Ehrleite - Encyclopedia
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
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