Barbosalite

barbosalite

rockbridgeite

lazulite

lipscombite

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Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2
Anhydrous phosphate containing hydroxyl, lazulite group, paramorph of lipscombite
Specific gravity: 3.60 to 3.62
Hardness: 5½ to 6
Streak: Dark blue to dark green
Colour: Black to dark blue-green, green, blue green, greenish black
Solubility: Slightly soluble in hot hydrochloric acid, not soluble in 1:10 nitric or sulphuric acid
Environments

Pegmatites

Barbosalite occurs in complex granite pegmatites, formed by oxidation and hydration of primary phosphates (Webmin, HOM), associated with tavorite, hureaulite, heterosite, triphylite, vivianite, roscherite and rockbridgeite (HOM).

At Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, barbosalite replaces manganese oxides and is associated with wolfeite, arsenopyrite, scorodite and quartz (Dana).

At the type locality, the Sapucaia mine, Galiléia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, barbosalite occurs in a granite pegmatite intimately intergrown with tavorite and associated with vivianite, roscherite, rockbridgeite, heterosite, triphylite, hureaulite, ferrisicklerite, strengite, phosphosiderite, childrenite, variscite, frondelite, faheyite, moraesite, montebrasite, and apatite (AM 40.952-966, Dana, Mindat).

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