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Formula: CaMn2+Mg2Al2(PO4)4(OH)2.8H2O
Hydrated phosphate containing hydroxyl, whiteite subgroup,
jahnsite group,
manganese-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 2.63 measured, 2.64 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Streak: White
Colour: Yellow, light lavender, pink
Environments
Localities
At the type locality, the Tip Top mine, Fourmile, Custer Mining District, Custer county, South Dakota, USA,
Whiteite-(CaMnMg) occurs in the outer-intermediate zone of the
pegmatite, which consists of large crystals of
microcline feldspar variety perthite,
triphylite, quartz and
muscovite, with minor amounts of beryl,
albite, fluorapatite,
elbaite and
columbite-tantalite.
Whiteite-(CaMnMg) is commonly associated with several other
secondary phosphate minerals found along fracture surfaces in
beryl and quartz. The paragenesis appears
to be as follows: on early formed crusts of whitlockite and
carbonate-rich apatite,
montgomeryite crystals were deposited, locally with
tiptopite. Following these,
roscherite, englishite,
whiteite-(CaMnMg) and mitridatite formed.
Fairfieldite, where present, was the last to crystallise
(CM 27.699-702).
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