Cattiite
A phosphate mineral found in dolomite-carbonatite veins at the bottom of the Zhelezny iron mine on the Kola Peninsula.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Cattiite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula Mg₃(PO₄)₂·22H₂O.
It crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system (space group P-1).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2; specific gravity 1.65; White streak; Vitreous, pearly on cleavage surfaces luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Ctt, IMA status: approved, named in 2000.
Found in a dolomite carbonatite vein that cuts forsterite-magnetite ore in a carbonatite massif.
It is found associated with Nastrophite, bakhchisaraitsevite, sjogrenite, magnetite, carbonate-fluorapatite.
The mineral was named to honor Michele Catti (b. 1945), Professor of Physical Chemistry, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy, for his contributions to the crystal chemistry of hydrated oxysalts.