Phosphophyllite
{{Short description|Rare mineral (Zn₂Fe(PO₄)₂•4H₂O)}}
{{Infobox mineral
| name = Phosphophyllite
| category = Phosphate minerals
| boxbgcolor =#00ceac
| boxtextcolor = #fff
| image = Phosphophyllite-359315.jpg
| imagesize = 260px
| formula = {{chem2|Zn2Fe(PO4)2*4H2O}}
| molweight = 448.40 g/mol
| strunz = 8.CA.40
| system = Monoclinic
| class = Prismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
| symmetry = P21/c
| color = Blue-green to colourless
| habit = Prismatic
| twinning = Common
| cleavage = [100] Perfect, [010] Distinct, [102] Distinct
| fracture = Conchoidal
| mohs = 3.5
| luster = Vitreous
| refractive = nα = 1.595–1.599, nβ = 1.614–1.617, nγ = 1.616–1.620
| opticalprop =Biaxial (−)
| birefringence = 0.021
|2V=Measured 44°, Calculated 34°| streak = White
| gravity = 3.1
| diaphaneity = Transparent
| impurities = Manganese
}}
Phosphophyllite is a rare phosphate mineral with the chemical formula {{chem2|Zn2Fe(PO4)2*4H2O}}. It is prized among mineral collectors for its delicate bluish green colour, but rarely cut for its difficult properties.
Geology
Phosphophyllite was first described in 1920 by Heinrich Laubmann and Hermann Steinmetz.Page Phosphophyllite: Mineral information, data and localities on {{cite web | url=https://www.mindat.org/min-3181.html | title=mindat.org | publisher=Hudson Institute of Mineralogy | access-date=2025-03-16}} The name derives from {{ety|grc|phyllon|leaf}}, and phosphate{{cite web | title = Phosphophyllite | publisher = | date = | url = http://webmineral.com/data/Phosphophyllite.shtml | accessdate = 2006-12-16 }}
Chemically, phosphophyllite is related to zinc phosphate with some zinc substituted by iron.
Phosphophyllite has been synthesized by the addition of diammonium phosphate to a solution of zinc and iron sulfate.{{Cite journal |last1=Thomas |first1=Ian M. |last2=Weller |first2=Mark T. |date=1992 |title=Synthesis, structure and thermal properties of phosphophyllite, Zn 2 Fe(PO 4 ) 2 ·4H 2 O |url=http://xlink.rsc.org/?DOI=JM9920201123 |journal=J. Mater. Chem. |language=en |volume=2 |issue=11 |pages=1123–1126 |doi=10.1039/JM9920201123 |issn=0959-9428|url-access=subscription }}
=Occurrence=
The finest phosphophyllite crystals come from Potosí, Bolivia, but it is no longer mined there. Other sources include New Hampshire, United States and Hagendorf, Bavaria, Germany. It is often found in association with the minerals chalcopyrite and triphylite.{{cite web| title =The mineral phosphophyllite| publisher =Amethyst Galleries, Inc| url =http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/phosphat/phosphop/phosphop.htm| accessdate =2006-12-16| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20061017063416/http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/phosphat/phosphop/phosphop.htm| archivedate =2006-10-17}}
Uses
Phosphophyllite is highly prized by collectors for its rarity and for its delicate bluish green colour but brittleness and fragility as well as the intrinsic value of large crystals make it unsuitable for jewelry.{{cite book | last = Hall | first = Cally | title = Gemstones | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | year = 1994 | location = Great Britain | url =https://archive.org/details/gemstoneseyewitn00call | url-access = registration | isbn = 0-7513-1026-3 | page = [https://archive.org/details/gemstoneseyewitn00call/page/127 127] }}
=Gallery=
File:Phosphophyllite-21358.jpg, Bolivia. 2.1 × 1.4 × 1 cm]]
= Popular culture =
An anthropomorphic form of phosphophyllite is the protagonist of the manga and anime series Land of the Lustrous, with key features of the mineral such as its brittle nature and vibrant color reflected in their character traits and design.{{Cite web |last=Zhang |first=Mary |date=2020-08-06 |title=Land of the Lustrous: Crystal Gems... |url=https://www.cbr.com/land-of-the-lustrous-crystal-gems-buddhism/ |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=CBR |language=en}}{{clear left}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category| Phosphophyllite}}
Category:Tetrahydrate minerals
Category:Minerals in space group 14
Category:Minerals described in 1920
{{Phosphate-mineral-stub}}