Foitite


Foitite is a mineral in the tourmaline group,[1] it is a vacancy-dominant member of the group.[2] Foitite is in the 'vacancy' group, due to the absence of atoms in the X site.[1]

Foitite
General
CategoryMineral
Crystal systemTrigonal
Identification
Mohs scale hardness7

According to the Czech Geological Society, foitite is rare.[3] However foitite is quite common among low-temperature tourmalines[4] and it might be more common than previously thought.[5]

The color of the mineral is dark indigo with purple tints to bluish-black.[2]

Name

The mineral was named in 1993 by D. J. MacDonald, Frank C. Hawthorne, and Joel D.Grice after Franklin F. Foit, Jr.[4]

Chemistry

It lacks alkalis like sodium.[6]

Occurrence

It occurs in quartz veins[7] and possibly occurs in granite pegmatites.[8]

Foitite has also been reported in Marquette County, Michigan.[5] It’s type locality is California.[4]

It has been reported in Wales and it’s predicted that a more widespread distribution of the mineral in Wales will be shown.[1]

References
  1. "Mineral Database - Mineralogy of Wales". National Museum Wales. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  2. "Foitite gemstone information". www.gemdat.org. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  3. Journal of Geosciences. Czech Geological Society. 2010. p. 17.
  4. "Foitite". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  5. "Foitite" (PDF). The A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  6. "Wisconsin Geological & Natural History Survey » Foitite". wgnhs.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  7. "Tourmaline-Bearing Quartz Veins in the Baraboo Quartzite, Wisconsin: Occurrence and Significance of Foitite and "Oxy-Foitite"". CiteSeerX 10.1.1.615.277. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. "Foitite" (PDF). Mineral Data Publishing. 2001. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
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