8.16Crandallite
CaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
19.8.17Matulaite
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)Al
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(PO
 
3
OH)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
(H
 
2
O)
 
8
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.8.19Lehiite
19.8.21Englishite
K
 
3
Na
 
2
Ca
 
10
Al
 
15
(PO
 
4
)
 
21
(OH)
 
7
 · 26H
 
2
O
19.8.22Kleemanite
ZnAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.8.23Mantienneite
KMg
 
2
Al
 
2
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 15H
 
2
O
19.8.24Paulkerrite
K(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Ti,Mg)
 
2
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 15H
 
2
O

Other Names for Millisite

Synonyms:
Pallite
Other Languages:
German:Millisit
Spanish:Millisita

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 Millisite

Reference List:

- +
Larsen, E.S. and Shannon (1930) American Mineralogist: 15: 307-337.

Larsen, E.S. (1942) American Mineralogist: 27: 294.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 941-942.

Owens, J.P., Z.S. Altschuler, and R. Berman (1960) Millisite in phosphorite from Homeland, Florida. American Mineralogist: 45: 547-561.

Mineralogical Magazine: 37: 598-605.

Internet Links for Millisite

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    • Localities for Millisite

    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.
    Australia
     
    Trueman, N. A. (1965): The phosphate, volcanic, and carbonate rocks of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. J. Geol. Soc. Australia 12, 261-283.
    • South Australia
      • Eyre Peninsula
        • Middleback Range
          • Iron Knob
    		No reference listed
    • Western Australia
      • Upper Gascoyne Shire
        • Woodlands station
    		Nickel, E. H. et al. (2008): The Woodlands variscite-gold occurrence in the north Gascoyne region of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Mineralogy 14, 27-36.
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Millstatt lake ridge
        • Spittal
          • Millstatt lake
    		Walter, F. (1998): Exkursion E4 am 27.9.1998 - MinPet 98 (Pörtschach am Wörthersee/Kärnten) - Die Pegmatite des Millstätter See-Rückens. Mitt. Österr. Mineral. Ges. 143, 437-450. [http://www.uibk.ac.at/mineralogie/oemg/bd_143/143minpet98_437-450.pdf]; Collection of NHM, Vienna
    Senegal
     
    • Thiès Region
    		http://www.uoguelph.ca/~geology/rocks_for_crops/45senegal.PDF
    Sweden
     
    • Skåne
      • Bromölla
        • Näsum
    		Hansen, S. & Landa-Canovas, A. (1994): Childrenite and millisite from Västanå Mine, Skåne, Sweden. Geologiska Föreningens i Stockholm Förhandlingar 116: 92.
    USA
     
    • Florida
      • Polk Co.
        • Central Florida Phosphate District (Bone Valley)
          • Homeland
    		Owens, J.P., Z.S. Altschuler, and R. Berman (1960) Millisite in phosphorite from Homeland, Florida. American Mineralogist: 45: 547-561.
        • Homeland
    		Denicourt, R., Micromounters of New England program, NE meeting program, May 1984
    • Utah
      • Tooele Co.
        • Stansbury Mts
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
      • Utah Co.
        • Oquirrh Mts
          • Fairfield
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 941, 942, 958; UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Rocks & Minerals (1970): 45(11): 667-674.; Wendell Wilson (2010) The Clay Canyon Variscite Mine, Fairfield Utah. Mineralogical Record 41:321-349
    Mineral and/or Locality
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