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Formula: Ca2Pb3(PO4)3F
Anhydrous phosphate, hedyphane group,
apatite supergroup
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 5.445 calculated for the empirical formula
Hardness: 4
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless
Luminescence: Not fluorescent under UV
Solubility: Decomposed quickly in hydrochloric acid and the residue dissolves slowly
Common impurities:
Environments
Sedimentary environments
Metamorphic environments
Localities
At the Shizhuyuan Mine, Dongpo ore field, Yizhang Co., Chenzhou, Hunan, China, fluorphosphohedyphane
has been found
(Mindat photo).
Fluorphosphohedyphane from the Shizhuyuan
Mine - Image
The type locality, the Blue Bell Mine, Zzyzx, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County,
California, USA, exploits the oxidation zone of a small lead -
copper - zinc -
silver deposit. Fluorphosphohedyphane is found in an adit, in cracks
and narrow veins in a highly siliceous quartzite-like
hornfels in a fractured and chaotic region of
limestone showing irregular
skarn formation. These cracks appear initially to have been largely
filled with cerussite, silica, and/or
chrysocolla. Species observed in direct association with
fluorphosphohedyphane include cerussite,
chrysocolla, fluorite,
fluorapatite, goethite,
gypsum, mimetite,
opal, phosphohedyphane,
plumbogummite,
plumbophyllite,
plumbotsumite, quartz and
wulfenite. Other species identified nearby include
beudantite, boleite,
calcite, celestine,
creaseyite, dioptase,
ferrisurite,
hemimorphite, mottramite,
sepiolite and vanadinite.
The conditions of formation must have been neutral to basic because fluorphosphohedyphane is unstable in
even weak acids
Fluorphosphohedyphane forms hexagonal prisms with pyramidal terminations. Individual crystals are up to
about 0.5 mm in length and 0.1 mm across, and are commonly doubly terminated. Crystals often occur in sub-parallel
intergrowths and irregular clusters; they are colourless and transparent with subadamantine lustre
(AM 96.2.423-429).
Fluorphosphohedyphane from the Blue Bell
Mine - Image
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