How do I identify Falsterite?

Falsterite can be identified by its hardness of 2 on the Mohs scale, Greenish blue color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Falsterite?

Falsterite typically appears in Greenish blue. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Falsterite?

Falsterite has a hardness of 2 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.

Falsterite

A variety of Minerals

What is Falsterite?

Falsterite is a rare phosphate mineral with the formula Ca2MgMn2(Fe0.5Fe0.5)4Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)14. It is a pegmatitic mineral, related to the currently approved mineral ferraioloite.

Falsterite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Falsterite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Falsterite Localities Map

See where Falsterite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

Map preview

North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Formation of Falsterite

Falsterite was found in Palermo No. 1 pegmatite, North Groton, Grafton County, New Hampshire, US. Co-type locality is pegmatite at Estes quarry, Baldwin, Cumberland County, Maine, US. Falsterite is a product of alteration of triphylite and sphalerite.

Composition of Falsterite

Main features of the crystal structure of falsterite, which is somewhat similar to that of schoonerite, are: chains of FeO6 octahedra, displaying edge-sharing chains of ZnO4 tetrahedra, that display corner-sharing sheets, parallel to {010}, formed by linking the above two types of chains by PO4 tetrahedra slabs formed by linking the sheets with MnO6 octahedra and CaO7 polyhedra The slabs are bridged by dimers of MgO6 octahedra that display edge-sharing. Magnesium-bearing octahedra share edges with zinc-bearing tetrahedra.