# Collinsite

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{{Short description|Phosphate mineral}}
{{Infobox mineral
| name        = Collinsite
| category    = [Phosphate mineral](/source/Phosphate_mineral)
| boxwidth    = 
| image       = Collinsite - Rapid Creek.jpg
| imagesize   = 260px
| caption     = Crystals of collinsite from the Rapid Creek area of northern [Yukon](/source/Yukon), Canada
| formula     = {{chem|Ca|2|(Mg|,Fe|2+|)(P|O|4|)|2|•2H|2|O}}
| IMAsymbol=Coll<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}</ref>  
| molweight   = 
| strunz      = 8.CG.05
| dana        = 40.2.2.3
| system      = [Triclinic](/source/Triclinic)
| class       = Pinacoidal ({{overbar|1}}) <br/><small>(same [H-M symbol](/source/H-M_symbol))</small>
| symmetry    = ''P''{{overbar|1}}
| unit cell   = a = 5.734(1)&nbsp;Å <br/>b = 6.780(1)&nbsp;Å <br/>c = 5.441(1)&nbsp;Å <br/>α = 97.29°, β = 108.56°, <br>γ = 107.28°; Z&nbsp;=&nbsp;1<ref name=handbook/>
| color       = 
| habit       = 
| twinning    = 
| cleavage    = Fair on {001} and {010}
| fracture    = 
| tenacity    = Brittle<ref name=handbook/>
| mohs        = 3 to 3.5
| luster      = Subvitreous, silky if fibrous<ref name=handbook/>
| polish      = 
| refractive  = n<sub>α</sub> = 1.632<br>n<sub>β</sub> = 1.642<br>n<sub>γ</sub> = 1.657
| opticalprop = Biaxial (+)
| birefringence = δ = 0.025
| 2V          = 80° (measured)
| dispersion  = r < v strong
| pleochroism = 
| fluorescence= Non-fluorescent<ref name=webmin>{{cite web|title=Collinsite|url=http://webmineral.com/data/Collinsite.shtml|publisher=Webmineral|access-date=August 9, 2012}}</ref>
| absorption  =
| streak      = White<ref name=handbook/>
| gravity     = 2.99
| density     = 
| melt        = 
| fusibility  = 
| diagnostic  = 
| solubility  = Readily soluble in acids
| diaphaneity = Translucent
| other       = 
| references  =<ref name=mindat>{{cite web|title=Collinsite|url=http://www.mindat.org/min-1109.html|publisher=Mindat|access-date=August 8, 2012}}</ref>
}}
'''Collinsite''' is a mineral with chemical formula {{chem|Ca|2|(Mg|,Fe|2+|)(P|O|4|)|2|•2H|2|O}}. It was discovered in [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia), Canada, and formally described in 1927. It was named in honor of [William Henry Collins](/source/William_Henry_Collins) (1878–1937), director of the [Geological Survey of Canada](/source/Geological_Survey_of_Canada). There are three varieties of the mineral: [magnesian](/source/magnesium) collinsite, [zinc](/source/zinc)ian collinsite, and [strontian](/source/strontium) collinsite. The [crystal structure](/source/crystal_structure) consists of polyhedral chains linked by weak [hydrogen bond](/source/hydrogen_bond)s.

==Description==
thumb|left|Brown-colored collinsite from François Lake
Collinsite is translucent and brown, chocolate-black, light brown, yellowish white, white, or colorless.<ref name=handbook>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/collinsite.pdf |title=Collinsite|encyclopedia=Handbook of Mineralogy |editor1-first=John W. |editor1-last=Anthony|editor2-first=Richard A. |editor2-last=Bideaux|editor3-first=Kenneth W. |editor3-last=Bladh|editor4-first= Monte C. |editor4-last=Nichols |publisher=Mineralogical Society of America|location=Chantilly, VA}}</ref> It is colorless in [thin section](/source/thin_section)<ref name=handbook/> and light yellow-brown to colorless in [transmitted light](/source/transmitted_light).<ref name=mindat/> The zincian variety of collinsite is pale blue.<ref name=handbook/> The mineral can occur with fibrous [habit](/source/crystal_habit), as globular aggregates of crystals, as concentrically layered [botryoidal](/source/botryoidal) masses, or as bladed or prismatic crystals up to {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=handbook/>

Collinsite is a member of the [fairfieldite group](/source/fairfieldite_group).<ref name=handbook/> [Hillite](/source/Hillite) is the zinc analogue of collinsite<ref name=Yakubovich981>{{harvnb|Yakubovich|Massa|Liferovich|Gavrilenko|2003|p=981}}</ref> and collinsite is the magnesium analogue of [messelite](/source/messelite).<ref name=Foshag202>{{harvnb|Foshag|1928|p=202}}</ref>

===Varieties===
There are three varieties of collinsite:
*magnesian collinsite, {{chem|Ca|2|Mg|(P|O|4|)|2|·2H|2|O}}<ref name=Bridge579>{{harvnb|Bridge|Pryce|1974|p=579}}</ref>
*zincian collinsite, {{chem|Ca|2|(Mg|,Zn|2+|)(P|O|4|)|2|·2H|2|O}}<ref name=Yakubovich227/>
*strontian collinsite, {{chem|(Ca|,Sr}|2|(Mg|,Fe|2+|)(P|O|4|)|2|·2H|2|O}}<ref name=Yakubovich227>{{harvnb|Yakubovich|Kabalov|Gavrilenko|Liferovich|2003|p=227}}</ref>
Magnesian collinsite was described from South Dakota in 1972,<ref name=Bridge579/> zincian collinsite was described from South Australia in 1973,<ref name=Bridge577>{{harvnb|Bridge|Pryce|1974|p=577}}</ref> and strontian collinsite was described from Russia as early as 1965.<ref name=Liferovich1082>{{harvnb|Liferovich|Pakhomovsky|Bogdanova|Balaganskaya|2001|p=1082}}</ref> The replacement of calcium by strontium that occurs in strontian collinsite is atypical of collinsite.<ref name=Yakubovich226>{{harvnb|Yakubovich|Kabalov|Gavrilenko|Liferovich|2003|p=226}}</ref>

==Structure==
The [crystal structure](/source/crystal_structure) of collinsite was determined using essentially pure magnesian collinsite, Ca<sub>2</sub>Mg(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>·2H<sub>2</sub>O, and published in 1974.<ref name=Brotherton653>{{harvnb|Brotherton|Maslen|Pryce|White|1974|p=653}}</ref> It consists of chains of corner-sharing (MgΦ<sub>6</sub>) octahedra and (PO<sub>4</sub>) tetrahedra. Four of the Mg [ligand](/source/ligand)s link to (PO<sub>4</sub>) groups and the other two to water molecules. Two of the ligands in the (PO<sub>4</sub>) group link to (MgΦ<sub>6</sub>) octahedra and the other two link to calcium atoms and act as [hydrogen bond acceptor](/source/hydrogen_bond_acceptor)s. Weak hydrogen bonds link chains together and force separation between them.<ref name=Hawthorne162>{{harvnb|Hawthorne|1998|p=162}}</ref> The separation gives room for interstitial, [eight-coordinated](/source/coordination_number) calcium between chains.<ref name=Hawthorne162/><ref name=Brotherton655>{{harvnb|Brotherton|Maslen|Pryce|White|1974|p=655}}</ref>

==History==
thumb|300px|Diagram of the phosphorite nodules from François Lake; collinsite is the lightly colored layer
Collinsite was discovered prior to 1927 near [François Lake](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois_Lake), British Columbia.<ref name=Poitevin2_4/> In a {{convert|4|to|12|in|cm|adj=mid|-wide vein}}, [phosphorite](/source/phosphorite) nodules were discovered that consisted of a fragment of [andesite](/source/andesite) enclosed by concentric layers of [phosphate mineral](/source/phosphate_mineral)s coated in wurtzilite.<ref name=Poitevin2_4>{{harvnb|Poitevin|1927|pp=2–4}}</ref> The phosphate layers were composed of a mineral named quercyite (since determined to be improperly classified)<ref>{{cite web|title=Quercyite|url=http://www.mindat.org/min-3342.html|publisher=Mindat|access-date=August 9, 2012}}</ref> and the new mineral collinsite.<ref name=Poitevin5>{{harvnb|Poitevin|1927|p=5}}</ref> The François Lake collinsite was light-brown and consisted of sub-centimeter blades.<ref name=Poitevin5/>

Collinsite was named in honor of William Henry Collins (1878–1937) who, at the time, was director of the [Geological Survey of Canada](/source/Geological_Survey_of_Canada).<ref name=mindat/><ref name=Poitevin5/> The mineral was described by Eugene Poitevin in 1927 in a publication of the Geological Survey.<ref name=Poitevin2>{{harvnb|Poitevin|1927|p=2}}</ref> With the analysis performed by E. A. Thompson, Poitevin identified the formula as {{chem|Ca|2|(Mg|,Fe|2+|)(P|O|4|)|2|•2½H|2|O}}.<ref name=Wolfe747>{{harvnb|Wolfe|1940|p=747}}</ref> Since no crystals of collinsite were found, the only crystallographic information determined was the angle between cleavages.<ref name=Wolfe746>{{harvnb|Wolfe|1940|p=746}}</ref>

In 1940, C. W. Wolfe reexamined the mineral species.<ref name=Wolfe746/> With analysis performed by F. A. Gonyer, Wolfe identified the formula of collinsite was {{chem|Ca|2|(Mg|,Fe|2+|)(P|O|4|)|2|•2H|2|O}}, containing less water than Poitevin indicated.<ref name=Wolfe747/> Wolfe also questioned the four cleavages found by Poitevin, since he could identify only two fair cleavages from six fibrous crystals.<ref name=Wolfe746/>

When the [IMA](/source/International_Mineralogical_Association) was founded, messelite was [grandfathered](/source/grandfather_clause) as a valid mineral species.<ref name=mindat/>

==Occurrence==
Collinsite has been found in Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Namibia, Norway, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, and the United States.<ref name=mindat/> The mineral formed as an incrustation of other minerals by [weathering](/source/weathering). It occurs in association with [bitumen](/source/bitumen), [bobierrite](/source/bobierrite), [carbonate](/source/carbonate) rich [fluoroapatite](/source/fluoroapatite), [cryptomelane](/source/cryptomelane), [dolomite](/source/Dolomite_(mineral)), Fe–Mn oxides, [kovdorskite](/source/kovdorskite), [parahopeite](/source/parahopeite), and [scholzite](/source/scholzite).<ref name=handbook/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

;Bibliography
*{{cite journal|last1=Bridge|first1=P. J.|last2=Pryce|first2=M. W.|title=Magnesian collinsite from Milgun Station, Western Australia|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|date=March 1974|volume=39|issue=305|pages=557–559|url=http://www.minersoc.org/pages/Archive-MM/Volume_39/39-305-577.pdf|doi=10.1180/minmag.1974.039.305.11|bibcode=1974MinM...39..577B|citeseerx=10.1.1.627.3650|s2cid=129659571|access-date=2012-08-08|archive-date=2018-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180608053252/http://www.minersoc.org/pages/Archive-MM/Volume_39/39-305-577.pdf|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite journal|last1=Brotherton|first1=P. D.|last2=Maslen|first2=E. N.|last3=Pryce |first3 = M. W.|last4=White|first4=A. H.|title=Crystal Structure of Collinsite|journal=Australian Journal of Chemistry|year=1974|volume=27|issue=3|pages=653–656|doi=10.1071/CH9740653 }} {{subscription required}}
*{{cite journal|last=Foshag|first=W. F.|title=New Mineral Names: Collinsite|journal=American Mineralogist|date=May 1928|volume=13|issue=5|pages=201–202|url=http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM13/AM13_201.pdf}}
*{{cite journal|last=Hawthorne|first=Frank C.|title=Structure and chemistry of phosphate minerals|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|date=April 1998|volume=62|issue=2|pages=141–164|url=http://www.minersoc.org/pages/Archive-MM/Volume_62/62-2-141.pdf|doi=10.1180/002646198547512|bibcode=1998MinM...62..141H|s2cid=38295867|access-date=2012-08-10|archive-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418014801/http://www.minersoc.org/pages/Archive-MM/Volume_62/62-2-141.pdf|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite journal|last1=Liferovich|first1=Ruslan P.|last2=Pakhomovsky|first2=Yakov A.|last3=Bogdanova|first3=Alla N.|last4=Balaganskaya|first4=Elena G.|last5=Laajoki|first5=Kauko V.O.|last6=Gehör|first6=Seppo|last7=Chukanov|first7=Nikita V.|title=Collinsite in hydrothermal assemblages related to carbonatites in the Kovdor Complex, northwestern Russia|url=http://rruff.info/uploads/CM39_1081.pdf|journal=The Canadian Mineralogist|date=August 2001|volume=39|issue=4|pages=1081–1094|doi=10.2113/gscanmin.39.4.1081}}
*{{cite journal|last=Poitevin|first=Eugene|title=A new Canadian occurrence of phosphorite from near Francois Lake, British Columbia|url=http://rruff.info/uploads/CDMB46_5.pdf|journal=Bulletin|date=July 21, 1927|volume=46|publisher=Canada Department of Mines, Geological Survey|pages=2–12}}
*{{cite journal|last=Wolfe|first=C. W.|title=Classification of minerals of the type A<sub>3</sub>(XO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>·''n''H<sub>2</sub>O|journal=American Mineralogist|date=December 1940|volume=25|issue=12|pages=738–753|url=http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM25/AM25_738.pdf}}
*{{cite journal|last1=Yakubovich|first1=Olga V.|last2=Kabalov|first2=Yu K.|last3=Gavrilenko|first3=Polina G.|last4=Liferovich|first4=Ruslan P.|last5=Massa|first5=Werner|title=Strontium in the Collinsite Structure: Rietveld Refinement|journal=Crystallography Reports|year=2003|volume=48|issue=2|pages=226–232|doi=10.1134/1.1564200|bibcode=2003CryRp..48..226Y|s2cid=94186620}} {{subscription required}}
*{{cite journal|last1=Yakubovich|first1=Olga V.|last2=Massa|first2=Werner|last3=Liferovich|first3=Ruslan P.|last4=Gavrilenko|first4=Polina G.|last5=Bogdanova|first5=Alla N.|last6=Tuisku|first6=Pekka|title=Hillite, a new member of the fairfieldite group: its description and crystal structure|url=http://rruff.info/uploads/CM41_981.pdf|journal=The Canadian Mineralogist|year=2003|volume=41|issue=4|pages=981–988|doi=10.2113/gscanmin.41.4.981}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal|last1=Herwig|first1=Sasha|last2=Hawthorne|first2=Frank C.|title=The topology of hydrogen bonding in brandtite, collinsite and fairfieldite|journal=The Canadian Mineralogist|date=October 2006|volume=44|issue=5|pages=1181–1196|url=http://rruff.info/uploads/CM44_1181.pdf|doi=10.2113/gscanmin.44.5.1181}}
*{{cite journal|last1=Hill|first1=R. J.|last2=Milnes|first2=A. R.|title=Phosphate minerals from Reaphook Hill, Flinders Ranges, South Australia|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|date=June 1974|volume=39|issue=306|pages=684–695|url=http://www.minersoc.org/pages/Archive-MM/Volume_39/39-306-684.pdf|doi=10.1180/minmag.1974.039.306.06|bibcode=1974MinM...39..684H|citeseerx=10.1.1.599.1279|s2cid=46629659 }}

==External links==
{{commonscat-inline|Collinsite}}

Category:Triclinic minerals
Category:Calcium minerals
Category:Magnesium minerals
Category:Iron(II) minerals
Category:Phosphate minerals
Category:Dihydrate minerals
Category:Minerals in space group 2

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Collinsite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collinsite) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collinsite?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.