Crystals of collinsite from the Rapid Creek area of northern Yukon, Canada
General
Category
Phosphate mineral
Formula (repeating unit)
Ca 2(Mg,Fe2+ )(PO 4) 2•2H 2O
IMA symbol
Coll[1]
Strunz classification
8.CG.05
Dana classification
40.2.2.3
Crystal system
Triclinic
Crystal class
Pinacoidal (1) (same H-M symbol)
Space group
P1
Unit cell
a = 5.734(1) Å b = 6.780(1) Å c = 5.441(1) Å α = 97.29°, β = 108.56°, γ = 107.28°; Z = 1[2]
Identification
Cleavage
Fair on {001} and {010}
Tenacity
Brittle[2]
Mohs scale hardness
3 to 3.5
Luster
Subvitreous, silky if fibrous[2]
Streak
White[2]
Diaphaneity
Translucent
Specific gravity
2.99
Optical properties
Biaxial (+)
Refractive index
nα = 1.632 nβ = 1.642 nγ = 1.657
Birefringence
δ = 0.025
2V angle
80° (measured)
Dispersion
r < v strong
Ultraviolet fluorescence
Non-fluorescent[3]
Solubility
Readily soluble in acids
References
[4]
Collinsite is a mineral with chemical formula Ca 2(Mg,Fe2+ )(PO 4) 2•2H 2O. It was discovered in British Columbia, Canada, and formally described in 1927. It was named in honor of William Henry Collins (1878–1937), director of the Geological Survey of Canada. There are three varieties of the mineral: magnesian collinsite, zincian collinsite, and strontian collinsite. The crystal structure consists of polyhedral chains linked by weak hydrogen bonds.
Collinsite is a mineral with chemical formula Ca 2(Mg,Fe2+ )(PO 4) 2•2H 2O. It was discovered in British Columbia, Canada, and formally described in 1927...
"Somersets" (for owner Charles Somers), "Plymouth Rocks", "Beaneaters", the "Collinsites" (for manager Jimmy Collins)", and "Pilgrims". For years many sources...
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rockbridgeite, ferrisicklerite, leucophosphite, jahnsite, montgomeryite, collinsite and hureaulite in the type locality. In the guano deposit it occurs with...
Wolfe concluded that the material was anapaite partially altered to collinsite and he discredited messelite as a valid mineral species. Later, an unaltered...
Colemanite: Ca2B6O11 · 5 H2O – mine owner William T. Coleman (1824–1893) Collinsite: Ca2Mg(PO4)2 · 2 H2O – William Henry Collins (1878–1937), director of...
(which is not a member of this group). Cassidyite Ca2(Ni2+,Mg)(PO4)2·2H2O Collinsite Ca2(Mg,Fe2+)(PO4)2·2H2O Fairfieldite Ca2(Mn2+,Fe2+)(PO4)2·2H2O Gaitite...
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