Tavorite
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About Tavorite
Formula:
LiFe3+(PO4)(OH)
Colour:
Grass-green, yellow-green
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Greasy
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
3.32
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1954 by Marie Louise Lindberg (Smith) and William T. pecora in honor of Elysairio Tavora [b. 1911 Brasil], professor of mineralogy, Universidad de Brasil Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Classification of Tavorite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1954
7/B.02-60
8.BB.05
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 about 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 about 1:1
41.5.9.1
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
19.1.14
19 : Phosphates
1 : Phosphates of the alkali metals
19 : Phosphates
1 : Phosphates of the alkali metals
Physical Properties of Tavorite
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Grass-green, yellow-green
Streak:
Pale yellow green
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {100}, good on {110}, distinct on {011}, and on {001}, imperfect.
Perfect on {100}, good on {110}, distinct on {011}, and on {001}, imperfect.
Fracture:
Micaceous
Density:
3.32 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.33 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Tavorite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.795 nβ = 1.811 nγ = 1.861
2V:
Measured: 74° , Calculated: 78°
Birefringence:
0.066
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.066

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:
Very High
Dispersion:
r << v
Optical Extinction:
Y^b ~ 0°, Z^c ~38°, X^a ~ 15°
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
X = Y = yellow-green, Z = colorless
Chemical Properties of Tavorite
Crystallography of Tavorite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.340 Å, b = 7.283 Å, c = 5.110 Å
α = 109.29°, β = 97.86°, γ = 106.32°
α = 109.29°, β = 97.86°, γ = 106.32°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.733 : 1 : 0.702
Unit Cell V:
174.14 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Bladed crystals, often rounded and/or etched. Found as fine-grained masses to sever mm
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0020848 | Tavorite | Marx N, Croguennec L, Carlier D, Wattiaux A, Le Cras F, Suard E, Delmas C (2010) The structure of tavorite LiFePO4(OH) from diffraction and GGA + U studies and its preliminary electrochemical characterization Dalton Transactions 39 5108-5116 | 2010 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
0012660 | Tavorite | Yakubovich O V, Urusov V S (1997) The structure and electron density of Fe2+ -bearing tavorite in relation to the genetic crystal chemistry of secondary phosphates of lithium pegmatites Geochemistry International 35 630-638 | 1997 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
4.99 Å | (50) |
4.68 Å | (30) |
3.95 Å | (20) |
3.285 Å | (90) |
3.045 Å | (100) |
2.474 Å | (40) |
1.662 Å | (3b) |
Type Occurrence of Tavorite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Bright lime green scales and fine-grained masses
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Late stage phosphate mineralization in a granite pegmatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Lindberg, M.L., Pecora, W.T. (1954) Tavorite and barbosalite: two new phosphate minerals from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Science: 119: 739-739.
Other Language Names for Tavorite
Relationship of Tavorite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Amblygonite | LiAl(PO4)F | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Montebrasite | LiAl(PO4)(OH) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Natromontebrasite | Masses of white mineral. | Tric. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
12 photos of Tavorite associated with Hureaulite | Mn2+5(PO3OH)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
10 photos of Tavorite associated with Rockbridgeite | Fe2+Fe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5 |
7 photos of Tavorite associated with Barbosalite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
6 photos of Tavorite associated with Giniite | Fe2+Fe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5 · 2H2O |
4 photos of Tavorite associated with Triphylite | LiFe2+PO4 |
2 photos of Tavorite associated with Mélonjosephite | CaFe2+Fe3+(PO4)2(OH) |
1 photo of Tavorite associated with Robertsite | Ca2Mn3+3(PO4)3O2 · 3H2O |
1 photo of Tavorite associated with Strengite | FePO4 · 2H2O |
1 photo of Tavorite associated with Leucophosphite | KFe3+2(PO4)2(OH) · 2H2O |
1 photo of Tavorite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
8.BB.X | Arsenowagnerite | Mg2(AsO4)F | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.BB.05 | Amblygonite | LiAl(PO4)F | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.BB.05 | Montebrasite | LiAl(PO4)(OH) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.BB.10 | Triplite | Mn2+2(PO4)F | Mon. 2/m |
8.BB.10 | Zwieselite | Fe2+2(PO4)F | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.BB.15 | Sarkinite | Mn2+2(AsO4)(OH) | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
8.BB.15 | Triploidite | Mn2+2(PO4)(OH) | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
8.BB.15 | Wagnerite | (Mg,Fe2+)2(PO4)F | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.BB.15 | Wolfeite | Fe2+2(PO4)(OH) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.BB.15 | Stanĕkite | (Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)Fe3+(PO4)O | Mon. |
8.BB.15 | Joosteite | Mn2+(Mn3+,Fe3+)(PO4)O | Mon. 2/m |
8.BB.15 | Hydroxylwagnerite | Mg2(PO4)(OH) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.BB.20 | Holtedahlite | Mg2(PO4)(OH) | Trig. 3m : P3 1m |
8.BB.20 | Satterlyite | (Fe2+,Mg,Fe)12(PO4)5(PO3OH)(OH,O)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1m |
8.BB.25 | Althausite | Mg4(PO4)2(OH,O)(F,◻) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
8.BB.30 | Adamite | Zn2(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm |
8.BB.30 | Eveite | Mn2+2(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm |
8.BB.30 | Libethenite | Cu2(PO4)(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm |
8.BB.30 | Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
8.BB.30 | Zincolibethenite | CuZn(PO4)(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm |
8.BB.30 | Zincolivenite | CuZn(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm |
8.BB.30 | Auriacusite | Fe3+Cu2+(AsO4)O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm |
8.BB.35 | Paradamite | Zn2(AsO4)(OH) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.BB.35 | Tarbuttite | Zn2(PO4)(OH) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.BB.40 | Barbosalite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.BB.40 | Hentschelite | CuFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 | Mon. |
8.BB.40 | Lazulite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.BB.40 | Scorzalite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.BB.40 | Wilhelmkleinite | ZnFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 | Mon. |
8.BB.45 | Trolleite | Al4(PO4)3(OH)3 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.BB.50 | Namibite | Cu(BiO)2(VO4)(OH) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.BB.55 | Phosphoellenbergerite | (Mg,◻)2Mg12(PO4,PO3OH)6(PO3OH,CO3)2(OH)6 | Hex. |
8.BB.60 | Urusovite | CuAl(AsO4)O | Mon. |
8.BB.65 | Theoparacelsite | Cu3(As2O7)(OH)2 | Orth. |
8.BB.70 | Turanite | Cu5(VO4)2(OH)4 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.BB.75 | Stoiberite | Cu5(VO4)2O2 | Mon. |
8.BB.80 | Fingerite | Cu11(VO4)6O2 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.BB.85 | Averievite | Cu6(VO4)2O2Cl2 | Trig. |
8.BB.90 | Lipscombite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 | Tet. |
8.BB.90 | Richellite | CaFe3+2(PO4)2(OH,F)2 | Amor. |
8.BB.90 | Zinclipscombite | ZnFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 | Tet. 4 2 2 : P43 21 2 |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
19.1.1 | Lithiophosphate | Li3PO4 | Orth. mm2 : Pmn21 |
19.1.2 | Olympite | Na5Li(PO4)2 | Orth. |
19.1.3 | Nahpoite | Na2(PO3OH) | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
19.1.4 | Dorfmanite | Na2(PO3OH) · 2H2O | Orth. |
19.1.5 | Nalipoite | NaLi2PO4 | Orth. |
19.1.6 | Stercorite | (NH4)Na(PO3OH) · 4H2O | Tric. |
19.1.7 | Archerite | (K,NH4)(H2PO4) | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d |
19.1.8 | Biphosphammite | NH4(H2PO4) | Tet. 4 2 2 : I41 2 2 |
19.1.9 | Phosphammite | (NH4)2(PO3OH) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
19.1.10 | Lithiophilite | LiMn2+PO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmna |
19.1.11 | Sicklerite | Li1-x(Mn3+xMn2+1-x)PO4 | Orth. |
19.1.12 | Ferrisicklerite | Li1-x(Fe3+xFe2+1-x)PO4 | Orth. |
19.1.13 | Triphylite | LiFe2+PO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmna |
19.1.15 | Marićite | NaFe2+(PO4) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmna |
Fluorescence of Tavorite
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 Tavorite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Lindberg, M.L., Pecora, W.T. (1954) Tavorite and barbosalite: two new phosphate minerals from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Science: 119: 739-739.
Lindberg, M.L., Pecora, W.T. (1955) Tavorite and barbosalite, two new phosphate minerals from Minas Gerias, Brazil. American Mineralogist: 40: 952-966.
Fleischer, M. (1954) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 39: 848-852.
Fransolet, A.-M., Tarte, P. (1977) Infrared spectra of analyzed samples of the amblygonite-montebrasite series; a new rapid semi-quantitative determination of fluorine. American Mineralogist: 62: 559-564.
Genkina, E.A., Kabalov, Yu.K., Maksimov, B.A., Melnikov, O.K. (1984) The crystal structure of synthetic tavorite LiFe(PO4)(OH,F). Kristallografiya (Soviet Physics - Crystallography): 29: 27-30.
Roberts, A.C., Dunn, P.J., Grice, J.D., Newbury, D.E., Roberts, W.L. (1988) The X-ray crystallography of tavorite from the Tip Top pegmatite, Custer, South Dakota. Powder Diffraction: 3: 93-95.
Pizarro-Sanz, J.L., Dance, J.M., Villeneuve, G., Arriortua-Marcaida, M.I. (1994) The natural and synthetic tavorite minerals: crystal chemistry and magnetic properties. Materials Letters: 18(5-6): 327-330.
Yakubovich, O.V., Urusov, V.S. (1997) The structure and electron density of Fe2+-bearing tavorite in relation to the genetic crystal chemistry of secondary phosphates of lithium pegmatites. Geochemistry International: 35: 630-638.
Marx, N., Croguennec, L., Carlier, D., Wattiaux, A., Le Cras, F., Suard, E., Delmas, C. (2010) The structure of tavorite LiFePO4(OH) from diffraction and GGA + U studies and its preliminary electrochemical characterization. Dalton Transactions: 39: 5108-5116.
Internet Links for Tavorite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3896.html
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Localities for Tavorite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Roda-Robles, E., Galliski, M. A., Roquet, M. B., Hatert, F., & de Paeseval, P. (2012). Phosphate nodules containing two distinct assemblages in the Cema granitic pegmatite, San Luis province, Argentina: Paragenesis, composition and significance. The Canadian Mineralogist, 50(4), 913-931. |
Brazil | |
| Cassedanne, J.P., Cassedanne, J.O. (1982) Presence de legrandite dans une pegmatite de Minas Gerais, Bresil. The Canadian Mineralogist: 20(1): 87-89. |
Sergio Varvello | |
Sergio Varvello collection | |
Baijot, M., Hatert, F., Dal Rio, F. & Philipo, S. (2014) Mineralogy and petrography of phosphate mineral association from the Jocão pegmatite, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Canadian Mineralogist 52, 373-397. | |
| [MinRec 12:69] |
| AmMin 89:1087 |
Science (1954): 119: 739; Lindberg, M.L. and Pecora, W.T. (1955) Tavorite and barbosalite, two new phosphate minerals from Minas Gerais, Brazil. American Mineralogist 40, 952-966. | |
| Am Min (1955) 40:55-63 |
Wegner, R., Pöllmann, H., Witzke, T., Schuckmann, W. (1998) Colquiriite, carlhintzeite, ralstonite and pachnolite from Serra Branca-Pegmatite/Brazil.- Proceedings 17th General Meeting, IMA, August 1998, Toronto: A151. | |
Germany | |
| Dill, H.G. (2009) The Hagendorf-Pleystein phosphate pegmatites (NE Bavaria, Germany) - A mineralogical, chronological and sedimentological overview. Estudos Geológicos: 19(2): 117-120. |
https://www.mineralienatlas.de/lexikon/index.php/LokationMineralData?param=293,3772,1 https://www.mg-mineralien-fossilien.eu/bayern/hagendorf-s%C3%BCd/hagendorf-02/ | |
Madagascar | |
| Behier, J. (1960): Contribution á la mineralogie de Madagascar. Annales Géologiques de Madagascar XXIX, Tananarive, p 63-64 |
Morocco | |
| FRANSOLET, A.-M. (1974) Les phosphates lithiques des pegmatites de la plaine des Zenaga (Anti-Atlas, Maroc). Notes Serv. géol. Maroc, 35, 137-143 |
| Favreau, G. (2012): Deux pegmatites à phosphates de Sidi Bou Othmane (Maroc). Le Cahier des Micromonteurs, 3-2012, 71-109 |
Namibia | |
| Von Bezing, L., Bode, R., and Jahn, S., (2008) Namibia Minerals and Localities. Edition Schloss Freudenstein, Bode Verlag GmbH, Haltern. 409 (in English). |
Keller (1974) | |
| P. Keller and O. von Knorring, Eur. J. Mineral. , 1989, 1, pp. 567-593. |
| Collection of Barry Murphy, Micromount specimen catalogue number 00896 |
| Contrib Mineral Petrol (1986) 92:502-517 |
Portugal | |
| Gramaccioli, C.M. (1981) Mangualde. Lapis, 6 (7-8), 27-30.; van den Berg, W. (1992) Enkele vermaarde mineralenvindplaatsen in Midden-Portugal. Gea, 1992(1), 38-39 (in Dutch). |
Mineralien Atlas | |
| |
Romania | |
| Androne, D.A.M., Buzgar, N., and Kasper, H.U. (2005): Proceedings of the Annual Scientific Session of The Geological Society of Romania, Rosia Montana, 20-21 May 2005, 16-26. |
Rwanda | |
| Bertossa, A. (1968) Inventaire des minéraux du Rwanda. Bulletin du Service Géologique de Rwanda: 4: 25-45.; Daltry, V.D.C. and von Knorring, O. (1998) Type-mineralogy of Rwanda with particular reference to the Buranga pegmatite. Geologica Belgica: 1: 9-15. |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Minerals of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa, PO Box 44283, Linden 2104, South Africa. |
Spain | |
| |
USA | |
| Rocks & Minerals (2005) 80:242-261 New Hampshire Mineral Locality Index |
Mineralogical Record (1973) 4:103-130 | |
| Rocks & Min.:60:117.; Am Min (1969), 54:969-972 |
R&M 75:3 pp 156-169 | |
R&M 75:3 pp 156-169 | |
| Roberts, A.C., Dunn, P.J., Grice, J.D., Newbury, D.E., Roberts, W.L. (1988) The X-ray crystallography of tavorite from the Tip Top pegmatite, Custer, South Dakota. Powder Diffraction: 3: 93-95.; Campbell, T.J., Roberts, W.L. (1985) Mineral Localities in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Rocks & Minerals: 60: 109-118 (117). |
| Rocks & Minerals: 75(3): 156-169. |
| R&M 75:3 pp 156-169 |
| Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols |
| Rocks & Minerals: 67(6): 380-388. |
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Serra Branca pegmatite, Pedra Lavrada, Paraíba, Brazil