Moraesite Locality: Linópolis, Divino das Laranjeiras , Doce valley, Minas Gerais , Southeast Region, Brazil ( Locality at mindat.org ) Field of view 7 mm. Depth of field is achieved with CombineZM. Specimen and photo Leon Hupperichs. — Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0
Moraesite
Moraesite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula Be₂(PO₄)(OH)·4H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group C2/c).
Key properties: specific gravity 1.805; White streak; Silky luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Mae, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1953.
A rare late-stage hydrothermal mineral in complex zoned granite pegmatites.
It is found associated with Beryl, beryllonite, hydroxylherderite, frondelite, triphylite, apatite, muscovite.
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Luciano Jacques de Moraes (1896–1968), Brazilian mineralogist and geologist.