Aspedamite
An extremely rare mineral — one of only two known natural heteropolyniobates, with a famously complex formula.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Aspedamite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula ₁₂(Fe³⁺,Fe²⁺)₃Nb₄[Th(Nb,Fe³⁺)₁₂O₄₂][(H₂O),(OH)]₁₂.
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group Im3). It is a member of the Menezesite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3–4; specific gravity 4.07; Very pale orange streak; Adamantine luster.
IMA symbol Apd, IMA status: approved, named in 2011.
Found in a complex granitic pegmatite on altered monazite.
It is found associated with Monazite.
The name refers to the village near which the first specimens were collected.
Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data and a Wikipedia introduction — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet.
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