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Formula: Fe2+3(PO4)2
Anhydrous normal phosphate, sarcopside group
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 3.64 to 3.73 measured, 3.94 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: White
Colour: Grey-pink, red-brown, brown (slightly altered), blue, lavender, green; flesh-red in transmitted light, rarely white.
Environments
Sarcopside is formed in complex zoned granite pegmatites, along with
graftonite, probably by exsolution from triphylite.
Associated minerals include graftonite, vivianite,
hureaulite and triphylite
(HOM).
Localities
At the type locality, the Michałkowa pegmatites, Gmina Świdnica, Świdnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland,
sarcopside occurs in a granite pegmatite, intergrown with
graftonite, with hureaulite and
vivianite as later products (Dana). Quartz,
muscovite and microcline are also present
(Mindat).
At Gingrass farm, near Deering, New Hampshite, USA, sarcopside occurs in a pegmatite lens in
gneiss
(Dana).
At the French King Number 2 quarry, East Alstead, New Hampshire, USA, sarcopside occurs in a pegmatite. The core was composed
of a sarcopside-graftonite intergrowth penetrated by veins of
vivianite and associated pyrite.
Vivianite appears to be commonly associated with sarcopside
(AM 50.1698-1707)
At the Bull Moose Quarry, Custer, South Dakota, sarcopside occurs with triphylite,
probably formed by exsolution; graftonite-sarcopside intergrowths are also found
here, as well as specimens showing the expected coexistence of all three phases
(AM 54 969-972).
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