Tinticite

tinticite

jarosite

montgomeryite

natrojarosite

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).

At the type locality for tinticite, an unnamed limestone cave in the Tintic Standard Mine, Utah county, Utah, USA, 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).

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 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).

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