General Information:
Chemical Formula:
(Mn++,Fe++,Mg)Al2(PO4 )2(OH)2·8H2O
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 475.72 gm)
Magnesium 0.26 % Mg
Manganese 7.51 % Mn
Aluminum 11.34 % Al
Iron 3.52 % Fe
Phosphorus 13.02 % P
Hydrogen 3.81 % H
Oxygen 60.54 % O
Empirical Formula:
Mn2+0.65Fe2+0.3Mg0.05Al2(PO4)2(OH)2·8(H2O)
Environment:
Found in the aplitic zone of a zoned P-bearing granitic pegmatite exploited for feldspar for the ceramics industry. An alteration product of primary phosphates. Dimorphic relationsh ip with mangangordonite, and the Al-do
IMA Status:
Approved IMA (Dana # Added)
Locality:
Silbergrube quarry, Waidhaus, Upper Palatinate (Oberpflzer Wald), Bavaria, Germany.
Name Origin:
Named after Jrgen Kastning (b. 1932), from Reinbeck bei Hamburg, Germany, amateur mineralogist specializing in phosphate minerals, who discovered the mineral.
Physical Properties:
Color:
white, beige, or colorless.
Density:
2.35
Diaphaniety:
Transparent to Translucent
Habits:
Thin - Flat dimensioned crystals., Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.,
Hardness:
1-2 - Between Talc and Gypsum
Luminescence:
Non-fluorescent.
Luster:
Vitreous (Glassy)
Streak:
white
More details...