Gainesite
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Richard V.Gaines
Formula:
Na(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1.5-2H2O
Colour:
Lavender to pale purple
Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
2.94
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1983 by Paul Brian Moore, Takaharu Araki, Ian M. Steele., George H. Swihart and Anthony Robert Kampf in honor of the US American Richard Venable Gaines [January 25, 1917 Poughkeepsie, New York, USA - January 21, 1994 Earlysville, Virginia, USA], economic geologist with Cabot Minerals and others, mineralogist, and collector of pegmatite, especially Be minerals. He was also an expert in tellurium minerals and named a number of mineral species. He was senior author of the 8th edition of Dana's System of Mineralogy.
Minute steeply pyramidal, pale lilac to slightly blue purple crystals usually about 0.1-0.2 mm.
Classification of Gainesite
Approved
Approval Year:
1978
7/C.02-20
8.CA.20
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With small and large/medium cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
A : With small and large/medium cations
40.5.4.1
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
5 : AXO4·xH2O
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
5 : AXO4·xH2O
19.3.11
19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be and Mg
19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be and Mg
Pronounciation of Gainesite
Pronounciation:
| Play | Recorded by | From |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon & Katya Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Gainesite
Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Very bright
Colour:
Lavender to pale purple
Comment:
Not a blue mineral.
Streak:
white
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
2.94 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.84 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Gainesite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.618 nε = 1.630
Birefringence:
0.045
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.012
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Optical Extinction:
Parallel
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemical Properties of Gainesite
Formula:
Na(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1.5-2H2O
IMA Formula:
Na2(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1.5H2O
Crystallography of Gainesite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4mm - Ditetragonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
I41md
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.567 Å, c = 17.119 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.607
Unit Cell V:
738.27 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
{111}, {001}
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.07 | (100) |
| 4.24 | (30) |
| 3.27 | (90) |
| 3.02 | (50) |
| 2.88 | (40) |
| 2.17 | (30) |
| 2.01 | (30) |
| 1.673 | (30) |
Comments:
35-604
Type Occurrence of Gainesite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Smithsonian Institution
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Late stage granite pegmatite mineralization.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Gainesite
Other Language Names for Gainesite
Relationship of Gainesite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Mccrillisite | NaCs(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1-2H2O | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
| Selwynite | NaK(Be,Al)Zr2(PO4)4 · 2H2O | Tet. |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
| 8.CA. | Apexite | NaMg(PO4)·9H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| 8.CA.05 | Fransoletite | Ca3Be2(PO4)2(HPO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
| 8.CA.05 | Parafransoletite | Ca3Be2(PO4)2(HPO4)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| 8.CA.10 | Ehrleite | Ca4Be3Zn2(PO4)6 · 9H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| 8.CA.15 | Faheyite | Be2Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)4 · 6H2O | Trig. 3 2 : P31 2 1 |
| 8.CA.20 | Mccrillisite | NaCs(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1-2H2O | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
| 8.CA.20 | Selwynite | NaK(Be,Al)Zr2(PO4)4 · 2H2O | Tet. |
| 8.CA.25 | Pahasapaite | Li8(Ca,Li,K)10.5Be24(PO4)24 · 38H2O | Iso. 2 3 : I2 3 |
| 8.CA.30 | Hopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
| 8.CA.30 | Arsenohopeite | Zn3(AsO4)2 · 4H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
| 8.CA.35 | Warikahnite | Zn3(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. |
| 8.CA.40 | Phosphophyllite | Zn2Fe(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| 8.CA.45 | Parascholzite | CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. |
| 8.CA.45 | Scholzite | CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcm |
| 8.CA.50 | Keyite | Cu2+3Zn4Cd2(AsO4)6 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m |
| 8.CA.55 | Pushcharovskite | K0.6Cu18(AsO4)(HAsO4)10(H2AsO4)4(OH)9.6·18.6H2O | Tric. |
| 8.CA.60 | Prosperite | Ca2Zn4(AsO4)4•H2O · | Mon. |
| 8.CA.65 | Gengenbachite | KFe3+3(HPO4)4(H2PO4)2 · 6H2O | Trig. 3m : P3 1c |
| 8.CA.70 | Parahopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
| 40.5.4. | Kaňkite | FeAsO4 · 3.5H2O | Mon. |
| 40.5.4.2 | Mccrillisite | NaCs(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1-2H2O | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
| 40.5.4.3 | Selwynite | NaK(Be,Al)Zr2(PO4)4 · 2H2O | Tet. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
| 19.3.1 | Moraesite | Be2(PO4)(OH) · 4H2O | Mon. |
| 19.3.2 | Beryllonite | NaBePO4 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| 19.3.3 | Hurlbutite | CaBe2(PO4)2 | Mon. |
| 19.3.4 | Hydroxylherderite | CaBe(PO4)(OH,F) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| 19.3.5 | Glucine | CaBe4(PO4)2(OH)4 · 0.5H2O | |
| 19.3.6 | Fransoletite | Ca3Be2(PO4)2(HPO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
| 19.3.7 | Uralolite | Ca2Be4(PO4)3(OH)3 · 5H2O | Mon. |
| 19.3.9 | Pahasapaite | Li8(Ca,Li,K)10.5Be24(PO4)24 · 38H2O | Iso. 2 3 : I2 3 |
| 19.3.10 | Tiptopite | K2(Na,Ca)2Li3Be6(PO4)6(OH)2 · H2O | Hex. |
| 19.3.12 | Roscherite | Ca2Mn2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| 19.3.13 | Faheyite | Be2Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)4 · 6H2O | Trig. 3 2 : P31 2 1 |
| 19.3.14 | Farringtonite | Mg3(PO4)2 | Mon. 2/m |
| 19.3.15 | Holtedahlite | Mg2(PO4)(OH) | Trig. 3m : P3 1m |
| 19.3.16 | Althausite | Mg4(PO4)2(OH,O)(F,☐) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
| 19.3.17 | Newberyite | Mg(HPO4) · 3H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca |
| 19.3.18 | Phosphorrösslerite | Mg(HPO4) · 7H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
| 19.3.19 | Bobierrite | Mg3(PO4)2 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| 19.3.20 | Barićite | (Mg,Fe)3(PO4)2 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| 19.3.21 | Panethite | (Na,Ca)2(Mg,Fe2+)2(PO4)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| 19.3.22 | Dittmarite | (NH4)Mg(PO4) · H2O | Orth. |
| 19.3.23 | Struvite | (NH4)Mg(PO4) · 6H2O | Orth. mm2 |
| 19.3.24 | Hannayite | (NH4)2Mg3H4(PO4)4 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Fluorescence of Gainesite
Not fluorescent
Other Information
Health Risks:
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:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
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
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1635.html
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Localities for Gainesite
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The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
USA (TL) | |
| Amer.Min.(1983) 68, 1022-1028; "Mineralogy of Maine, Vol. 1" by King, V.T. & Foord, E.E., Maine Geologic Survey, 1994 |
Nevel Quarry, Newry, Oxford Co., Maine, USA