Images
Formula: (Mn2+,Fe2+)2(PO4)F
Anhydrous phosphate containing halogen, forms a series with zwieselite,
manganese-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 3.5 to 3.9 measured, 3.94 calculated
Hardness: 5 to 5½
Streak: White to brown
Colour: Brown, red-brown, dark brown, black; light brownish yellow to dark reddish brown in transmitted light
Solubility: Soluble in acids
Common impurities: Sc
Environments:
Pegmatites
Hydrothermal environments
Triplite is a primary phosphate in
granite pegmatites which are phosphate-rich. Where the hydrothermal mineral assemblage is
relatively simple, associated minerals are albite,
beryl, muscovite, sulphides,
tourmaline and columbite. For occurrences of
triplite in the more complex phosphatic type of pegmatite, associated minerals include
triphylite, apatite, and many other phosphates.
Columbite,
beryl, sulphides, muscovite,
wolfeite,
triphylite-lithiophilite and
tourmaline are other typical associates, and minor
cassiterite may be present
(AM 32.518-526, Dana). Triplite may also be a secondary mineral
replacing earlier species, such as lithiophilite; triplite also occurs in high-temperature
hydrothermal tin veins. Associated minerals include
triploidite–wolfeite,
triphylite–lithiophilite,
phosphosiderite, vivianite,
apatite, tourmaline,
sphalerite, pyrite and
quartz
(HOM).
Localities
In Bolivia, tin veins occur that contain triplite, cassiterite,
stannite, molybdenite and other sulphides
(AM 36.256-271).
At Schlaggenwald, Bohemia, Czech Republic, triplite occurs in tin veins where cassiterite and
molybdenite also are found
(AM 36.256-271).
Aa Tammela, Finland, triplite-bearing lithium pegmatites with lepidolite and
spodumene or amblygonite or both occur. The
triplite is usually accompanied by other phosphates and beryl,
tourmaline, muscovite, and
tantalum minerals
(AM 36.256-271, Dana).
The type locality is Chanteloube, Razès, Haute-Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
At Heian-hokudo, North Korea, triplite occurs in a tin-tungsten vein deposit with cassiterite,
teallite and stannite,
wolframite and scheelite, and the bismuth minerals,
bismuthinite, native bismuth and
cosalite. Molybdenite and several other common sulphides
also are present
(AM 36.256-271).
In the Karibib and Erongo areas of Namibia, triplite-bearing pegmatites occur characterised by
cassiterite, lepidolite,
tourmaline, wolframite,
tantalite and muscovite
(AM 36.256-271).
At the Namlook mine, Braldu River Valley, Northern Areas, Pakistan, triplite has been found in a black manganese oxide matrix
(Minrec 37.6.537-539).
At Horrsjoberg, Varmland, Sweden, quartz veins contain
svanbergite, lazulite,
apatite, kyanite, triplite,
pyrophyllite, muscovite variety damourite,
rutile, ilmenite,
garnet, tourmaline and
pyrite
(AM 36.256-271, Dana).
In the Black Hills, near Wickenberg, Maricopa county, Arizona, triplite-bearing
lithium pegmatites with
lepidolite and either spodumene or
amblygonite or both occur. The triplite is usually accompanied by other phosphates and
beryl, tourmaline,
muscovite, and tantalum minerals
(AM 36.256-271, Dana).
Near the Bagdad Copper Mine, about 25 miles west of Hillside, Yavapai county, Arizona, USA, triplite occurs within a pegmatite
composed mainly of milky quartz with some orthoclase and
muscovite, apparently completely enclosed within a coarse-grained
granite. The triplite was associated with mica
and fluorite
(AM 21.656-661).
In El Paso County, Colorado, USA, triplite has been found in a pegmatite, associated with quartz,
microcline, and muscovite
(AM 32.518-526).
At the Mica Lode Mine, Eight Mile Park Pegmatite Mining District, Fremont county, Colorado, USA, triplite occurs in hydrothermal
replacement deposits. Beryl, with which the triplite is associated, is abundant locally.
Triplite pods as much as two feet long were observed in place. Some nodules of triplite are corroded and veined by
albite and muscovite
(AM 32.518-526).
At the School Section mine, Eight Mile Park pegmatite District, Fremont county, Colorado, USA, triplite is associated with
muscovite, plagioclase, black
tourmaline, and beryl. The
plagioclase is of two types: pink albite variety
oligoclase-albite and white albite variety
cleavelandite. The triplite-bearing units, which are clearly
secondary, probably formed by hydrothermal replacement of parts of the cores and parts of
the adjoining graphic granite
quartz-muscovite zone
(AM 32.518-526).
at Haddam Neck, Connecticut, USA, triplite-bearing lithium pegmatites with lepidolite and
either spodumene or amblygonite or both occur, usually
accompanied by other phosphates and beryl, tourmaline,
muscovite and tantalum minerals
(AM 36.256-271, Dana).
Near Aurum, Nevada, USA, triplite occurs in tungsten veins with hübnerite,
scheelite and the bismuthinite-native bismuth-cosalite assemblage
(AM 36.256-271, Dana).
At Camp Signal, near Goffs, San Bernadino county, California, triplite occurs in tungsten veins with
hübnerite
(AM 36.256-271, Dana).
Alteration
Triplite often weathers to vivianite, dufrénite and
phosphosiderite-like minerals or manganese oxyhydroxides
(AM 36.256-271, Dana).
Back to Minerals