THE MINERAL AUGELITE

  • Chemistry: Al2PO4(OH)3, Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide.
  • Class: Phosphates
  • Uses: Only as mineral specimens.
  • Specimens

Augelite is not a well known phosphate mineral. It is difficult to recognize, especially when found as clear and colorless tiny crystals. Augelite is found in granitic pegmatites, but mostly in hydrothermal veins. The best locality for good crystals is White Mountain, Mono County, California. Up until that discovery, augelite was only known as tiny crystals and cleavage masses.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Color is usually colorless, white or pale shades of yellow, blue, pink or rose.
  • Luster is vitreous.
  • Transparency: Specimens are transparent to translucent.
  • Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
  • Crystal Habits include tiny to microscopic tabular or platy crystals with an overall triangular aspect or larger equant complex crystals and found massive.
  • Cleavage is good in two directions.
  • Fracture is conchoidal.
  • Hardness is 4.5 - 5.
  • Specific Gravity is approximately 2.7 (average).
  • Streak is white.
  • Associated Minerals include andalusite, lithiophilite and triphylite and other phosphates.
  • Notable Occurrences include the Vestana Mine, Nastum, Skane Sweden; Oruro, Bolivia; Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada; White Picacho district, Arizona; North Groton, New Hampshire; in the Black Hills region of South Dakota and especially at White Mountain, Mono County, California, USA.
  • Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, associations, localities and cleavage.
AUGELITE specimens:
(hover for more info)
AUGELITE specimen aul-1
$ 205.00
Dims: 3.0" x 2.4" x 1.5" (7.6 x 6.1 x 3.8 cm)
Wt: 4.90 oz. (139.0 g)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
The dark gray-brown host rock of this specimen contains several different mineral constituents, but the most noticeable is a cluster of pale-green crystals of Augelite, an uncommon aluminum phosphate hydroxide. None of these cryastals exceeds 0.3" (8 mm) in any dimension, but all are in generally excellent condition, as there is very little damage visible on any of the crystals. They occur in a monoclinic prismatic form that has sharp edges and smooth, clean faces which show a bright, vitreous luster. All of the crystals have a pale green coloration that appears to be deeper in some parts of each crystal than in others. These areas of deeper color also seem to correspond to increased clarity in each cryastal; most of the material in a given crystal will be a very pale green color and will be milky and translucent, whereas the portions that have a deeper green color are also transparent and relatively clear. The Augelite crystals rest on a rather flat face in the host rock, which is also partially covered by sub-microscopic siderite crystals. More and larger siderites are visible on the other side of the host rock, along with some visible lazulite-bearing layers in the host.
no photo
aul-1 ($205.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
AUGELITE specimen aul-2
$ 36.00
Dims: 1.6 x 1.0 x 0.6" (4.1 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm)
Wt: 1.03 oz. (29.3 g)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
At least 14 Augelite crystals rest on the rusty gray host rock of this thumbnail specimen. None of these crystals exceeds 0.2" (5 mm) in any dimension, and several of them appear to be damaged. Those that are not damaged are somewhat intergrown but have good monoclinic prismatic form, with well-defined edges and clean faces that possess a bright pearly-to-vitreous luster. They have a very pale green coloration and appear to be transparent, but are so heavily internally-fractured that clarity is destroyed. A few tiny, dark siderites rest among them and are scattered elsewhere on the host rock.
no photo
aul-2 ($ 36.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
AUGELITE specimen aul-3
$ 90.00
Dims: 3.2 x 1.0 x 0.5" (8.2 x 2.6 x 1.3 cm)
Wt: 1.0 oz. (26 g)
Crosscut Creek, off Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
Several dozen tiny Augelite crystals rest on the shale base of this hand speciemen. These crystals generally measure no greater than 0.1" (3 mm) in length, but one measures 0.2" (5 mm). All appear to be in excellent condition and show excellent triclinic tabular or prismatic form. All have the pale green color and vitreous luster that are common for pieces from this locality, and all are transparent and dimly to moderately clear. The Augelites are accompanied by many tiny (nearly microscopic) quartz and siderite crystals.
no photo
aul-3 ($ 90.00)
Crosscut Creek, off Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
AUGELITE specimen aul-4
$ 60.00
Dims: 2.3x1.7x0.7" (5.9x4.3x1.9 cm)
Wt: 1.6 oz. (45.9g)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
Several dozen augelite crystals cover most of the front and back of this hand specimen. They have a translucent appearance and a pale milky-green color. Most of the crystals are undamaged and show excellent form, although many of the crystals are stained with a brown mineral, and the surface of most crystals is rough and pitted. This is only discernable with a loupe, but it explains the relatively dull appearance. The crystals do sparkle when the lights hit them right. Some of the sparkle on this specimen appears to come from the many brown crystals on the specimen. They are rhombohedral in shape, and are variously opaque to transparent. Perhaps they are a "dirty" calcite, or a clean brown siderite.
no photo
aul-4 ($ 60.00)
Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
 

Copyright ©1995-2023 by Amethyst Galleries, Inc.