Gainesite

gainesite

cleavelandite

eosphorite

roscherite

Images

Formula: Na₂(Be,Li)Zr₂(PO₄)₄.1.5H₂O
Hydrated phosphate, gainesite group, beryllium-, lithium- and zirconium- bearing mineral
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Specific gravity: 2.94 measured, 2.84 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: White
Colour: Lavender to pale purple
Luminescence: Not fluorescent under UV
Environments

Pegmatites

Although gainesite was approved in 1978, to date (October 2023) it has been reported only from the type locality.

Localities

At the type locality, the Nevel Quarry, Newry, Oxford County, Maine, USA, gainesite crystals occur in the granite pegmatite as simple tetragonal bipyramids, up to 1 mm in size, in small crevices in cleavelandite, associated with monoclinic roscherite and minor eosphorite (AM 68,1022-1028).

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