Gainesite
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Richard V.Gaines
Formula:
Na2(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1.5H2O
System:
Tetragonal
Colour:
Lavender to pale purple
Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous
Hardness:
4
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
Physical Properties of Gainesite
Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):
Transparent
Comment:
Very bright
Colour:
Lavender to pale purple
Comment:
Not a blue mineral.
Streak:
white
Hardness (Mohs):
4
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.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Optical Extinction:
Parallel
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemical Properties of Gainesite
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 Volume:
V 738.27 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
{111}, {001}
X-Ray 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:
Relationship of Gainesite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Group:
| Mccrillisite | NaCs(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1-2H2O |
| Selwynite | NaK(Be,Al)Zr2(PO4)4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CA. | Apexite | NaMg(PO4) · 9H2O |
| 8.CA.05 | Fransoletite | Ca3Be2(PO4)2(PO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CA.05 | Parafransoletite | Ca3Be2(PO4)2(PO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CA.10 | Ehrleite | Ca2ZnBe(PO4)2(PO3OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.CA.15 | Faheyite | Be2Mn2+Fe23+(PO4)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.CA.20 | Mccrillisite | NaCs(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4 · 1-2H2O |
| 8.CA.20 | Selwynite | NaKBeZr2(PO4)4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CA.25 | Pahasapaite | Li8(Ca,Li,K)10.5Be24(PO4)24 · 38H2O |
| 8.CA.30 | Hopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CA.30 | Arsenohopeite | Zn3(AsO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CA.35 | Warikahnite | Zn3(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CA.40 | Phosphophyllite | Zn2Fe2+(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CA.45 | Parascholzite | CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CA.45 | Scholzite | CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CA.50 | Keyite | Cu32+Zn4Cd2(AsO4)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.CA.55 | Pushcharovskite | K0.6Cu18[AsO2(OH)2]4[AsO3OH]10(AsO4)(OH)9.6 · 18.6H2O |
| 8.CA.60 | Prosperite | Ca2Zn4(AsO4)4 · H2O |
| 8.CA.65 | Gengenbachite | KFe3(H2PO4)2(HPO4)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.CA.70 | Parahopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 19.3.1 | Moraesite | Be2PO4(OH) · 4H2O |
| 19.3.2 | Beryllonite | NaBePO4 |
| 19.3.3 | Hurlbutite | CaBe2P2O8 |
| 19.3.4 | Hydroxylherderite | CaBe(PO4)(OH) |
| 19.3.5 | Glucine | CaBe4(PO4)2(OH)4 · 0.5H2O |
| 19.3.6 | Fransoletite | Ca3Be2(PO4)2(PO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 19.3.7 | Uralolite | Ca2Be4(PO4)3(OH)3 · 5H2O |
| 19.3.9 | Pahasapaite | Li8(Ca,Li,K)10.5Be24(PO4)24 · 38H2O |
| 19.3.10 | Tiptopite | K2(Li,Na,Ca)6(Be6P6)O24(OH)2 · 1.3H2O |
| 19.3.12 | Roscherite | Ca2Mn52+Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 19.3.13 | Faheyite | Be2Mn2+Fe23+(PO4)4 · 6H2O |
| 19.3.14 | Farringtonite | Mg3(PO4)2 |
| 19.3.15 | Holtedahlite | Mg12(PO3OH,CO3)(PO4)5(OH,O)6 |
| 19.3.16 | Althausite | Mg4(PO4)2(OH,O)(F,◻) |
| 19.3.17 | Newberyite | Mg(PO3OH) · 3H2O |
| 19.3.18 | Phosphorrösslerite | Mg(PO3OH) · 7H2O |
| 19.3.19 | Bobierrite | Mg3(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 19.3.20 | Barićite | (Mg,Fe)3(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 19.3.21 | Panethite | (Na,Ca,K)1-x(Mg,Fe2+,Mn)PO4 |
| 19.3.22 | Dittmarite | (NH4)MgPO4 · H2O |
| 19.3.23 | Struvite | (NH4)MgPO4 · 6H2O |
| 19.3.24 | Hannayite | (NH4)2Mg3(PO3OH)4 · 8H2O |
Other Names for Gainesite
Other Information
Not fluorescent
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:
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.
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
This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 
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(TL) indicates type locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) indicates first recorded locality for everything else. ? 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.
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