Tinsleyite

Formula: KAl2(PO4)2(OH).2H2O

Origin of name: for Frank C. Tinsley (1916- ), American mineral collector, Black Hills specialist of Rapid City, South Dakota, USA

 

Crystal system: Monoclinic

Crystal class: m or 2/m

Twinning:

Unit cell: 

 

Colour: Dark magenta-red to light brownish red, commonly zoned with colourless leucophosphite

Diaphaneity: Translucent

Luster: Vitreous

Habit: smaller than 0.1 mm epitactic overgrowths on leucophosphite, composite prismatic crystals, tabular, to 2 mm

Hardness: 5

Specific gravity: 2.69

Cleavage: 

Tenacity: Brittle

Streak: Pink

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments:  Found in highly altered triphylite pods in the intermediate zone of the pegmatite.

 

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