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Formula: SrCaSr3(PO4)3F
Anhydrous phosphate, belovite group,
apatite supergroup,
strontium-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Hardness: 5
Colour: Green to yellow-green, colourless
Solubility: Soluble in hydrochloric acid or in nitric acid. Varieties containing CO3 may dissolve with
slight effervescence
Environments
Plutonic igneous environments
Pegmatites
Localities
At Lac de Gras, Northwest Territories, Canada, fluorstrophite (strontium-apatite) and
strontium-rich carbonate-rich
hydroxylapatite compose cores of spherulites
confined to vesicles in kimberlite, associated with
suolunite and barium-bearing
phlogopite. In addition to
strontium, the apatite is
enriched in barium and vanadium;
the proportions of these elements decrease from the centre of spherulites outward
(CM 40.1.121-136 as strontium-apatite).
At the Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia, fluorstrophite
(strontium-apatite) occurs in intimate association with strontium-bearing
fluorapatite in a
eudialyte-bearing
nepheline syenite
pegmatite.
Fluorstrophite (strontium-apatite) occurs as patches, 10 to 20 microns cross, along the rim and fractures in
anhedral grains of strontium-bearing
fluorapatite developed along fractures in the
K-feldspar. These composite grains are replaced by
strontianite at the margin.
Other minerals found in the pegmatite include
lamprophyllite, titanite,
manganese-bearing pectolite
and galena
(CM 40.1.121-136 as strontium-apatite).
At Alluaiv Mountain, Lovozersky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, veins of
nepheline syenite
pegmatite containing fluorstrophite
(strontium-apatite) crosscut urtites and
foyaites. In some of the bodies, the axial zone contains segregations
of ussingite associated with
murmanite,
steenstrupine-(Ce),
manganoneptunite and other minerals. Elongate euhedral crystals of
apatite occur predominantly in the contact zone of
pegmatite, in an assemblage with
nepheline, perthitic
K-feldspar,
magnesio-arfvedsonite,
albite, natrolite,
aegirine-augite,
loparite-(Ce), rinkite,
eudialyte, lorenzenite and
barytolamprophyllite
(CM 40.1.121-136 as strontium-apatite).
At the type locality, the Inagli chrome diopside deposit, Inagli Massif, Aldan, Sakha, Russia, Fluorstrophite
(strontiumapatite) occurs in alkalic pegmatite veins in a
zoned ultramafic intrusion. Associated minerals include
batisite, innelite,
lorenzenite, eudialyte,
aegirine, eckermannite,
microcline,
magnesio-arfvedsonite and
albite
(HOM as strontiumapatite).
The fluorstrophite occurs in poorly formed oval crystals 0.2 x 1 cm in longitudinal section and as small
crystals with corroded faces; it occurs in sugary albite filling interstices
between crystals of aegirine and
eckermannite in veins in alkalic
pegmatites that cut the
dunite core of the concentrically zoned massif of ultrabasic-alkalic
rocks. It is locally intergrown with microline and
eckermannite. Other associated minerals include
batisite, innelite,
lorenzenite and rare eudialyte
(AM 47.808 as strontium-apatite).
Fluorstrophite from the Inagli chrome
diopside deposit - Image
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