The Mineral LAUEITE

• Chemistry: MnFe2(PO4)2(OH)2 - 8H2O, Hydrated Manganese Iron Phosphate Hydroxide.
• Class: Phosphates
• Group: Paravauxite.
• Uses: Only as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

Laueite is another rare phosphate mineral from the famous Palermo Mine in New Hampshire. The minerals of the Palermo Mine are the results of a phosphate rich pegmatitic intrusion that has undergone extensive alteration. Dozens of unusual, rare and attractive primary and secondary (those formed from the alteration of the primary ones) phosphates have been discovered at this amazing and mineralogically wonderful site. Laueite is just one of these. Although crystals are usually small, they can be well formed. Being composed of manganese, it is little wonder that the mineral is colorful. It has an attractive honey-brown coloration as its typical and most noteworthy color.

Laueite is dimorphous with the mineral stewartite. A dimorph is a mineral that has the exact same formula but different structures. Stewartite is named for the Stewart Mine, Pala, San Diego County, California where the mineral was first described.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is yellow, orange, honey-brown, orange-yellow or brown.
• Luster is vitreous.
• Transparency: Specimens are translucent to transparent.
• Crystal System is triclinic.
• Crystal Habits include wedge-shaped to tabular or prismatic crystals and fibrous crusts.
• Cleavage is perfect.
• Fracture is conchoidal.
• Hardness is 3
• Specific Gravity is approximately 2.4 - 2.5 (average).
• Streak is white.
• Associated Minerals include strunzite, stewartite and limonite and others.
• Notable Occurrences include the Palermo Mine, New Hampshire and the Black Hills region of South Dakota USA; Hagendorf, Germany.
• Best Field Indicators are color, locality, crystal habit, associations and perfect cleavage.