WHITEITE

    Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Hydrated phosphates
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : CaMn2+Mn2+2Al2(PO4)4(OH)2 8H2O
    Rarity : Rare

Whiteite is a rare phosphate found in some granitic pegmatites as well as in some iron-rich sedimentary rocks associated with siderite. Its name was given in honor of John Sampson White Jr (b. 1933), Associate Curator of Minerals at the Smithsonian Institution and founder, editor and publisher (1970-1982) of the Mineralogical Record. Its crystals are brown, pink or yellow, more rarely light lavender. Its luster is vitreous and its streak is white to brownish-white. It occurs as aggregates of tabular crystals or thick canoe-shaped tabular crystals. Whiteite from Rapid Creek in the Yukon (Canada), is often associated with deep blue lazulite crystals (main photo). It is a mineral unknown to collectors which is not used in any particular field.

Whiteite in the World

The best whiteite crystals in the World come from Rapid Creek (Yukon, Canada), they measure up to 4 cm and are commonly associated with siderite, lazulite, arrojadite and quartz (photo on the right). At Taquaral, (Brazil), whiteite occurs as centimetric crystals in complex granitic pegmatite along fractures associated with eosphorite, zanazziite, wardite, albite, quartz and other phosphates. Other deposits are reported in Bavaria (Germany), Portugal (Bendada Mines), South Dakota (Tip Top Mine), but the crystals are millimetric.

Whiteite in France

Whiteite is not reported in the French underground.

Twinning

This mineral commonly twins by reflection on {001} producing a pseudo-orthorhombic appearance.

Fakes and treatments

No fake inventories for this mineral species.


Hardness : 3 to 4
Density : 2.6
Fracture : Irregular
Trace : White to white-brown

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.580 to 1.591
Birefringence : 0.011
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : Weak
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Hydrochloric acid

Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None

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