Tinticite (cream) with calcioferrite (green). Elvira mine, Gavá (Barcelona) Spain — Photo: Bergminer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Tinticite
Tinticite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula Fe³⁺₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₃·3H₂O.
It crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system (space group P-1).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5; specific gravity 2.8–2.94; Dull luster.
IMA symbol Ttc, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1946.
Formed by reaction between phosphatic solutions derived from bat guano and iron from oxidizing pyrite (East Tintic district, Utah, USA); formed by weathering rocks containing apatite and jarosite (Bruguers, Spain).
It is found associated with Jarosite, “limonite” (East Tintic district, Utah, USA); montgomeryite, carbonate-apatite, goethite (Bruguers, Spain).
The name refers to its initially noted occurrence in the East Tintic distict, Utah, USA.