Falsterite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Falsterite
Formula:
Ca2MgMn2+2Fe2+2Fe3+2Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)14
Colour:
Greenish blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.78
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in 2012 by Anthony Robert Kampf, Stuart J. Mills, William B. Simmons, James W. Nizamoff, and Robert W. Whitmore in honor of Alexander U. Falster [b. February 19, 1952 Wisconsin, USA], analytical technologist and specialist in granite pegmatites at the University of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
42463
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:42463:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
4ebe9882-2c61-47dd-82aa-ea978d84c096
IMA Classification of Falsterite
Approved
Approval year:
2011
First published:
2012
Type description reference:
Kampf, A. R., Mills, S. J., Simmons, W. B., Nizamoff, J. W., Whitmore, R. W. (2012) Falsterite, Ca2MgMn2+2(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)4Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)14, a new secondary phosphate mineral from the Palermo No. 1 pegmatite, North Groton, New Hampshire. American Mineralogist, 97 (4) 496-502 doi:10.2138/am.2012.4008
Classification of Falsterite
8.CF.
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
F : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O > 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
F : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O > 1:1
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Fls | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Falsterite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Greenish blue
Streak:
Very pale greenish blue
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {010}
on {010}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.78(3) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.837 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Falsterite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.575(10) nβ = 1.600(5) nγ = 1.610(5)
2V:
Measured: 60° (10), Calculated: 63.8°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.035
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r > v, strong
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X, Z = colourless to very pale yellow, Y = blue-green; Y >> X ≈ Z.
Chemistry of Falsterite
Mindat Formula:
Ca2MgMn2+2Fe2+2Fe3+2Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)14
Crystallography of Falsterite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.3868(18) Å, b = 21.260(7) Å, c = 15.365(5) Å
β = 90.564(6)°
β = 90.564(6)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.3 : 1 : 0.723
Unit Cell V:
2086.2 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Very thin plates and rectangular laths up to 0.7 mm in length. Laths are flattened on {010} and elongate along [100]; they exhibit the forms {010}, {100}, and {001}.
Twinning:
Lamellar twinning is common.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0018881 | Falsterite | Kampf A R, Mills S J, Simmons W B, Nizamoff J W, Whitmore R W (2012) Falsterite, Ca2MgMn2+2(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)4Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)14, a new secondary phosphate mineral from the Palermo No. 1 pegmatite, North Groton, New Hampshire American Mineralogist 97 496-502 | 2012 | Palermo No. 1 pegmatite, North Groton, New Hampshire | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
12.865 Å | (34) |
10.675 Å | (100) |
4.834 Å | (12) |
4.043 Å | (18) |
3.220 Å | (25) |
3.107 Å | (14) |
2.846 Å | (19) |
1.596 Å | (14) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] |
Type Occurrence of Falsterite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Very thin greenish-blue plates and rectangular laths up to 0.7 mm in length.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County under catalog numbers 63565, 63566, 63567, and 63568.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
granitic pegmatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Kampf, A.R., Mills, S.J., Simmons, W.B., Nizamoff, J.W., Whitmore, R.W. (2012) Falsterite, Ca2MgMn2+2(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)4Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)14, a new secondary phosphate mineral from the Palermo No. 1 pegmatite, North Groton, New Hampshire. American Mineralogist: 97: 496–502.
Synonyms of Falsterite
Other Language Names for Falsterite
German:Falsterit
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
8.CF. | Naalasite | NaAl(AsO3OH)2 · H2O |
8.CF. | Ferraioloite | MgMn2+4(Fe2+0.5Al3+0.5)4Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)20 |
8.CF. | Espadaite | Na4Ca3Mg2[AsO3(OH)]2[AsO2(OH)2]10 · 7H2O |
8.CF. | Liraite | NaCa2Mn2+2[Fe3+Fe2+]Mn2+2(PO4)6(H2O)2 |
8.CF. | Nafeasite | Na3Fe3+3(AsO3OH)6 · 3H2O |
8.CF.05 | Grischunite | NaCa2Mn2+5Fe3+(AsO4)6 · 2H2O |
8.CF.05 | Wicksite | NaCa2(Fe2+,Mn2+)4MgFe3+(PO4)6 · 2H2O |
8.CF.05 | Bederite | Ca2(Mn2+)4(Fe3+)2(PO4)6 · 2H2O |
8.CF.05 | Tassieite | (Na,◻)Ca2(Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+)2(Fe2+,Mg)2(Fe3+,Mg)2(PO4)6 · 2H2O |
8.CF.05 | Maneckiite | (Na◻)Ca2Fe2+2(Fe3+Mg)Mn2(PO4)6 · 2H2O |
8.CF.10 | Haigerachite | KFe3+3(PO3OH)2[PO2(OH)2]6 · 4H2O |
8.CF.10 | Yazganite | NaFe3+2(Mg,Mn2+)(AsO4)3 · H2O |
8.CF.15 | Currierite | Na4Ca3MgAl4(AsO3OH)12 · 9H2O |
8.CF.20 | Ríosecoite | Ca2Mg(AsO3OH)3(H2O)2 |
Fluorescence of Falsterite
Non-fluorescent.
Other Information
Notes:
Falsterite dissolves very easily in cold, dilute HCl.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Falsterite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-42463.html
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References for Falsterite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2011) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2011. CNMNC Newsletter No 11. Mineralogical Magazine, 75 (6) 2887-2893 doi:10.1180/minmag.2011.075.6.2887
Kampf, A. R., Mills, S. J., Simmons, W. B., Nizamoff, J. W., Whitmore, R. W. (2012) Falsterite, Ca2MgMn2+2(Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)4Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)14, a new secondary phosphate mineral from the Palermo No. 1 pegmatite, North Groton, New Hampshire. American Mineralogist, 97 (4) 496-502 doi:10.2138/am.2012.4008
Localities for Falsterite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
USA | |
| Jim Nizamoff +1 other reference |
| Williams et al. (2011) +2 other references |
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Estes Quarry, West Baldwin, Baldwin, Cumberland County, Maine, USA