SOUZALITE

    Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Hydrated phosphates
    Crystal system : Triclinic
    Chemistry : (Mg,Fe)3(Al,Fe)4(PO4)4(OH)6 2H2O
    Rarity : Very rare

Souzalite is a very rare secondary phosphate of complex granitic pegmatites, which forms a series with gormanite, its ferriferous equivalent. It is also known in phosphate nodules in sedimentary environments. It was named in honor of Antonio José Alves de Souza, Director of the National Department of Mining Production. Souzalite occurs in lamellar crystals of 1 cm at most, in aggregates, and especially in fibrous masses, of bluish-green to dark green and emerald green color.

Main photo : Souzalite from Laggerhof, Millstatt lake, Austria © Gerhard Brandstetter

Souzalite in the World

In the pegmatites of Corrego Frio (Minas Gerais, Brazil), souzalite is a product of hydrothermal alteration of scorzalite. It is also known from two other sites worldwide : the Newry pegmatite (Maine), and the Rapid Creek district (Yukon, Canada).

Soddyite in France

Souzalite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

Polysynthetic twins are known with the composition plane parallel to the cleavage plane.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes listed for this mineral species.


Hardness : 5.5 to 6
Density : 3.09
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : Pale green

TP : Translucent
RI : 1.617 to 1.653
Birefringence : 0.035
Optical character : Biaxial -
Pleochroism : Strong
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Hydrochloric acid

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None