Mélonjosephite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Mélonjosephite
Joseph Mélon
Formula:
CaFe2+Fe3+(PO4)2(OH)
Colour:
Dark green, nearly black.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Resinous
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
3.65
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in 1973 by André-Mathieu Fransolet (1947-) in honour of Joseph Mélon (19 January 1898, Ypres, Belgium - 8 March 1991, Liège, Belgium), scientific collaborator and later professor of mineralogy at the University of Liège, Belgium.
Name Encoding
ASCII-7:
Melonjosephite
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2640
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2640:2
IMA Classification of Mélonjosephite
Approved
Approval year:
1973
Classification of Mélonjosephite
8.BG.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
G : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 0.5:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
G : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 0.5:1
41.10.5.1
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
10 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
10 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq
19.14.18
19 : Phosphates
14 : Phosphates of Fe and other metals
19 : Phosphates
14 : Phosphates of Fe and other metals
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Mjo | 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 Mélonjosephite
Vitreous, Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Dark green, nearly black.
Streak:
Greenish
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
One, longitudinal; another, transverse
One, longitudinal; another, transverse
Density:
3.65(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.61 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Mélonjosephite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.72 nβ = 1.77 nγ = 1.80
2V:
Measured: 80° to 85°, Calculated: 72°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.080
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r < v moderate
Comments:
X = deep brown with greenish tint, dark blue-green;
Y = greenish brown, dark olive-brown;
Z = golden yellow with greenish tint, pale brown
Y = greenish brown, dark olive-brown;
Z = golden yellow with greenish tint, pale brown
Chemistry of Mélonjosephite
Mindat Formula:
CaFe2+Fe3+(PO4)2(OH)
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Mélonjosephite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pbam
Setting:
Pbam
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.542(1) Å, b = 10.834(1) Å, c = 6.374(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.881 : 1 : 0.588
Unit Cell V:
658.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 22 : Hydration and low-? subsurface aqueous alteration (see also #23) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] |
Type Occurrence of Mélonjosephite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Crystals tabular, showing {001}, {010}, and {100}; in fibrous masses, with fibers to 1 cm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Laboratory of Mineralogy, University of Liège
Musée de Minéralogie, Ecole des Mines de Paris
National Museum of Natural History, Washington
Musée de Minéralogie, Ecole des Mines de Paris
National Museum of Natural History, Washington
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Granite pegmatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Mélonjosephite
Other Language Names for Mélonjosephite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Mélonjosephite associated with Hureaulite | Mn2+5(PO3OH)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 3 photos of Mélonjosephite associated with Tavorite | LiFe3+(PO4)(OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.BG. | Aldomarinoite | Sr2Mn3+(AsO4)2(OH) |
| 8.BG. | Dongchuanite | Pb4ZnZn2(PO4)4(OH)2 |
| 8.BG. | Cuprodongchuanite | Pb4CuZn2(PO4)4(OH)2 |
| 8.BG. | Canosioite | Ba2Fe3+(AsO4)2(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | Feinglosite | Pb2Zn(AsO4)2 · H2O |
| 8.BG.05 | Tokyoite | Ba2Mn3+(VO4)2(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | Lombardoite | Ba2Mn3+(AsO4)2(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | Bearthite | Ca2Al(PO4)2(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | 'Unnamed (possible ordered As-analogue of Tokyoite)' | Ba2Mn[(As,V)O4]2(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | Gamagarite | Ba2Fe3+(VO4)2(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | Arsentsumebite | Pb2Cu(AsO4)(SO4)(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | 'UM1994-19-PO:CuHMoPb' | Pb2Cu(PO4)(MoO4,AsO4,CrO4,GaO4)(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | Ferribushmakinite | Pb2Fe3+(PO4)(VO4)(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | Arsenbrackebuschite | Pb2Fe3+(AsO4)2(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | Goedkenite | Sr2Al(PO4)2(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | Tsumebite | Pb2Cu(PO4)(SO4)(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | Brackebuschite | Pb2Mn3+(VO4)2(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | Bushmakinite | Pb2Al(PO4)(VO4)(OH) |
| 8.BG.05 | Calderónite | Pb2Fe3+(VO4)2(OH) |
| 8.BG.15 | Tancoite | LiNa2Al(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH) |
| 8.BG.20 | Dmisokolovite | K3Cu5AlO2(AsO4)4 |
| 8.BG.25 | Shchurovskyite | K2CaCu6O2(AsO4)4 |
| 8.BG.30 | Wrightite | K2Al2O(AsO4)2 |
| 8.BG.35 | Polyarsite | Na7CaMgCu2(AsO4)4F2Cl |
Other Information
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 Mélonjosephite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2640.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
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References for Mélonjosephite
Reference List:
Fransolet, André-Mathieu (1973) La mélonjosephite Ca Fe2+Fe3+(PO4)2(OH), une nouvelle espèce minérale. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 96 (2) 135-142 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1973.6795
Fleischer, Michael; Mandarino, Joseph A. (1975) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 60 (9-10). 945-947
Localities for Mélonjosephite
Showing 7 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Antarctica | |
| Grew et al. (2006) |
Bolivia | |
| Petrov et al. (2006) |
Czech Republic | |
| Povondra et al. (eds.) +1 other reference |
Morocco (TL) | |
| Fransolet (1973) |
Namibia | |
| von Bezing (2007) |
| rruff.geo.arizona.edu (2006) | |
Poland | |
| Włodek et al. (2011) |
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Sandamap pegmatite, Sandamap North Farm 115, Dâures Constituency, Erongo Region, Namibia