Phosphosiderite
Chile
9.02 carats
© Brian Kosnar - Mineral Classics
Phosphosiderite forms small crystals up to 2.5 cm or botryoidal masses. The colour is peach-blossom-red, reddish violet, reddish purple, yellow-orange, solid pink, lavender, may be dark blue, moss-green to nearly colourless.
Phosphosiderite is often cut into cabochons.
Phosphosiderite Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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Phosphosiderite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Phosphosiderite gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:7.47 cts
Heaviest:18.50 cts
Average:10.46 cts
Total photos:12
Do you have a larger Phosphosiderite? Why not upload a photo?
| General Information | ||||||||||||||
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| Chemical Formula |
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| Physical Properties of Phosphosiderite | ||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 3.5 to 4, Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 2.74 to 2.76, Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Good,Indistinct, Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Fracture | Uneven, Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Phosphosiderite | ||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.692 to 1.739, Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Biaxial/-, Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Pale rose-red - carmine-red - colorless, Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Dispersion | Very strong, Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Colour | ||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Peach-blossom-red, reddish violet, reddish purple, yellow-orange, may be dark blue, moss-green to nearly colorless; in transmitted light, typically rose-red to colorless., Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Transparency | Transparent,Translucent, Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Lustre | Vitreous, Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) Vitreous to subresinous | |||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Phosphosiderite | ||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Monoclinic, Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Habit | As crystals, tabular, to stout prismatic, many others, to 2.5 cm. May be radial fibrous, in botryoidal or reniform crusts and masses, Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | ||||||||||||||
| Where found: | Typically an alteration product of triphylite in zoned complex granite pegmatites; may be a component of soils; replacing bones or shells., Handbook of Mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Further Information | ||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Phosphosiderite information at mindat.org | |||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | ||||||||||||||
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