CHLOROPHOENICITE

Chlorophoenicite is a manganese magnesium zinc arsenate hydroxide mineral with much solid solution of Mg for Mn. Dunn (1981c) provided numerous analyses of chlorophoenicite, demonstrating major, but not complete, solid solution of Mg towards magnesium-chlorophoenicite.
Chlorophoenicite was first described by Foshag and Gage (1924) and was more completely described by Foshag et al. (1927). Palache (1928a) described a purported clinozoisite from Franklin, which was later shown by Bauer and Berman (1930) to be chlorophoenicite. Palache (1935) and Albanese (1967) summarized the extant data and mentioned some new parageneses, including a new occurrence at Sterling Hill. Dunn (1981c) provided new analytical data for both magnesium-chlorophoenicite and chlorophoenicite.
The crystal structure was described by Moore (1968c) as having slabs composed of MnO-(O, OH) octahedral pyrochroite fragments, connected by [(As_0.5H_0.5)(O,OH)₃], and [Zn(O,OH)₃] tetrahedral chains.
Chlorophoenicite occurs in fine crystals which commonly form divergent sprays up to 1 cm. Most chlorophoenicite is markedly acicular, elongate, and striated. Stout crystals closely resemble those of epidote-group minerals and are best identified using X-ray methods. Chlorophoenicite occurs in a variety of textures, including dense, tight masses of acicular crystals, matted white aggregates, and microcrystalline, chalky, white, pulverent coatings.
Chlorophoenicite can have an alexandrite color-effect: the type material is light grayish green in daylight and pinkish in incandescent light. This color change effect is also seen, in a different sense, in gageite and tephroite. Much chlorophoenicite is colorless to white in the aggregate; it is easily stained, and anomalous surface colors may result. The luster is vitreous to pearly to silky; cleavage is perfect; and the density is 3.53 g/cm³. There is no discernible fluorescence in ultraviolet.
Chlorophoenicite is found associated with a large number of species. The original occurrence was of crystals and reticulated masses associated with tephroite, willemite, leucophoenicite, zincite, and calcite and was found between the 500 and 600 levels at Franklin, in an area in the east limb in which schallerite and hedyphane were also found.
In general, Franklin chlorophoenicite occurs in small amounts in recrystallized vugs and veins with Mn-silicates, most commonly leucophoenicite, tephroite, or gageite, together with zincite, willemite, and calcite. The co-existence of this Mn-Zn arsenate with other compound Mn-Zn minerals, such as hetaerolite and hodgkinsonite, is very common. Chlorophoenicite was reported with pyrochroite and zincite from the Buckwheat Dump by Albanese (1967).
At Sterling Hill, as at Franklin, chlorophoenicite is widely distributed, although in minor amounts. Palache (1935) reported radial aggregates associated with barite and calcite on the 900 level. In addition to the hodgkinsonite/hetaerolite association, chlorophoenicite is also associated with many of the basic manganese arsenates described herein, particularly in the central zincite and the outer zincite zones in the east and west limbs. Chalky white material has been found on the 700 and 800 levels, as well as in the north orebody. Chlorophoenicite is likely the most ubiquitous arsenate mineral at both Franklin and Sterling Hill. (Dunn, 1995)

Location Found:

Franklin (Type Locality) and Ogdensburg

Year Discovered:

1924

Formula:

(Mn,Mg)₃Zn₂(AsO₄)(OH,O)₆

Essential Elements:

Arsenic, Hydrogen, Manganese, Oxygen, Zinc

All Elements in Formula:

Arsenic, Hydrogen, Magnesium, Manganese, Oxygen, Zinc

IMA Status:

Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"

To find out more about this mineral at minDat's website, follow this link Chlorophoenicite

References:

Dunn, Pete J. (1995). Franklin and Sterling Hill New Jersey: the world's most magnificent mineral deposits. Franklin, NJ.: The Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society. p.663

Frondel, Clifford (1972). The minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, a checklist. NY.: John Willey & Sons. p.50

The Picking Table References

	PT Issue and Page	Description / Comment
View Issue	V. 36, No. 1 - Spring 1995, pg. 13	Closest-Packing and Hydrogen Bonds in Minerals of the Franklin Marble, Paul B. Moore - Chlorophoenicite
View Issue	V. 24, No. 1 - Spring 1983, pg. 5	Recent Mineral Occurrences at Sterling Hill, Stephen B. Sanford, Chlorophoenicite
View Issue	V. 23, No. 1 - Spring 1982, pg. 14	Mineral Notes Research Reports, Chlorophoenicite
View Issue	V. 19, No. 2 - September 1978, pg. 5	Recent Mineral Occurrences at Sterling Hill by Stephen Sanford - Chlorophoenicite (small article)
View Issue	V. 19, No. 2 - September 1978, pg. 12	The Post Palache Minerals by Frank Z. Edwards - Chlorophoenicite
View Issue	V. 16, No. 1 - February 1975, pg. 7	Mineral Notes - Chlorophoenicite (small article)
View Issue	V. 10, No. 1 - February 1969, pg. 8	Harvard Research on Franklin Minerals - Chlorophoenicite
View Issue	V. 9, No. 1 - February 1968, pg. 12	The Exclusive Minerals of Franklin/Ogdensburg, N.J. (as of January 1968) by Frank Z. Edwards - Chlorophoenicite
View Issue	V. 7, No. 2 - August 1966, pg. 7	The Minerals of Sterling Hill 1962-65 by Frank Z. Edwards - Chlorophoenicite

Images


Chlorophoenicite crystal spray on Sterling Hill ore. Non-fluorescent micro mineral, field of view about 4mm. Photo by JVF.


Chlorophoenicite crystal spray (straw), franklinite (black), rhodochrosite (pink-tan) and willemite (white) from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ. Field of view 7/8" x 3/4". From the collection of, and photo by Robert A. Boymistruk.


Chlorophoenicite crystal sprays (white), franklinite (black), rhodochrosite (pink-tan), zincite crystals (gold) and willemite (red) from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ. Field of view 7/8" x 3/4". From the collection of, and photo by Robert A. Boymistruk.

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