Triphylite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Triphylite
Formula:
LiFe2+PO4
Colour:
Brown-green, light green-gray, may appear blue-gray; colourless to pale yellow in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Greasy
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
3.42 - 3.58
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1834 by Johann Nepomuk von Fuchs from the Greek τρίς, "tris", for threefold, plus φυλον "phylon", family, because it was thought to contain three cations (Fe, Li, Mn).
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Triphylite Group. Triphylite-Lithiophilite Series.
The most abundant primary phosphate mineral in phosphate and other complex pegmatites, in which it occurs as coarsely crystalline masses, rarely in crystals.
Fresh material is greenish gray to bluish gray.
The most abundant primary phosphate mineral in phosphate and other complex pegmatites, in which it occurs as coarsely crystalline masses, rarely in crystals.
Fresh material is greenish gray to bluish gray.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4020
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4020:0
IMA Classification of Triphylite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1834
Type description reference:
Classification of Triphylite
8.AB.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
B : With medium-sized cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
B : With medium-sized cations
Dana 7th ed.:
38.1.1.1
38.1.1.1
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
1 : ABXO4
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
1 : ABXO4
19.1.13
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Trp | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Trp | 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 Triphylite
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Greasy
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Brown-green, light green-gray, may appear blue-gray; colourless to pale yellow in transmitted light.
Comment:
Blue shades may be due to vivianite inclusions.
Streak:
Colorless to grayish white.
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Very Good
On {001} nearly perfect; on {010} good; on {011} poor.
On {001} nearly perfect; on {010} good; on {011} poor.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.42 - 3.58 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.562 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Value for Fe end-member. Range 3.53-3.59
Optical Data of Triphylite
Type:
Biaxial (+/-)
RI values:
nα = 1.689 - 1.705 nβ = 1.6849 - 1.710 nγ = 1.685 - 1.720
Birefringence:
0.008
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
Dispersion:
r > v or r < v
Orientation:
varies across composition range; see additional comments below
Optical Extinction:
Parallel, may rarely be optically (+), oxidation greatly increases RI, e.g. α 1.790 β 1.805 γ 1.820 biref 0.030 2V = 85°; Mg reduces RI (Am Min 28:90 (1943)).
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
Oxidation greatly changes optical properties. Triphylite may look black or contain blue vivianite alteration along cleavages. Sometimes masses are rimmed by blue tourmaline.
Variation of optic orientation and optic nature across composition:
X = c; Y = b; Z = a, B(neutral) with 2V° near 90° for end-member/near end-member triphylite, decreasing to B(-) with 2V° near 0° at composition roughly Lhp18Trp82;
X = c, and sensibly U(-) at composition roughly Lhp19Trp81;
X = c; Y = a; Z = b, B(-) with 2V° near 0° at composition roughly Lhp20Trp80, increasing to B(neutral) with 2V° near 90° at composition roughly Lhp25Trp75; with further compositional change towards lithiophilite, optical sign switches to B(+) and 2V° decreases to near 0° at composition roughly Lhp39Trp61;
Z = b, and sensibly U(+) at composition roughly Lhp40Trp60;
X = a; Y = c; Z = b, B(+) with 2V° near 0° at composition roughly Lhp41Trp59, increasing to B(+) with 2V° near 29° at composition roughly Lhp50Trp50 (the nomenclature boundary between triphylite and lithiophilite); see lithiophilite for further optic orientation changes on the Mn-rich side of the nomenclature boundary.
Variation of optic orientation and optic nature across composition:
X = c; Y = b; Z = a, B(neutral) with 2V° near 90° for end-member/near end-member triphylite, decreasing to B(-) with 2V° near 0° at composition roughly Lhp18Trp82;
X = c, and sensibly U(-) at composition roughly Lhp19Trp81;
X = c; Y = a; Z = b, B(-) with 2V° near 0° at composition roughly Lhp20Trp80, increasing to B(neutral) with 2V° near 90° at composition roughly Lhp25Trp75; with further compositional change towards lithiophilite, optical sign switches to B(+) and 2V° decreases to near 0° at composition roughly Lhp39Trp61;
Z = b, and sensibly U(+) at composition roughly Lhp40Trp60;
X = a; Y = c; Z = b, B(+) with 2V° near 0° at composition roughly Lhp41Trp59, increasing to B(+) with 2V° near 29° at composition roughly Lhp50Trp50 (the nomenclature boundary between triphylite and lithiophilite); see lithiophilite for further optic orientation changes on the Mn-rich side of the nomenclature boundary.
Chemistry of Triphylite
Mindat Formula:
LiFe2+PO4
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Mn,Mg,Ca
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| P2O5 | 42,21 % |
| Fe2O3 | 28,22 % |
| FeO | 1,33 % |
| MnO | 20,20 % |
| MgO | 0,61 % |
| CaO | 0,60 % |
| Na2O | 0,08 % |
| K2O | 0,17 % |
| Li2O | 2,78 % |
| H2O+ | 3,24 % |
| Insol | 0,60 % |
| Total: | 96 % |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buranga pegmatite, Muhororo, Ngororero District, Western Province, Rwanda |
Crystallography of Triphylite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pmna
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.0285(6) Å, b = 10.3586(9) Å, c = 4.7031(3) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.582 : 1 : 0.454
Unit Cell V:
293.69 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals rare; commonly coarse with uneven surfaces; stout prismatic [100]. Massive, rarely granular. May exist in pods over 1 meter across. Commonly replaced by siderite with accompanying secondary phosphate species.
Comment:
Pmnb, AC B (1976) 32:2761 structure
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005980 | Triphylite | Losey A, Rakovan J F, Hughes J M, Francis C A, Dyar M D (2004) Structural variation in the lithiophilite-triphylite series and other olivine-group structures The Canadian Mineralogist 42 1105-1115 |  | 2004 | G.E. Smith Quarry, Newport, New Hampshire | 0 | 293 |
| 0005979 | Triphylite | Losey A, Rakovan J F, Hughes J M, Francis C A, Dyar M D (2004) Structural variation in the lithiophilite-triphylite series and other olivine-group structures The Canadian Mineralogist 42 1105-1115 | | 2004 | Palermo #1 Quarry, Groton, New Hampshire | 0 | 293 |
| 0005978 | Triphylite | Losey A, Rakovan J F, Hughes J M, Francis C A, Dyar M D (2004) Structural variation in the lithiophilite-triphylite series and other olivine-group structures The Canadian Mineralogist 42 1105-1115 | | 2004 | BB#7 Quarry, Norway, Maine | 0 | 293 |
| 0009574 | Ferrisicklerite | Alberti A (1976) Crystal structure of ferrisicklerite, Li<1(Fe3+,Mn2+)PO4 Acta Crystallographica B32 2761-2764 |  | 1976 | Sidi-Bou-Othmane, Jebilet, Morocco | 0 | 293 |
| 0017986 | Ferrisicklerite | Bjoerling C, Westgren A (1938) Minerals of the Varutrask pegmatite. IX. X-ray studies on triphylite, varulite, and their oxidation products _cod_database_code 1011090 Geologiska Foreningens i Stockholm Forhandlingar 60 67-72 | 1938 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Epitaxial Relationships of Triphylite
Epitaxial Minerals:
| 'Graftonite' | Fe2+Fe2+2(PO4)2 |
Epitaxy Comments:
As coarsely laminated intergrowths with Graftonite, both phases mutually oriented with Graftonite {010} [100] parallel to Triphylite {102} [010].
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.18 Å | (30) |
| 4.28 Å | (80) |
| 3.92 Å | (30) |
| 3.49 Å | (70) |
| 3.01 Å | (10) |
| 2.78 Å | (30) |
| 2.53 Å | (80) |
| 2.46 Å | (20) |
Comments:
ICDD 40-1499; also 19-721, 11-456; 29-808 (oxidized and Li-leached)
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Geological Setting:
Complex zoned granitic pegmatites.
Type Occurrence of Triphylite
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Granite pegmatite.
Synonyms of Triphylite
Other Language Names for Triphylite
Varieties of Triphylite
| Ferrisicklerite | DISCREDITED (intermediate phases in the triphylite–heterosite solid solution). Occurs only as an alteration product of Triphylite and Lithiophilite, commonly as rims around partly altered masses or crystals of the latter species. Ferrisicklerite and S... |
Relationship of Triphylite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Triphylite Group:
| Heterosite | Fe3+(PO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmna |
| Karenwebberite | NaFe2+PO4 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Lithiophilite | LiMn2+PO4 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmna |
| Natrophilite | NaMn2+PO4 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmna |
| Purpurite | Mn3+(PO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmna |
| Simferite | LiMg(PO4) | Orth. |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 73 photos of Triphylite associated with Vivianite | Fe2+Fe2+2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 35 photos of Triphylite associated with Rockbridgeite | (Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)5 |
| 30 photos of Triphylite associated with Hureaulite | Mn2+5(PO3OH)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 28 photos of Triphylite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 25 photos of Triphylite associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 24 photos of Triphylite associated with Graftonite | Fe2+Fe2+2(PO4)2 |
| 20 photos of Triphylite associated with Correianevesite | Fe2+Mn2+2(PO4)2 · 3H2O |
| 18 photos of Triphylite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 16 photos of Triphylite associated with Heterosite | Fe3+(PO4) |
| 13 photos of Triphylite associated with Wolfeite | Fe2+2(PO4)(OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.AB. | Kryzaite | Na4(MgCr)(PO4)3 |
| 8.AB. | Niasite | Ni2+4.5(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AB. | Johanngeorgenstadtite | Ni2+4.5(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AB. | Rodolicoite | Fe3+PO4 |
| 8.AB. | Karwowskiite | Ca9Mg(Fe2+0.5◻0.5)(PO4)7 |
| 8.AB. | Olsenite | KFe4(PO4)3 |
| 8.AB. | Borisenkoite | Cu3[(V,As)O4]2 |
| 8.AB.05 | Farringtonite | Mg3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.10 | Natrophilite | NaMn2+PO4 |
| 8.AB.10 | 'Sicklerite' | Li1-x(Mn3+xMn2+1-x)PO4 |
| 8.AB.10 | Simferite | LiMg(PO4) |
| 8.AB.10 | Heterosite | Fe3+(PO4) |
| 8.AB.10 | Lithiophilite | LiMn2+PO4 |
| 8.AB.10 | Karenwebberite | NaFe2+PO4 |
| 8.AB.10 | 'Ferrisicklerite' | Li1-x(Fe3+xFe2+1-x)PO4 |
| 8.AB.10 | Purpurite | Mn3+(PO4) |
| 8.AB.15 | Zavalíaite | Mn2+3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.15 | Chopinite | Mg3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.15 | Sarcopside | Fe2+3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.20 | Beusite | Mn2+Mn2+2 (PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.20 | Graftonite-(Ca) | CaFe2+2(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.20 | Graftonite-(Mn) | MnFe2+2(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.20 | Graftonite | Fe2+Fe2+2(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.20 | Beusite-(Ca) | CaMn2+2(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.25 | Xanthiosite | Ni3(AsO4)2 |
| 8.AB.30 | Lammerite | Cu3(AsO4)2 |
| 8.AB.30 | Paralammerite | Cu3(AsO4)2 |
| 8.AB.35 | Mcbirneyite | Cu3(VO4)2 |
| 8.AB.35 | Pseudolyonsite | Cu3(VO4)2 |
| 8.AB.35 | Stranskiite | Zn2Cu(AsO4)2 |
| 8.AB.40 | Michalskiite | Fe3+1.33Cu2+2(MgFe3+)2(VO4)6 |
| 8.AB.40 | Lyonsite | Cu3Fe4(VO4)6 |
Fluorescence of Triphylite
Not fluorescent.
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in acids.
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 Triphylite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4020.html
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References for Triphylite
Reference List:
Laubmann, H.; Steinmetz, H. (1915) Phosphatführende Pegmatite des Oberpfälzer und Bayerischen Waldes. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, 55 (1-6). 523-586 doi:10.1524/zkri.1915.55.1.523p.561
Björling, Carl Olof; Westgren, A. (1938) Minerals of the Varuträsk Pegmatite. IX. X-Ray Studies on Triphylite, Varulite, and their Oxidation Products. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholm Förhandlingar, 60 (1). 67-72 doi:10.1080/11035893809443985
Switzer, George (1938) The paragenesis of the Center Strafford, New Hampshire, pegmatite. American Mineralogist, 23 (11) 811-820
Mason, Brian (1942) Some iron-manganese phosphate minerals from the pegmatite at Hühnerkobel in Bavaria. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholm Förhandlingar, 64 (3) 335-340 doi:10.1080/11035894209446083
Chapman, Carleton A. (1943) Large magnesia-rich triphylite crystals in pegmatite. American Mineralogist, 28 (2) 90-98
Lindberg, Marie Louise (1950) Arrojadite, hühnerkobelite, and graftonite. American Mineralogist, 35 (1-2) 59-76
Peacor, Donald R. (1969) Triphylite-sarcopside-graftonite intergrowths from Custer, South Dakota. American Mineralogist, 54 (5-6) 969-972
Fransolet, André-Mathieu (1977) Intercroissances et inclusions dans les associations graftonite-sarcopside-triphylite. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 100 (3). 198-207 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1977.7137
Fransolet, Andrié-Mathieu, Antenucci, Diano, Speetjens, Jean-Marie, Tarte, Pierre (1984) An X-ray determinative method for the divalent cation ratio in the triphylite-lithiophilite series. Mineralogical Magazine, 48 (348) 373-381 doi:10.1180/minmag.1984.048.348.07
Shigley, James E., Brown, Gordon E. (1985) Occurrence and alteration of phosphate minerals at the Stewart Pegmatite, Pala District, San Diego County, California. American Mineralogist, 70 (3-4) 395-408
Streltsov, V. A.; Belokoneva, E. L.; Tsirelson, V. G.; Hansen, N. K. (1993) Multipole analysis of the electron density in triphylite, LiFePO4, using X-ray diffraction data. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, 49 (2). 147-153 doi:10.1107/s0108768192004701
Shannon, Robert D., Shannon, Ruth C., Medenbach, Olaf, Fischer, Reinhard X. (2002) Refractive Index and Dispersion of Fluorides and Oxides. Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data, 31 (4) 931-970 doi:10.1063/1.1497384
Losey, A., Rakovan, J., Hughes, J. M., Francis, C. A., Dyar, M. D. (2004) Structural variation in the lithiophilite-triphylite series and other olivine-group structures. The Canadian Mineralogist, 42 (4). 1105-1115 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.42.4.1105
Fehr, K. T., Hochleitner, R., Schmidbauer, E., Schneider, J. (2007) Mineralogy, Mössbauer spectra and electrical conductivity of triphylite Li(Fe2+,Mn2+)PO4. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 34 (7). 485-494 doi:10.1007/s00269-007-0164-8
Dyar, M. D., Jawin, E. R., Breves, E., Marchand, G., Nelms, M., Lane, M. D., Mertzman, S. A., Bish, D. L., Bishop, J. L. (2014) Mössbauer parameters of iron in phosphate minerals: Implications for interpretation of martian data. American Mineralogist, 99 (5) 914-942 doi:10.2138/am.2014.4701
Roda-Robles, Encarnación, Pesquera, Alfonso, García De Madinabeitia, Sonia, Gil Ibarguchi, José-Ignacio, Nizamoff, Jim, Simmons, William, Falster, Alexander, Galliski, Miguel Angel (2014) On the geochemical character of primary Fe-Mn phosphates belonging to the triphylite-lithiophilite, graftonite-beusite, and triplite-zwieselite series: first results and implications for pegmatite petrogenesis. The Canadian Mineralogist, 52 (2). 321-335 doi:10.3749/canmin.52.2.321
Ryabin, Alexander A., Slautin, Boris N., Pelegov, Dmitry V. (2020) Three‐stage kinetics of laser‐induced LiFePO4 decomposition. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 51 (3). 528-536 doi:10.1002/jrs.5803
Localities for Triphylite
Showing 525 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
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- Good crystals or important locality for species.
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(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.
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Emmons Quarry, Uncle Tom Mountain, Greenwood, Oxford County, Maine, USA