Wardite

Wardite is a hydrous sodium aluminium phosphate hydroxide mineral with formula: NaAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₄·2(H₂O). Wardite is of interest for its rare crystallography. It crystallizes in the tetragonal trapezohedral class and is one of only a few minerals in that class. Wardite forms vitreous green to bluish green to white to colorless crystals, masses, and fibrous encrustations. It has a Mohs hardness of 5 and a specific gravity of 2.81 - 2.87. It occurs with variscite in nodules and occurs in pegmatites and phosphate deposits through alteration of amblygonite.

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Wardite was named for Henry Augustus Ward (1834-1906) of the University of Rochester in New York. It was discovered in 1896 in Clay Canyon, Fairfield, Utah County, Utah, USA. Though rare it has been reported from many locations worldwide.

See also

• List of minerals
• List of minerals named after people

References

• Mindat localities
• Webmineral
• Mineral galleries