# Phosphosiderite
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{{Short description|Phosphate mineral}}
{{Infobox mineral|boxwidth=|boxtextcolor=black|boxbgcolor=#dda0dd|name=Phosphosiderite|image=Phosphosiderite-141096.jpg|caption= Red phosphosiderite between violet [strengite](/source/strengite). Picture width 4 mm.|category=[Phosphate minerals](/source/Phosphate_minerals)|formula=[Hydrate](/source/Hydrate)d [iron](/source/iron) [phosphate](/source/phosphate) FePO4·2H2O| IMAsymbol = Phsd[{{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}}]|system=[Monoclinic](/source/Monoclinic)|class=Prismatic 2/''m''|symmetry=''P21/n'' (no. 14)|unit cell=454.76 ų|molweight=186.85|color=Usually red to pink to purple, sometimes green, usually yellow veined|habit=Tabular {010} or stout prismatic [001]|twinning=Common on {101}, typically as interpenetration|cleavage={010} Distinct, {001} Indistinct|fracture=Uneven|mohs=3.5–4|luster=Vitreous|opticalprop=Biaxial (−)|refractive=nα = 1.692
nβ = 1.725
nγ = 1.738|birefringence=0.046|pleochroism=Visible|2V=Measured: 62°, Calculated: 62°|dispersion=Very strong
r > v|streak=White|gravity=2.74–2.76|density=2.74 – 2.76 measured, 2.76 calculated|solubility=Totally soluble in hydrochloric acid, nearly insoluble in nitric acid|diaphaneity=Transparent, translucent
}}
'''Phosphosiderite''' is a rare [mineral](/source/mineral) named for its main components, [phosphate](/source/phosphate) and [iron](/source/iron). The siderite at the end of phosphosiderite comes from the word "sideros", the Greek word for iron. It was published in 1890, and has been a valid species since pre-[IMA](/source/International_Mineralogical_Association). It is an IMA approved mineral which got grandfathered, meaning its name is still believed to refer to an existing species.[{{Cite web |title=Phosphosiderite |url=https://www.mindat.org/min-3187.html |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=www.mindat.org}}]
== Properties ==
Phosphosiderite is a member of the [metavariscite](/source/metavariscite) group,[{{Cite web |title=Phosphosiderite – Encyclopedia |url=https://www.le-comptoir-geologique.com/phosphosiderite-encyclopedia.html |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=www.le-comptoir-geologique.com}}] It is totally [soluble](/source/Solubility) in [Hydrochloric acid](/source/Hydrochloric_acid) and nearly insoluble in [nitric acid](/source/nitric_acid).[{{cite web |title=Phosphosiderite |url=https://nationalgemlab.in/phosphosiderite/ |website=National Gem Lab |date=18 March 2017}}] It is usually [cut](/source/Lapidary) into a [cabochon](/source/cabochon) shape for jewelry, and used as an ornamental stone.[{{Cite web |title=Phosphosiderite Mineral Data |url=http://www.webmineral.com/data/Phosphosiderite.shtml |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=www.webmineral.com}}]
== Colors ==
Phosphosiderite is often found in a bright orchid-purple tint with yellow-colored streaks. The vein-like streaks found in the stone are known as [cacoxenite](/source/cacoxenite). Four other rare color variants are rose red, brown-reddish yellow, mossy green, and dark shades of purple. Phosphosiderite can also be found as a colorless mineral.[ It is [pleochroic](/source/Pleochroism); on the X axis around 4° it is light rose, on the Y axis it is carmine red, and on Z it is colorless.][{{Cite web|title=Phosphosiderite|url=https://www.mindat.org/min-3187.html|access-date=2021-03-05|website=www.mindat.org}}]
== Occurrences and localities ==
Phosphosiderite is [mined](/source/Mining) in some parts of [Chile](/source/Chile), [Argentina](/source/Argentina), [Germany](/source/Germany), [Portugal](/source/Portugal), and the [United States](/source/United_States). It occurs in association with strengite, [turquoise](/source/turquoise), [triphylite](/source/triphylite), [leucophosphite](/source/leucophosphite), [huréaulite](/source/hur%C3%A9aulite), [barbosalite](/source/barbosalite) and [laueite](/source/laueite).[{{Cite journal |title=Phosphosiderite |url=http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/phosphosiderite.pdf |journal=Handbook of Mineralogy}}] In zoned granitic pegmatites, it usually occurs as an alteration product of primary phosphates. This makes it a secondary phosphate.