Matioliite Locality: Gentil claim, Mendes Pimentel, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil Pale blue Matioliite. Field of view 3 mm. Specimen and photo Leon Hupperichs. — Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0
Matioliite
Matioliite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula NaMgAl₅(PO₄)₄(OH)₆·2H₂O.
It is a member of the Dufrénite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 5; specific gravity 2.948; White streak; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Mti, IMA status: approved, named in 2005.
A secondary hydrothermal mineral in granite pegmatite.
It is found associated with Fluorapatite, crandallite, zoned gormanite-souzalite crystals.
The mineral was named to honor Paulo Anselmo Matioli (b. 1975), mineral collector, founder, and curator of the Museu de Ciências Naturais Jobas “José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva”, Santos, SP.