A reexamination of the turquoise group: the mineral aheylite, planerite (redefined), turquoise and coeruleolactite

Authors:
  • EFEugene E. Foord
    Eugene E. Foord
  • JTJoseph E. Taggart
    Joseph E. Taggart
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Abstract
The turquoise group has the general formula:A0–1B6(PO4)4−x(PO3OH)x(OH)8.4H2O, wherex= 0–2, and consists of six members: planerite, turquoise, faustite, aheylite, chalcosiderite and an unnamed Fe2+-Fe3+analogue. The existence of ‘coeruleolactite’ is doubtful. Planerite is revalidated as a species and is characterized by a dominantA-site vacancy. Aheylite is established as a new member of the group, and is characterized by having Fe2+dominant in theA-site.Chemical analyses of 15 pure samples of microcrystalline planerite, turquoise, and aheylite show that a maximum of two of the (PO4) groups are protonated (PO3OH) in planerite. Complete solid solution exists between planerite and turquoise. Other members of the group show variableA-site vacancy as well. Most samples of ‘turquoise’ are cation-deficient or are planerite. Direct determination of water indicates that there are 4 molecules of water.Planerite, ideally ☐Al6(PO4)2(PO3OH)2(OH)8.4H2O, is white, pale blue or pale green, and occurs as mamillary, botryoidal crusts as much as several mm thick; may also be massive; microcrystalline, crystals typically 2–4 micrometres, luster chalky to earthy, H. 5, somewhat brittle, no cleavage observed, splintery fracture, Dm2.68(2), Dc2.71, not magnetic, not fluorescent, mean RI about 1.60.a7.505(2),b9.723(3),c7.814(2) Å, α 111.43°, β 115.56°, γ 68.69°, V 464.2(1) Å3, Z = 1.Aheylite, ideally Fe2+Al6(PO4)4(OH)8.4H2O, is pale blue or green, and occurs as isolated and aggregate clumps of hemispherical or spherical, radiating to interlocked masses of crystals that average 3 micrometres in maximum dimension; porcelaneous-subvitreous luster, moderate to brittle tenacity, no cleavage observed, hackly to splintery fracture, not magnetic, not fluorescent, biax. (+), mean RI is about 1.63, Dm2.84(2), Dc2.90.a7.400(1),b9.896(1),c7.627(1) Å, α 110.87°, β 115.00°, γ 69.96°, V 460.62(9) Å3, Z = 1.

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