Formula:
Fe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3.3H2O
Hydrated phosphate containing hydroxyl
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 2.8 to 2.94 measured, 2.97 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Streak: White
Colour: Creamy white with yellowish or brownish tint, bright ochre-yellow
Solubility: Insoluble in water, sulphuric and nitric acids, slowly soluble in hydrochloric acid (Dana).
Common impurities: V,S
Environments
Sedimentary environments
Hydrothermal environments
Tinticite is a rare phosphate commonly associated with carbonate-rich
goethite and
montgomeryite (Mindat).
Localities
At the phosphate deposits of South Australia, tinticite has been found at both Klemm's and Tom's quarries, in
the Mount Lofty ranges, with natrojarosite and
jarosite.
It appears to be an alteration product of jarosite
(AJM 17.1.26).
Tinticite from South Australia - Image
At Bruguers, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, tinticite occurs in
jarosite-rich
shale formed by weathering of rocks containing
apatite and jarosite. Associated
minerals include
montgomeryite, carbonate-rich
apatite
and goethite
(HOM, AM74.1404).
At the type locality, an unnamed cave, Tintic Standard Mine, Dividend, East Tintic Mining District, Utah County, Utah,
the limestone
surrounding the cave carries pyrite, which accounts for the iron, while the
phosphate is derived from bat guano on high ledges of the cave (AM31.395-400). The tinticite is
associated with jarosite and
limonite
(HOM, Mindat).
Tinticite from Tintic - Image
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