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Millisite

Big Photo

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

Show Millisite Photos (4)
Formula:
(Na,K)CaAl
 
6
[(OH)
 
9
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
System:TetragonalColour:White, light gray; ...
Hardness:5½
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)
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
[(OH)
 
9
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 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 Group:
Wardite Group:
Common Associates:
WavelliteWarditeTurquoiseQuartzLimonite
KaoliniteGoethiteCrandalliteAugeliteApatite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DL.05Foggite
CaAl[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
8.DL.10Cyrilovite
NaFe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DL.10Wardite
NaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Agardite-(Nd)
(Nd,La,Ce)Cu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Agardite-(Y)
(Y,Ca)Cu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
,HAsO
 
4
)|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Agardite-(Ce)
CeCu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Agardite-(La)
(La,Ce)Cu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Goudeyite
(Al,Y)Cu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Mixite
BiCu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Petersite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Nd)Cu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Zálesíite
(Ca,Y)Cu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|(HAsO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Plumboagardite
(Pb,REE,Ca)Cu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|(HAsO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.15Calciopetersite
CaCu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|HPO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DL.20Cheremnykhite
Pb
 
3
Zn
 
3
TeO
 
6
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
8.DL.20Dugganite
Pb
 
3
Zn
 
3
(Te
6+
 
O
 
6
)(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
8.DL.20Kuksite
Pb
 
3
Zn
 
3
TeO
 
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
8.DL.20Wallkilldellite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 9H
 
2
O
8.DL.20Wallkilldellite-(Fe)
(Ca,Cu)
 
4
Fe
2+
6
[(OH,O)
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
,SiO
 
4
)]
 
4
 · 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[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
19.8.2Brazilianite
NaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.8.3Wardite
NaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.8.4Tancoite
LiNa
 
2
Al[OH|HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
19.8.5Bertossaite
(Li,Na)
 
2
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
 
4
19.8.6Tinsleyite
KAl
 
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 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
[(HPO
 
4
)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.8.9Gordonite
MgAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.8.10Aldermanite
Mg
 
5
Al
 
12
[(OH)
 
11
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
]
 
2
 · 32H
 
2
O
19.8.11Overite
CaMgAl[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
19.8.12Montgomeryite
Ca
 
4
MgAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.8.14Foggite
CaAl[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
19.8.15Gatumbaite
CaAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.8.16Crandallite
CaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
19.8.17Matulaite
CaAl
 
18
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
4
 · 28H
 
2
O
19.8.19Lehiite
19.8.21Englishite
K
 
3
Na
 
2
Ca
 
10
Al
 
15
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
7
 · 26H
 
2
O
19.8.22Kleemanite
ZnAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.8.23Mantienneite
KMg
 
2
Al
 
2
Ti[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 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

    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.
    Australia
     
    • South Australia
      • Eyre peninsula
        • Middleback Range
          • Iron Knob
    		No reference listed
    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.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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