Mineral description : Purpurite

Purpurite from Namibia.

Mineral class	Phosphates : Vivianite - Skorodite - Triplite group
Chemical formula	(Mn,Fe)(PO4)
Crystal system	Orthorombic
Habitus	As nodules surrounding alluaudite.
Cleavage
Hardness	4-4.5
Density
Color	Purpur red, silky to matte. Often with a brown to black surface of oxidation products.
Streak
Luster	silky to matte.
Description	Purpurite is an oxidation product that represents the end member of the serie lithiophilite/varulite/hagendorfite - alluaudite - purpurite. It's the manganeese rich analog to heterosite.
Occurance
Associates	Alluaudite, blue tourmaline, hagendorfite, lithiophilite.
Notes	The brown tarnish is easily removed with hydrochloric acid. Be careful, or you will ruin your sample. Occurs often as well formed rounded nodules with a kernel of alluaudite.
Locations	One known locality in Sweden (but it probably exists more) Varuträsk pegmatite, Skellefteå, Västerbotten. As nodules up to a few cm with centers of alluaudite.

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