Chlorophoenicite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Chlorophoenicite
Formula:
(Mn,Mg)3Zn2(AsO4)(OH,O)6
Colour:
Usually colorless to white, also light gray-green (natural light); pink to light purplish red (strong artificial light)
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Silky
Hardness:
3 - 3½
Specific Gravity:
3.46
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1924 by William Frederick Foshag and Robert Burns Gage from the Greek χλωρός for "green" and φοιυικος for "purple-red" in allusion to its color change from natural to artificial light.
Isostructural with:
Manganese (or rather Mn3) analogue of magnesiochlorophoenicite and peterchinite. Although the original chlorophoenicite was named because of an alexandrite-like effect, the colour change under various light sources was observed on rarely encountered prismatic crystals. The vast majority of chlorophoenicite specimens are white to colourless as well as in tiny acicular crystals and do not show colour variation from daylight to incandescent light sources.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
946
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:946:9
IMA Classification of Chlorophoenicite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
(Mn2+,Mg,Zn2+)3Zn2+2As5+O4(OH,O)6
Classification of Chlorophoenicite
8.BE.35
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 2:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 2:1
41.1.1.1
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : (AB)m(XO4)pZq, where m:p > 4:1
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : (AB)m(XO4)pZq, where m:p > 4:1
20.3.17
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
3 : Arsenates of Zn, Cd or Hg
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
3 : Arsenates of Zn, Cd or Hg
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cpo | 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 Chlorophoenicite
Sub-Vitreous, Silky
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Comment:
Pearly on the cleavage surfaces, but usually difficult to observe.
Colour:
Usually colorless to white, also light gray-green (natural light); pink to light purplish red (strong artificial light)
Comment:
White material common at the Sterling Mine and Franklin.
Streak:
Colorless
Hardness:
3 - 3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {100}, good.
On {100}, good.
Fracture:
Splintery
Density:
3.46 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.47 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Chlorophoenicite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.682 nβ = 1.690 nγ = 1.697
2V:
Measured: 81° to 85°, Calculated: 84°
Birefringence:
0.015
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.015
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, relatively strong
Chemistry of Chlorophoenicite
Mindat Formula:
(Mn,Mg)3Zn2(AsO4)(OH,O)6
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Chlorophoenicite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 22.973 Å, b = 3.287 Å, c = 7.310 Å
β = 106.18°
β = 106.18°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 6.989 : 1 : 2.224
Unit Cell V:
530.13 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Usually acicular. Crystals may be long prismatic [010] and deeply striated [010], with etched and dull terminal faces. Face {100} is relatively smooth while {h0l} faces are uneven or warped.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000179 | Chlorophoenicite | Moore P B (1968) The crystal structure of chlorophoenicite American Mineralogist 53 1110-1119 |  | 1968 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.87 Å | (50) |
| 5.31 Å | (10) |
| 3.85 Å | (5) |
| 3.71 Å | (70) |
| 3.43 Å | (10) |
| 3.11 Å | (50) |
| 2.99 Å | (40) |
| 2.642 Å | (100) |
| 2.426 Å | (15) |
| 2.347 Å | (12) |
| 2.209 Å | (10) |
| 2.170 Å | (10) |
| 2.045 Å | (1) |
| 1.941 Å | (5) |
| 1.915 Å | (5) |
| 1.822 Å | (20) |
| 1.758 Å | (30) |
| 1.703 Å | (10) |
| 1.641 Å | (8) |
| 1.517 Å | (5) |
| 1.487 Å | (15) |
| 1.452 Å | (1) |
| 1.429 Å | (5) |
| 1.405 Å | (5) |
Comments:
ICDD 25-1159
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Chlorophoenicite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Usually in acicular, white crystals. Sometimes in somewhat rod-like crystals with an acute rhombic cross-section and definite pyramidal terminations. Rarely may be pale grayish green when crystals are rod-like.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1925,501–502.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 94964.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 94964.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Secondary veinlets in massive ore in a metamorphosed Pre-Cambrian sedimentary Zn-Fe-Mn deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Chlorophoenicite
Relationship of Chlorophoenicite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Chlorophoenicite Group:
| Jarosewichite | Mn2+3Mn3+(AsO4)(OH)6 | Orth. 222 |
| Magnesiochlorophoenicite | (Mg,Mn)3Zn2(AsO4)(OH,O)6 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| 'Mineral E (of Dunn, et. al., 1982)' | Bright translucent black needles showing typical chlorophoenicite habit. | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Peterchinite | Zn3Zn2(OH)6As[O3(OH)3] | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 42 photos of Chlorophoenicite associated with Willemite | Zn2SiO4 |
| 31 photos of Chlorophoenicite associated with Zincite | ZnO |
| 27 photos of Chlorophoenicite associated with Franklinite | Zn2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 20 photos of Chlorophoenicite associated with Hetaerolite | ZnMn2O4 |
| 14 photos of Chlorophoenicite associated with Hodgkinsonite | Mn2+Zn2(SiO4)(OH)2 |
| 10 photos of Chlorophoenicite associated with Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| 10 photos of Chlorophoenicite associated with Leucophoenicite | Mn2+7(SiO4)3(OH)2 |
| 8 photos of Chlorophoenicite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 7 photos of Chlorophoenicite associated with Allactite | Mn2+7(AsO4)2(OH)8 |
| 7 photos of Chlorophoenicite associated with 'UM1986-10-CO:ClHMgMnZn (also called Mineral F, Dunn, 1995)' | Mg5(Zn,Mn)3(CO3)2(OH,Cl)12 · H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.BE.05 | Augelite | Al2(PO4)(OH)3 |
| 8.BE.10 | Grattarolaite | Fe3+3(PO4)O3 |
| 8.BE.15 | Cornetite | Cu3(PO4)(OH)3 |
| 8.BE.20 | Clinoclase | Cu3(AsO4)(OH)3 |
| 8.BE.25 | Gilmarite | Cu3(AsO4)(OH)3 |
| 8.BE.25 | Arhbarite | Cu2Mg(AsO4)(OH)3 |
| 8.BE.30 | Flinkite | Mn2+2Mn3+(AsO4)(OH)4 |
| 8.BE.30 | Argandite | Mn7(VO4)2(OH)8 |
| 8.BE.30 | Raadeite | Mg7(PO4)2(OH)8 |
| 8.BE.30 | Allactite | Mn2+7(AsO4)2(OH)8 |
| 8.BE.35 | 'Mineral E (of Dunn, et. al., 1982)' | |
| 8.BE.35 | Magnesiochlorophoenicite | (Mg,Mn)3Zn2(AsO4)(OH,O)6 |
| 8.BE.40 | Gerdtremmelite | (Zn,Fe)(Al,Fe)2(AsO4)(OH)5 |
| 8.BE.45 | Dixenite | CuMn2+14Fe2+(SiO4)2(As5+O4)(As3+O3)5(OH)6 |
| 8.BE.45 | Mcgovernite | Mn19Zn3(AsO4)3(AsO3)(SiO4)3(OH)21 |
| 8.BE.45 | Hematolite | (Mn,Mg,Al,Fe3+)15(As5+O4)2(As3+O3)(OH)23 |
| 8.BE.45 | Turtmannite | (Mn,Mg)22.5Mg3-3x((V5+,As5+)O4)3(As3+O3)x(SiO4)3O5-5x(OH)20+x |
| 8.BE.45 | Carlfrancisite | Mn2+3(Mn2+,Mg,Fe3+,Al)42[As3+O3]2(As5+O4)4[(Si,As5+)O4]6[(As5+,Si)O4]2(OH)42 |
| 8.BE.45 | Arakiite | (Zn,Mn2+)(Mn2+,Mg)12(Fe3+,Al)2(As5+O4)2(As3+O3)(OH)23 |
| 8.BE.45 | Kraisslite | Zn3(Mn,Mg)25(Fe3+,Al)(As3+O3)2[(Si,As5+)O4]10(OH)16 |
| 8.BE.50 | Synadelphite | Mn2+9(As5+O4)2(As3+O3)(OH)9 · 2H2O |
| 8.BE.55 | Holdenite | (Mn2+,Mg)6Zn3(AsO4)2(SiO4)(OH)8 |
| 8.BE.60 | Kolicite | Mn2+7Zn4(AsO4)2(SiO4)2(OH)8 |
| 8.BE.65 | Sabelliite | (Cu,Zn)2Zn(AsO4,SbO4)(OH)3 |
| 8.BE.70 | Jarosewichite | Mn2+3Mn3+(AsO4)(OH)6 |
| 8.BE.75 | Theisite | Cu5Zn5(AsO4,SbO4)2(OH)14 |
| 8.BE.80 | Coparsite | Cu4(AsO4,VO4)O2Cl |
| 8.BE.85 | Waterhouseite | Mn2+7(PO4)2(OH)8 |
| 8.BE.90 | Vasilseverginite | Cu9O4(AsO4)2(SO4)2 |
Fluorescence of Chlorophoenicite
Not fluorescent in UV.
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 Chlorophoenicite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-946.html
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References for Chlorophoenicite
Reference List:
Foshag, W. F., Gage, R. B. (1924) Chlorophoenicite, a new mineral from Franklin Furnace, New Jersey (preliminary description) Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, 14 (15) 362-363
Foshag, William F., Berman, Harry, Gage, Robert B. (1927) The occurrence and properties of chlorophoenicite, a new arsenate from Franklin, New Jersey. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 70 (2669). 1-6 doi:10.5479/si.00963801.70-2669.1
Palache, Charles (1935) The minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, Sussex County, New Jersey. Professional Paper 180. US Geological Survey 135 pp. doi:10.3133/pp180 p.122
Localities for Chlorophoenicite
Showing 5 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.
Greece | |
| Schnorrer-Köhler et al. (1988) |
USA | |
| Pat Gross |
| Foshag et al. (1924) +3 other references |
| Palache (1935) +2 other references |
| Franklin Mineral Museum specimens |
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Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA