Tavorite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Tavorite
Elysiário Távora
Formula:
LiFe3+(PO4)(OH)
Colour:
Grass-green, yellow-green
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Greasy
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
3.32
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1954 by Marie Louise Lindberg (Smith) and William T. Pecora in honour of Elysiário Távora (18 May 1911, Jaguaribe, Ceará, Brazil - 6 January 2001, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), professor of mineralogy, Universidade de Brasil Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Isostructural with:
Visit gemdat.org for Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3896
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3896:2
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Tavorite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
LiFe3+PO4(OH)
First published:
1954
Classification of Tavorite
8.BB.05
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 about 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 about 1:1
41.5.9.1
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
19.1.14
19 : Phosphates
1 : Phosphates of the alkali metals
19 : Phosphates
1 : Phosphates of the alkali metals
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Tav | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Tav | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Tavorite
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Grass-green, yellow-green
Streak:
Pale yellow green
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {100}, good on {110}, distinct on {011}, and on {001}, imperfect.
Perfect on {100}, good on {110}, distinct on {011}, and on {001}, imperfect.
Fracture:
Micaceous
Density:
3.32 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.33 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Tavorite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.795 nβ = 1.811 nγ = 1.861
2V:
Measured: 74° , Calculated: 78°
Birefringence:
0.066
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.066
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
Optical Extinction:
Y ∧ b ≃ 0°; Z ∧ c ≃ 38°; X ∧ a ≃ 15°.
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
X = Y = yellow-green, Z = colorless
Chemistry of Tavorite
Mindat Formula:
LiFe3+(PO4)(OH)
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Tavorite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.340 Å, b = 7.283 Å, c = 5.110 Å
α = 109.29°, β = 97.86°, γ = 106.32°
α = 109.29°, β = 97.86°, γ = 106.32°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.733 : 1 : 0.702
Unit Cell V:
174.14 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Bladed crystals, often rounded and/or etched. Found as fine-grained masses to several millimeters.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020848 | Tavorite | Marx N, Croguennec L, Carlier D, Wattiaux A, Le Cras F, Suard E, Delmas C (2010) The structure of tavorite LiFePO4(OH) from diffraction and GGA + U studies and its preliminary electrochemical characterization Dalton Transactions 39 5108-5116 | 2010 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0012660 | Tavorite | Yakubovich O V, Urusov V S (1997) The structure and electron density of Fe2+ -bearing tavorite in relation to the genetic crystal chemistry of secondary phosphates of lithium pegmatites Geochemistry International 35 630-638 | 1997 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.99 Å | (50) |
| 4.68 Å | (30) |
| 3.95 Å | (20) |
| 3.285 Å | (90) |
| 3.045 Å | (100) |
| 2.474 Å | (40) |
| 1.662 Å | (3b) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] |
Type Occurrence of Tavorite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Bright lime green scales and fine-grained masses.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, number 1965,209.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, numbers 107298 and 107299.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number 106842.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, number 1965,209.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, numbers 107298 and 107299.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number 106842.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Late stage phosphate mineralization in a granite pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Tavorite
Relationship of Tavorite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Amblygonite Group:
| Amblygonite | LiAl(PO4)F | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Montebrasite | LiAl(PO4)(OH) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 27 photos of Tavorite associated with Hureaulite | Mn2+5(PO3OH)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 19 photos of Tavorite associated with Barbosalite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 16 photos of Tavorite associated with Rockbridgeite | (Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)5 |
| 8 photos of Tavorite associated with Leucophosphite | KFe3+2(PO4)2(OH) · 2H2O |
| 7 photos of Tavorite associated with Giniite | Fe2+Fe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5 · 2H2O |
| 5 photos of Tavorite associated with Triphylite | LiFe2+PO4 |
| 4 photos of Tavorite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 3 photos of Tavorite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 3 photos of Tavorite associated with Mélonjosephite | CaFe2+Fe3+(PO4)2(OH) |
| 2 photos of Tavorite associated with Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.BB. | Moabite | NiFe3+(PO4)O |
| 8.BB. | Tilasite | CaMg(AsO4)F |
| 8.BB. | Paulgrothite | Cu9Fe3+O4(PO4)4Cl3 |
| 8.BB. | Karlditmarite | Cu9O4(PO4)2(SO4)2 |
| 8.BB. | Milkovoite | Cu4O(PO4)(AsO4) |
| 8.BB.X | Arsenowagnerite | Mg2(AsO4)F |
| 8.BB.05 | Amblygonite | LiAl(PO4)F |
| 8.BB.05 | Montebrasite | LiAl(PO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.10 | Zwieselite | Fe2+2(PO4)F |
| 8.BB.10 | Triplite | Mn2+2(PO4)F |
| 8.BB.15 | 'Unnamed (Sb-analogue of Auriacusite)' | Fe3+Cu2+[(Sb,As)O4]O |
| 8.BB.15 | Joosteite | Mn2+(Mn3+,Fe3+)(PO4)O |
| 8.BB.15 | Hydroxylwagnerite | Mg2(PO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.15 | Wagnerite | Mg2(PO4)F |
| 8.BB.15 | Stanĕkite | (Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)Fe3+(PO4)O |
| 8.BB.15 | Triploidite | Mn2+2(PO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.15 | Sarkinite | Mn2+2(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.15 | Wolfeite | Fe2+2(PO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.20 | Holtedahlite | Mg2(PO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.20 | Satterlyite | (Fe2+,Mg,Fe)12(PO4)5(PO3OH)(OH,O)6 |
| 8.BB.25 | Althausite | Mg4(PO4)2(OH,O)(F,◻) |
| 8.BB.30 | Zincolivenite | CuZn(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.30 | Adamite | Zn2(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.30 | Libethenite | Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.30 | Zincolibethenite | CuZn(PO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.30 | Eveite | Mn2+2(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.30 | Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.30 | Auriacusite | Fe3+Cu2+(AsO4)O |
| 8.BB.35 | Paradamite | Zn2(AsO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.35 | Tarbuttite | Zn2(PO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.40 | Barbosalite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BB.40 | Scorzalite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BB.40 | Lazulite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BB.40 | Meizhouite | Fe2+V3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BB.40 | Hentschelite | CuFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BB.40 | Wilhelmkleinite | ZnFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BB.45 | Dokuchaevite | Cu8O2(VO4)3Cl3 |
| 8.BB.45 | Trolleite | Al4(PO4)3(OH)3 |
| 8.BB.45 | Yaroshevskite | Cu9O2(VO4)4Cl2 |
| 8.BB.50 | Namibite | Cu(BiO)2(VO4)(OH) |
| 8.BB.50 | Aleutite | [Cu5O2](AsO4)(VO4) · (Cu,K,Pb,Rb,Cs,)Cl |
| 8.BB.52a | Ericlaxmanite | Cu4O(AsO4)2 |
| 8.BB.52b | Kozyrevskite | Cu4O(AsO4)2 |
| 8.BB.55 | Phosphoellenbergerite | (Mg,◻)2Mg12(PO4,PO3OH)6(PO3OH,CO3)2(OH)6 |
| 8.BB.55 | Popovite | Cu5O2(AsO4)2 |
| 8.BB.60 | Urusovite | CuAl(AsO4)O |
| 8.BB.65 | Theoparacelsite | Cu3(As2O7)(OH)2 |
| 8.BB.70 | Turanite | Cu5(VO4)2(OH)4 |
| 8.BB.75 | Stoiberite | Cu5(VO4)2O2 |
| 8.BB.80 | Fingerite | Cu11(VO4)6O2 |
| 8.BB.85 | Averievite | Cu6(VO4)2O2Cl2 |
| 8.BB.90 | Richellite | CaFe3+2(PO4)2(OH,F)2 |
| 8.BB.90 | Lipscombite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 8.BB.90 | Zinclipscombite | ZnFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
Fluorescence of Tavorite
Not fluorescent
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 Tavorite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3896.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Tavorite
Reference List:
Lindberg, M. L., Pecora, W. T. (1954) Tavorite and barbosalite: two new phosphate minerals from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Science, 119 (3099) 739 doi:10.1126/science.119.3099.739
Lindberg, M. L., Pecora, W. T. (1954) Tavorite and barbosalite: two new phosphate minerals from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Science, 119 (3099) 739 doi:10.1126/science.119.3099.739
Lindberg, M. L., Pecora, W. T. (1955) Tavorite and barbosalite, two new phosphate minerals from Minas Gerais, Brazil. American Mineralogist, 40 (11-12) 952-966
Fransolet, Andre-Mathieu, Tarte, Pierre (1977) Infrared spectrum of analyzed samples of the amblygonite-montebrasite series: a new rapid, semi-quantitative determination of fluorine. American Mineralogist, 62 (5-6) 559-564
Roberts, A. C., Dunn, P. J., Grice, J. D., Newbury, D. E., Roberts, W. L. (1988) The X-Ray Crystallography of Tavorite from the Tip Top Pegmatite, Custer, South Dakota. Powder Diffraction, 3 (2) 93-95 doi:10.1017/s0885715600013312
Pizarro-Sanz, J.L., Dance, J.M., Villeneuve, G., Arriortua-Marcaida, M.I. (1994) The natural and synthetic tavorite minerals: Crystal chemistry and magnetic properties. Materials Letters, 18. 327-330 doi:10.1016/0167-577x(94)90017-5
Marx, Nicolas; Croguennec, Laurence; Carlier, Dany; Wattiaux, Alain; Cras, Frédéric Le; Suard, Emmanuelle; Delmas, Claude (2010) The structure of tavorite LiFePO4(OH) from diffraction and GGA + U studies and its preliminary electrochemical characterization. Dalton Transactions, 39 (21). 5108-5116 doi:10.1039/b922640k
Localities for Tavorite
Showing 40 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.
Argentina | |
| Roda-Robles et al. (2012) |
Brazil | |
| Cassedanne et al. (1982) |
| sergio varvello | |
| Baijot et al. (2014) | |
| Sergio Varvello collection | |
| Cassedanne et al. (1981) |
| Atencio et al. (2004) |
| SOSMAN (1954) +1 other reference |
| Murdoch (1955) |
| Wegner et al. (1998) | |
Germany | |
| Dill (2009) |
| www.mg-mineralien-fossilien.eu (2020) +2 other references | |
Madagascar | |
| Behier (1960) |
Morocco | |
| FRANSOLET (1974) |
| Goodenough et al. (2025) | |
| Favreau (2012) |
Namibia | |
| von Bezing (2007) |
| Keller (1974) | |
| Keller et al. (1989) |
| Collection of Barry Murphy |
| Fransolet et al. (1986) |
Portugal | |
| Gramaccioli (1981) +1 other reference |
| Mineralien Atlas | |
| |
Romania | |
| Androne et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
Rwanda | |
| Bertossa (1968) +1 other reference |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
Spain | |
| Christian Rewitzer collection +1 other reference |
| |
USA | |
| Smith (2005) +1 other reference |
| Moore (1973) | |
| Peacor (1969) +1 other reference |
| Smith et al. (2000) | |
| Smith et al. (2000) | |
| Campbell et al. (1985) +1 other reference |
| Smith et al. (2000) |
| Smith et al. (2000) |
| Anthony et al. (2016) |
| Rocks & Minerals: 67 (6) |
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Tip Top Mine, Fourmile, Custer Mining District, Custer County, South Dakota, USA