Mineral description : Triplite

Red triplite from Viitaniemi, Finland.

Mineral class	Phosphates : Vivianite - Skorodite - Triplite group.
Chemical formula	(Fe,Mn)2(F,PO4)
Crystal system	Monoclinic.
Habitus	As derb brownish red masses and coarse aggregates.
Cleavage
Hardness	4-5
Density	3.5-3.9
Color	Dark brown, brown, brownish red to red.
Streak	Gray, white to brown.
Luster	Vitreous or resinous.
Description
Occurance	As derb masses in pegmatites, but also in high temperature vein occurences.
Associates	Blue vivianite on the surface.
Notes	Often with black tarnish on the surface.
Locations	Some localities exists in Sweden. Norrö mica quarry, Nynäshamn. As resinous aggregates together with triphylit. Lilla Älgsjöbrottet, Kolmorden. As up to 10 cm big lumps, commonly. Skrumpetorpsbrottet, Åmmeberg. As dark brown derb lumps, often covered in blue vivianite Varuträsk, Västerbotten. Rarely, one 5mm thick vein with triplite covered in blue vivianite was found when the mine was active. No findings are reported in later years. Viitaniemi, Finland.

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