Roscherite with Fairfieldite-Messelite, Robertsite & Montgomeryite

Availability

Sold

Size

8 x 4.5 x 5 cm - Sm Cabinet 

Formula

Ca₂Mn²⁺₅Be₄(PO₄)₆(OH)₄·6H₂O (RRUFF)

Locality

Tip Top mine, Custer Co., South Dakota, United States

Tagged

phosphate , beryllium

A larger good study specimen loaded with rare phosphates from this well-known prolific species locality, which is owned (claimed) by yours truly. Phosphate rock is common here, but finding nodules with secondary posphates is rare. This specimen features raspberry red Roscherite to 1mm interspersed with white, platy Fairfieldite-Messelite. There are two clusters of faint pink to yellow Montgomeryite. I had got XRD on the Roscherites just to make sure it wasn't Perloffite, which has been found at the Tip Top and looks too much like red Roscherite. Apperantly the Perloffite is restricted to quartz matrix. This matrix is heterosite with a little bit of beryl, so the Roscherite paragenetically makes sense. This is an older specimen with a BHI label.

XRD Confirmed