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Triplite

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Big Photo

Kholtoson Mine, Dzhida W-Mo District, Zakamensk, Dzhida Basin, Buriatia (Buryatia) Republic, Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia
© Pavel M. Kartashov

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Formula:
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(F,OH)
System:MonoclinicColour:Brown, red-brown, dark ...
Hardness:5 - 5½
Member of:Triplite Group
Name:From the Greek τριπλόος, "triplos", three-fold, alluding to its three prominent cleavages.


Triplite Group. Triplite-Zwieselite Series. The manganese analogue of Zwieselite.

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Classification of Triplite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.03-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BB.10

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:41.6.1.2

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : A2(XO4)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:22.1.23

22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
1 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with fluoride
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Type Occurrence of Triplite

Type Locality:Chanteloube, Razès, Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France
Year of Discovery:1813

Occurrences of Triplite

Geological Setting:Granitic pegmatites of the complex, phosphate-rich type. Also occurs in high temperature vein (Nevada).

Physical Properties of Triplite

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Brown, red-brown, dark brown, black (altered); light brownish u=yellow to dark reddish brown in transmitted light.
Streak:White to brown
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 5½
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {001}, good; on {010}, fair; and on {100}, poor.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.5 - 3.9 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.94 g/cm3

Crystallography of Triplite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 11.97Å, b = 6.52Å, c = 10.09Å
β = 105.62°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.836 : 1 : 1.548
Unit Cell Volume:V 758.39 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals commonly crude and incompletely developed. Usually massive.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Triplite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.650 nβ = 1.660 nγ = 1.680
2V:Measured: 70° to 90°, Calculated: 72°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.030

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:relatively strong
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:Usually distinct in shades of yellow-brown or reddish brown.

Chemical Properties of Triplite

Formula:
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(F,OH)
Idealised Formula:
Mn
2+
2
(PO
 
4
)F
Essential elements:F, Mn, O, P
All elements listed in formula:F, Fe, H, Mn, O, P
Common Impurities:Sc

Relationship of Triplite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Zwieselite (see here)
Member of:Triplite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Zwieselite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)F
Common Associates:
WolfeiteTriploiditeTriphyliteTourmalineLithiophilite
Apatite
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.10Zwieselite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
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.25Althausite
Mg
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH,F)
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)
 
4
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:

- +
22.1.1Amblygonite
LiAl(PO
 
4
)F
22.1.2Lacroixite
NaAl(PO
 
4
)F
22.1.3Natrophosphate
Na
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
F · 19H
 
2
O
22.1.5Nacaphite
Na
 
2
Ca(PO
 
4
)F
22.1.6Arctite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
22.1.7Nefedovite
Na
 
5
Ca
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
F
22.1.9Fluorapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
22.1.10Herderite
CaBePO
 
4
(F,OH)
22.1.11Isokite
CaMg(PO
 
4
)F
22.1.12Panasqueiraite
CaMg(PO
 
4
)(OH,F)
22.1.13Babefphite
BaBePO
 
4
(F,OH)
22.1.14Fluellite
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)F
 
2
(OH) · 7H
 
2
O
22.1.15Minyulite
KAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,F) · 4H
 
2
O
22.1.16Morinite
NaCa
 
2
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)F
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
22.1.17Bøggildite
Na
 
2
Sr
 
2
Al
 
2
PO
 
4
F
 
9
22.1.18Fluorstrophite
SrCaSr
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
22.1.19Viitaniemiite
Na(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)Al(PO
 
4
)(F,OH)
 
3
22.1.20Väyrynenite
Mn
2+
 
Be(PO
 
4
)(OH,F)
22.1.21Maxwellite
NaFe
3+
 
(AsO
 
4
)F
22.1.22Wagnerite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)F
22.1.24Magniotriplite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
PO
 
4
F
22.1.25Zwieselite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)F
22.1.26Mcauslanite
HFe
2+
3
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
F · 18H
 
2
O
22.1.27Richellite
CaFe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
2
22.1.28Svabite
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
F
22.1.29Tilasite
CaMg(AsO
 
4
)F
22.1.30Johnbaumite-M
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
OH
22.1.31Durangite
NaAl(AsO
 
4
)F

Other Names for Triplite

Synonyms:
Phosphate of Iron and ManganeseRetinbaryte
Other Languages:
Czech:Triplit
French:Manganèse phosphaté
Manganèse phosphaté ferrifère
Phosphate natif de fer melangé de manganèse
German:Triplit
Eisenapatit
Eisenpecherz (of Werner)
Phosphormangan
Italian:Triplite
Russian:Триплит
Simplified Chinese:氟磷酸铁锰矿
Spanish:Triplita
Varieties:
MetatripliteTalktriplite

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Not fluorescence
Other Information:Soluble in acids.
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 Triplite

Reference List:

- +
Vauquelin (1802) Journal des mines {superseded by Annales des mines}: 11: 295 (as Phosphate natif de fer melangé de manganèse).

Vauquelin (1802) Annales de chimie, Paris: 41: 242m (as Phosphate natif de fer melangé de manganèse).

Lucas, J.A.H. (1806) Tableau métodique des espèces mineéraux. Part 1: 169 (as Manganèse phosphaté).

Werner (1808) (as Eisenpecherz).

Haüy, R.J. (1809) Tableau comparative des résultants de la cristallographie et de l’analyse chimique relativement à la classification des minéraux. Paris (as Manganèse phosphaté ferrifère).

Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie, 1st. edition, 3 volumes, Göttingen: 3: 1079 (as Triplit).

Fuchs (1839) Journal für praktische Chemie, Leipzig: 18: 499 (as Eisenapatit).

Deville and Caron (1858) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 47: 985.

Deville and Caron (1863) Annales de chimie et de physique, Paris: 67: 454.

Des Cloizeaux, A. (1867) Nouvelles recherches sur les propriétés optique des cristaux, naturels ou artificiels, et sur les variations que ces propriétés éprouvent sous l’influence de la chaleur. 222pp., Paris. (Institut imperial de France, Mémoires 18): 180.

Igelström, L.J. (1882) Ak. Stockholm, Öfv.: 39: 86 (as Talktriplit).

Kovár and Slavík (1900) Verh. Geol. Reichsansty. Wien: 50: 347.

Lacroix, A. (1910) Minéralogie de la France et des ses colonies, Paris. 5 volumes: vol. 4: 431.

Hess and Hunt (1913) American Journal of Science 36: 51.

Laubmann and Steinmetz (1920) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 55: 523, 559.

Shannon (1920) Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum: 58: 444.

Sellner (1924) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 59: 504.

Müllbauer (1925) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 61: 318.

Hintze, Carl (1931) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [4A]: 700.

Henderson (1933) American Mineralogist: 18: 104.

Otto (1935) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: 47: 98.

Hurlbut (1936) American Mineralogist: 21: 656.

Pehrman (1939) Acta Ac. Aboensis, Math. Physica: 12, no. 6.

Richmond (1940) American Mineralogist: 25: 468.

Mason (1941) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 63: 285.

Mason (1942) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 64: 335.

Wolfe and Heinrich (1947) American Mineralogist: 32: 518.

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.: 849-852.

American Mineralogist (1951): 36: 256-271.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1969): 130: 1-14.

Armbruster, T.; Chopin, C.; Grew, E. S.; Baronnet, A. (2008): The triplite-wagnerite group: A modulated series. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Volume 72, Issue 12, p. A32.

Internet Links for Triplite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Locality Updated: Kelm prospect, Jasper Point, Hunter Valley Mountain, Hunter Valley District, West Belt, Mariposa Co., California, USAFrom Chester S. Lemanski, Jr., 20th May 2013 16:06:42