Collinsite

collinsite

bobierrite

fairfieldite

parahopeite

Images

Formula:Ca₂Mg(PO₄)₂.2H₂O
Hydrated phosphate, fairfieldite group and forms a series with fairfieldite
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 2.99 measured, 3.04 calculated
Hardness: 3 to 3½
Streak: White
Colour: Light brown; light yellow-brown to colourless in transmitted light.
Solubility: Readily soluble in acids
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Collinsite is a secondary weathering product typically encrusting other minerals (Webmin, HOM).

Localities

At Reaphook Hill, South Australia, collinsite is associated with parahopeite, scholzite, cryptomelane and iron-manganese oxides (HOM).

At the Mount Deverell variscite deposit, Milgun Station, Western Australia, collinsite is common in the oxidised zone as crystals to 3mm long, sometimes encrusting montgomeryite in cavities in altered veins of variscite. The variscite deposits are hosted by marine sedimentary rocks (AJM 20.2.24).

At the type locality, the Francois Lake phosphate occurrence, Francois Lake, Omenica Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada, collinsite occurs in a vein deposit in andesite, associated with carbonate-rich hydroxylapatite and bitumen (Mindat, HOM).

At the Kovdor massif, Russia, collinsite is associated with bobierrite, kovdorskite and dolomite (HOM).

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