Eosphorite

Eosphorite is a rare mineral that is phosphate is isostructural with, and forms a good solution series with, Childrenite. Eosphorite can be the manganese (Mn) analogue of Childrenite. Eosphorite is abundant with manganese while Childrenite is rich in iron. Eosphorite is typically present in hues of orange and pink and Childrenite is yellowish to orangish brown to dark brown.

Eosphorite gems are fairly rare and a really collector that is attractive gem but a little too soft for precious jewelry. Eosphorite gems are typically slightly to heavily included since clean crystals are particularly rare.

Eosphorite was named in 1878 by George J. Brush and Edward S. Dana from the Greek word έωσφορος meaning dawn-bearing, in allusion towards the red and colors that are orange.

Eosphorite circulation: in the united states, from Branchville, Fairfield County, Connecticut; at a number of places around Newry, at a negative balance Hill and Black Mountain quarries, Rumford, Oxford County, and elsewhere in Maine; into the Hugo mine, 1.5 south that is km of, Pennington County, South Dakota; through the Foote mine, near Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, new york; in the White Picacho region, Maricopa and Yavapai Counties., Arizona. At Hagendorf, Bavaria, and in the Greifensteine, near Ehrenfriedersdorf, Saxony, Germany. Into the Viitaniemi pegmatite, Eräjärvi, Finland. In Brazil, large crystals through the Lavra da Ilha pegmatite, into the Jequitinhonha River, three north that is km of; into the Sapucaia pegmatite mine, about 50 km east-southeast of Governador Valadares; at the João Modesto dos Santos mine, and from lots of other mines around Linópolis and Mendes Pimental, Minas Gerais, Brazil. From Wycheproof, Victoria, Australia.

Category: Phosphate mineral
Chemical Formula: Mn2+Al(PO4)(OH)2 • H2O
Hydrated Manganese Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide
Molecular Weight: 228.92 gm
Composition: Manganese 24.00 % Mn 30.99 % MnO
Aluminum 11.79 % Al 22.27 % Al2O3
Phosphorus 13.53 % P 31.00 % P2O5
Hydrogen 1.76 % H 15.74 % H2O
Oxygen 48.92 % O
  100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

 

Mineral Classification: Phosphates
Strunz 8th Ed. ID: 7/D.14-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID: 8.DD.20
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES 
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
 
D : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4= 2:1
Related to: Childrenite-Eosphorite Series. The Mn2+ analogue of Childrenite. Isostructural with Childrenite.
Varieties: None
Synonyms: None

 

Crystallography: Orthorhombic – Dipyramidal
Crystal Habit: Typically as crystals, short to long prismatic on [001], to 20 cm; in planar radial or spherical radiating groups, with wedge-shaped terminations; globular, rarely massive.
Twinning: Twinning: May show twinning on {100} and {001}, observed optically, to give pseudo-orthorhombic symmetry; perhaps due to oxidation. 

 

Cleavage: Poor on {100}
Fracture: Irregular/uneven, sub-conchoidal
Tenacity: Brittle
Moh’s Hardness: 5.0
Density: 3.06 – 3.08 (g/cm3)
Luminescence: None
Radioactivity: Not Radioactive
Other: Soluble in acids.

 

Color: Pink to rose-red, commonly brown to black when oxidized
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Luster: Vitreous to resinous
Refractive Index: 1.628 – 1.679  Biaxial ( – )
Birefringence: 0.029 – 0.035
Dispersion: Strong; r < v
Pleochroism: Visible; X= yellow, Y= pink, Z= pale pink to colorless