Purpurite Mineral Data

Purpurite Mineral Data +

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General Purpurite Information

Chemical Formula:

Mn+++PO4

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 149.91 gm

Manganese 36.65 % Mn 52.66 % Mn₂O₃

Phosphorus 20.66 % P 47.34 % P₂O₅

Oxygen 42.69 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Mn³⁺(PO₄)

Environment:

Forms a series with the Fe+++ end-member heterosite.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1905

Locality:

Faires tin mine, Kings Mt, Gaston Co., North Carolina, USA Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Latin purpureus - "purple red."

Synonym:

ICSD 38210

PDF 37-478

Purpurite Image

Images:

Purpurite

Comments: Massive purpurite, which never forms crystals but is only found in masses.
Location: Newry, Maine, USA. Scale: 6.5 x 4 cm.
© John Veevaert

Purpurite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.601:1:0.4917

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.83, b = 9.7, c = 4.77, Z = 4; V = 269.75 Den(Calc)= 3.69

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - DipyramidalH-M Symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: Pmnb

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.448(1), 2.952(1), 4.37(0.7),

Physical Properties of Purpurite

Cleavage:

[100] Perfect, [001] Perfect

Color:

Brownish black, Violet, Dark pink, Dark red, Reddish purple.

Density:

3.4

Diaphaniety:

Subtranslucent to Opaque

Fracture:

Brittle - Uneven - Very brittle fracture producing uneven fragments.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Hardness:

4-5 - Fluorite-Apatite

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Earthy (Dull)

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

red

Optical Properties of Purpurite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.073 (Fair) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.012 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2423,KPDmeas= 0.2629,KC= 0.2451

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.85, b=1.912, g=1.92, bire=0.0700, 2V(Calc)=38, 2V(Meas)=38. Dispersion relatively strong.

Pleochroism (x):

gray.

Pleochroism (y):

deep blood red.

Pleochroism (z):

deep blood red.

Calculated Properties of Purpurite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.54 gm/cc
note: r_Purpurite=3.69 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.0002
Boson Index = 0.9998

Photoelectric:

PE_Purpurite= 10.45 barns/electron
U=PE_Purpurite x r_electron= 37.03 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Purpurite is Not Radioactive

Purpurite Classification

Dana Class:

38.4.1.2 (38)Anhydrous Phosphates, etc

(38.4)A+ XO4

(38.4.1)Dana Group

38.4.1.1 Heterosite FePO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

38.4.1.2 Purpurite MnPO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

VII/A.02-60 VII - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates

VII/A - Waterfree phosphates [PO4]3- without unfamiliar anions. cations of medium size: Mostly Fe, Mn

VII/A.02 - Simferrite - Natrophilite series

VII/A.02-05 Simferite Li(Mg,Fe,Mn)2(PO4)2 Pbnm,Pbn21 Ortho

VII/A.02-10 Triphylite LiFePO4 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-20 Lithiophilite LiMnPO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-30 Ferrisicklerite Li(Fe,Mn)PO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-40 Sicklerite Li(Mn,Fe)PO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-50 Heterosite FePO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-60 Purpurite MnPO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-70 Maricite NaFePO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-80 Natrophilite NaMnPO4 Pnam 2/m 2/m 2/m

Other Purpurite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Ford32)

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Purpurite Specimen Label here :

Purpurite

Mn+++PO4
Dana No: 38.4.1.2 Strunz No: VII/A.02-60
Locality:

Notes: