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
IMA Classification of Falsterite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca2MgMn2+2(Fe2+Fe3+)2Zn2+4(PO4)8(OH)4·14H2O
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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:
Moderate (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, 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
Element Weights:
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
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
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Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
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2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
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Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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 (4) 496-502 doi:10.2138/am.2012.4008
Synonyms of Falsterite
Other Language Names for Falsterite
Dutch:Falsteriet
German:Falsterit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.CF. | Ferraioloite | MgMn2+4(Fe2+0.5Al3+0.5)4Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)20 |
| 8.CF. | Naalasite | NaAl(AsO3OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.CF. | Nafeasite | Na3Fe3+3(AsO3OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 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.05 | Tassieite | (Na,◻)Ca2(Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+)2(Fe2+,Mg)2(Fe3+,Mg)2(PO4)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.CF.05 | Bederite | Ca2(Mn2+)4(Fe3+)2(PO4)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.CF.05 | Wicksite | NaCa2(Fe2+,Mn2+)4MgFe3+(PO4)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.CF.05 | Grischunite | NaCa2Mn2+5Fe3+(AsO4)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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Please feel free to link to this page.
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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
Showing 2 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.
USA | |
| Jim Nizamoff +1 other reference |
| Williams et al. (2011) +2 other references |
Quick NavTopAbout FalsteriteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Palermo No. 1 Mine, Groton, Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA