Althausite Mineral Data

General Althausite Information

Chemical Formula:

Mg2(PO4)(OH,F,O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 161.09 gm

Magnesium 30.18 % Mg 50.04 % MgO

Phosphorus 19.23 % P 44.06 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 0.38 % H 3.36 % H₂O

Oxygen 46.68 % O

Fluorine 3.54 % F 3.54 % F

- % F -1.49 % -O=F₂

______ ______

100.00 % 99.50 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Mg₂(PO₄)(OH)_0.6F_0.3O_0.1

Environment:

In serpentine-magnesite deposits (Norway).

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1975

Locality:

From the Tingelstadtjern and Overntjern quarries, Modum, Norway. In the Panasqueira Sn-W deposit, Portugal. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

To honor Professor Egon Althaus (1933- ), Karlsruhe University, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Name Pronunciation:

Althausite + Pronunciation

Althausite Image

Images:

Althausite

Comments: Grayish to maroon colored and opaque crystals of althausite on matrix.
Location: Overntjern, Buskerud, Norway. Scale: 3.2 x 5 cm.
© John Veevaert

Althausite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.5741:1:0.4209

Cell Dimensions:

a = 8.258, b = 14.383, c = 6.054, Z = 8; V = 719.06 Den(Calc)= 2.98

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - Pyramidal H-M Symbol (mm2) Space Group: P na2₁

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.593(1), 3.316(0.9), 3.024(0.8),

Physical Properties of Althausite

Cleavage:

{???} Perfect

Color:

Gray.

Density:

2.97

Diaphaneity:

Translucent

Hardness:

3.5 - Copper Penny

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Althausite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.03 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.026 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1989,KPDmeas= 0.1996,KC= 0.1938
Ncalc = 1.58

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.588, b=1.592, g=1.598, bire=0.0100, 2V(Calc)=80, 2V(Meas)=70.

Calculated Properties of Althausite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.96 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Althausite =2.98 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.03
Boson Index = 0.97

Photoelectric:

PE_Althausite= 1.61 barns/electron
U=PE_Althausite x rElectron Density= 4.77 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Althausite is Not Radioactive

Althausite Classification

Dana Class:

41.06.05.01 (41)Anhydrous Phosphates, etc. Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen

(41.06)where (A)2 (XO4) Zq

(41.06.05)Dana Group

41.06.05.01 Althausite Mg2(PO4)(OH,F,O) P na2₁ mm2

Strunz Class:

08.BB.25 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES

08.B - Phosphates, etc. with Additional Anions, without H2O

08.BB -With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 ï¿½ 1:1

08.BB.25 Althausite Mg2(PO4)(OH,F,O) P na2₁ mm2

Other Althausite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic4) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Althausite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
15 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Althausite

Mg2(PO4)(OH,F,O)
Dana No: 41.06.05.01 Strunz No: 08.BB.25
Locality:

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