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Formula: Li3(PO4)
Simple phosphate of lithium
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 2.46 to 2.478 measured, 2.479 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: White
Colour: White, light pink, colourless
Luminescence: Not fluorescent under UV, luminesces turquoise-blue in the cathode beam
Solubility: Slightly soluble in hot water. soluble in strong acids
Environments
Pegmatites
Hydrothermal environments
Localities
At the type locality, Okhmyl'k Mt, Voron'i Tundry, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, lithiophosphate occurs as
masses up to 9 x 5 x 4 cm3 in size. It was formed by the hydrothermal replacement of
montebrasite in the central zone of a
granite
pegmatite in
amphibolite. This zone consists of
microcline - perthite and
quartz
with spodumene, beryl,
tourmaline, pollucite and
lepidolite. Lithiophosphate alters under
supergene conditions to
manganapatite
(AM 42.585).
Associated minerals include montebrasite,
apatite, quartz,
spodumene, lepidolite,
beryl, elbaite,
pollucite, tantalite,
cassiterite and microcline
(HOM).
At the Foote Lithium Co. Mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA, lithiophosphate occurs
as colourless crystals more than 1 cm in length and in colourless to white to buff-coloured masses exceeding 2 cm in
size. It is found on quartz and
albite crystal druses which line open fissures in a massive
albite - microcline -
quartz - spodumene -
muscovite
pegmatite, suggesting a late origin. One mass of
lithiophosphate is in contact with rhodochrosite but the
relative age of the two minerals is not clear. Rhodochrosite appears
to be one of the latest phases to form at the Foote mine.
Lithiophosphate has one perfect cleavage. Another distinct cleavage or parting generates a diamond-shaped
cross-hatching and leads to the breaking out of pointed chips along the sharp edges, producing a saw-tooth effect
(AM 54.1467-1469).
Lithiophosphate from the Foote Lithium Co.
Mine - Image
At the Tip Top Mine, Fourmile, Custer Mining District, Custer County, South Dakota, USA, lithiophosphate
is associated with leucophosphite,
hureaulite, switzerite,
jahnsite and rockbridgeite
(HOM).
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