General Information:
Chemical Formula:
BaAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 511.27 gm)
Barium 26.86 % Ba
Aluminum 15.83 % Al
Phosphorus 12.12 % P
Hydrogen 1.38 % H
Oxygen 43.81 % O
Empirical Formula:
BaAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6
Environment:
Alteration of apatite in fossil bones found in Cretaceous sandstone. The original fine structure of the bone is preserved.
Locality:
Bauru Basin, southern Brazil.
Name Origin:
Named after the french mineralogist Claude-Henri Gorceix (1842 - 1919) founder of the Mining School (Escola de Minas) in Ouro Preto.
Physical Properties:
Cleavage:
None
Color:
brown, gray white, sky blue, or white.
Density:
3.323
Diaphaniety:
Transparent to Translucent
Habits:
Microscopic Crystals - Crystals visible only with microscopes., ,
Hardness:
6 - Orthoclase
Luster:
Vitreous - Dull
Streak:
white
More details...