Triphylite
Mineral LiFe2+PO4
About it
Grey to bluish-grey masses in granite pegmatites that weather to dark brown and purple iron-manganese phosphates. Same formula as the lithium iron phosphate in modern batteries; crystals come from Brazil and Bavaria.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Phosphate, triphylite group
- Formula
- LiFe2+PO4
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 4–5
- Specific gravity
- 3.4–3.6
- Streak
- greyish white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), resinous
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Colours
- bluish grey, greenish grey, grey, brown when altered
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- good in one direction, imperfect in another
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.