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Metaswitzerite

Year of discovery: 1986 (Foote mine, USA), 2003 (Japan)

Locality list: A locality of metaswitzerite

• Mn₃(PO₄)₂,4H₂O
• (Mn,Fe)₃(PO₄)₂,4H₂O
• [Mn²⁺₃][(PO₄)₂]^6-,4H₂O

• Class: Ludlamite group
• Class: Phosphate - Hydrate
• Formed on dehydration of Switzerite rapidly in the air.

• Mn => Fe: Ludlamite

• Mn₃ => FeZr: Malhmoodite
• Mn₃ => MgZr: Zigrasite

• PO₄ => AsO₄: Sterlinghillite, Castellaroite

• 4H₂O => 7H₂O: Switzerite

• Color: Pale brown, Pale pink, White
• Streak: White
• Luster: Pearly
• Diaphaneity: Transparent-Translucent

• Cleavage: Perfect on {100} (1 plane), Distinct on {010} (1 plane)
• Hardness: 2.5
• Density: 3.0

• System: Monoclinic
• Group: 2/m, P2₁/b
• Lattice: a=17.1, b=12.7, c=8.3, β=95.9