Light green tavorite, black Rockbridgeite and pink Hureaulite. Ex collection: professor Antonio Carlos Chagas Ramos, specimen ID - M4337. Locality: Bode claim, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil — Photo: Samuel Wanderley · CC0
Tavorite
Tavorite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula LiFe³⁺(PO₄)(OH).
It crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system (space group P-1). It is a member of the Titanite-Amblygonite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 3.32; Pale green streak; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Tav, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1954.
A secondary oxidation product of earlier phosphates in complex zoned granite pegmatites.
It is found associated with Barbosalite, heterosite, ferrisicklerite, triphylite, huréaulite, rockbridgeite, jahnsite, vivianite.
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Elysiario Tavora (1911–), Professor of Mineralogy, University of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.