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Formula: Na4(MgCr)(PO4)3
Valence: Na4(MgCr3+)(PO4)3
Anhydrous phosphate of sodium, magnesium and chromium
Crystal system: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 3.14 calculated for the empirical formula
Hardness: 3½ to 4
Streak: Light green
Colour: Green
Environments
Kryzaite is a new mineral, approved in 2025 and to date (August 2026) still pending publication.
Localities
At the type locality, the Morasko meteorite, Poznań, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, kryzaite is the
third new phosphate to be discovered in the
graphite-troilite nodules of
the iron meteorite. The other two minerals are
moraskoite and
czochralskiite. Kryzaite preservation is defined by the
rapid formation of a stable rim that preserves and protects the mineral from later alteration. Kryzaite
forms transparent green grains with a vitreous lustre measuring up to 30 μm in size in the central part of
aggregates. The rim of these aggregates is formed by a transparent brown phase with a vitreous lustre and the
empirical formula
Na1.50(Mg0.98Mn2+0.07)(Fe3+0.77Cr3+1.01)(PO4)3
(AM 2025 early publication).
Kryzaite in the Morasko meteorite most likely crystallised from a phosphate melt at a temperature of about
950 to 1000°C. It has only ever been found in a single oval-shaped nodule measuring 2.2 x 3.6 cm
(Mindat).
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