Whitlockite

Formula: Ca9(Mg,Fe)H(PO4)7

Origin of name: for Herbert Percy Whitlock (1868-1948), Curator of Minerals, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, U.S.A.

 

Crystal system: Trigonal

Crystal class: 3m

Twinning:

Unit cell: a = 10.33, c = 37.103

 

Colour: Colourless, white, gray, yellowish, pinkish

Diaphaneity: Transparent to translucent

Luster: Vitreous to resinous

Habit: Crystals rhombohedral, rarely tabular, massive, coarse granular to earthy, pistolitic

Hardness: 5

Specific gravity: 3.13

Cleavage: None

Tenacity: Subconchoidal to uneven fracture, brittle

Streak: White

 

Synonyms/varieties: merrillite

 

Comments: 

 

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