EHRLEITE

    Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Hydrated phosphates
    Crystal system : Triclinic
    Chemistry : Ca2ZnBe(PO4)2(PO3OH) 4H2O
    Rarity : Very rare

Ehrleite is an extremely rare zinc and beryllium phosphate known only in an American granite pegmatite probably of secondary origin. It was named in honor of Howard Ehrle, who discovered the mineral in the Tip Top pegmatite (South Dakota). Ehrleite comes in 2 mm twinned tabular crystals. It is a colorless to milky white mineral.

Main photo : Ehrleite of Tip Top Mine, Fourmile, Custer County, South Dakota, USA © Jason B. Smith

Edingtonite in the World

Ehrleite is only present in Tip Top pegmatite (South Dakota) in crystals of 2 mm maximum.

Edingtonite in France

Ehrleite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

A mirror contact twin on {001} is known.

Fakes and treatments

No fake listed for this mineral species.


Hardness : 3.5
Density : 2.64
Fracture : Irregular to sub-conchoidal
Streak : White

TP : Transparent
RI : 1.556 to 1.580
Birefringence : 0.024
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Nitric acid and hydrochloric acid


Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None