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PHOSPHATE MINERALS
DISTINGUISHIN
G FEATURES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
MINERAL
NAME
CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION
CRYSTAL
SYSTEM
Triphylite
Li ( Fe , Mn ) P O4 Orthorhombi
c
Lithiophilit
e
Orthorhombi
c
Li ( Mn , Fe ) P O4
Pyromorphi
te
PO 4 3 Cl
Pb5
Hexagonal
COLOR
Bluish
gray to
greenish
gray,
brownish
to black
where
altered
Clovebrown,
yellowish
brown,
honeyyellow,
salmonpink, bluegray, gray
Dark
grassgreen,
green,
yellow,
yelloworange,
reddish
orange,
yellowbrown,
brown,
tan,
grayish,
may be
colorless
SPECIFI
C
GRAVIT
Y
LUSTER
FRACTURE
4.0 5.0
3.50
3.58
Viterous
to subresinous
Uneven to
subconchoidal
4.0 5.0
3.445
3.50
Vitreous
to subresinous
Uneven to
subconchoidal
7.04
Resinous
to subadamantine
Uneven to
subconchoidal
HARDNES
S
3.5 4.0
TENACIT
Y
STREA
K
N/A
White to
grayish
white
Characterized by
two cleavages at
right angles,
resinous luster
and association
White to
grayish
white
Characterized by
two cleavages at
right angles,
resinous luster
and association
White
Characterized by
its crystal form,
high luster, high
specific gravity
N/A
Brittle
USES
Subordinate ore of
lead
Apatite
Vanadinite
Amblygonit
e
Turquoise
Erythrite
Ca 5 ( PO 4 )3
( F , Cl , OH )
Pb5 ( VO 4 )3 Cl
Hexagonal
Shade of
green or
brown,
blue,
violet,
colorless
Hexagonal
Redorange,
deep red,
brownish
red,
brownish
yellow,
yellow,
pale
strawyellow,
LiAl ( PO 4 ) (F , OH T)riclinic
PO 4
Cu Al 6
OH
Triclinic
Co 3 ( As O4 ) 2 8 H 2Monoclinic
O
White to
pale green
or blue,
rarely
yellow
Sky-blue,
bluish
green,
apple
green,
greenish
gray
Crimson
to peachred, pale
rose, pink
5.0
2.5 3.0
6.0
5.0 6.0
1.5 2.5
3.15
3.20
Vitreous
to subresinous
6.88
Subresinous
to subadamantine
3.0 3.1
Vitreous
to
greasy,
pearly on
good
cleavage
2.91
Vitreous
in
crystals,
dull to
waxy if
massive
3.135
Subadamantine,
pearly on
cleavage
s
Conchoidal
to uneven
Uneven to
conchoidal
Uneven to
subconchoidal
Small
conchoidal
to smooth
N/A
N/A
Brittle
Brittle
N/A
Sectile
White
It is usually
recognized by its
crystal color and
hardness.
Distinguished
from beryl by
the prominent
pyramidal
terminations of
its crystals and
by its being
softer than a
knife blade
Crystallized apatite
can be used
extensively as a
source of phosphate
for fertilizer.
Transparent varieties
of apatite of fine
color can be used for
gems.
White to
pale red
or pale
yellow
Characterized by
crystal form,
high luster and
high specific
gravity,
distinguished
from
pyromorphite
and mimetite
color
Source of vanadium
and minor ore of
lead, used as steelhardening material
N/A
Cleavage
fragments may
be confused with
feldspar but are
distinguished by
cleavage angles
Source of lithium
White to
pale
greenis
h blue
Can be
recognized by its
color, harder
than chrysocolla,
the only mineral
which it
resembles
Use as a gemstone.
Much cut turquoise is
veined with the
various gangue
materials and such
stones are sold under
name of turquoise
matrix
Pale red
to pink
The association
of erythrite with
other cobalt
minerals and its
pink color are
usually sufficient
to distinguish it
from other
minerals
Autunite
Lemon
Ca ( UO 2 )2 ( P O4 )2 Tetragonal
1012 H 2 Oyellow to
2.0 2.5
3.1 3.2
Vitreous
Uneven
N/A
Yellow
Unknown,
soft
4.7 5.0
Dull or
earthy
Uneven
N/A
Yellow
pale green
Carnotite
K 2 ( U O 2 )2 ( V 2 O 8 )
Monoclinic
13 H 2 O
Bright
yellow to
greenish
yellow
Characterized by
yellow-green
tetragonal plates
and string
fluorescence in
ultraviolet light,
radioactive
Characterized by
its yellow color,
pulvurent
nature,
radioactivity and
occurrence.
Unlike many
secondary
uranium
minerals,
carnotite will not
fluoresce in
ultraviolet light
Ore of uranium