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Kosnarite, KZr2(PO4)3, a new mineral from Mount Mica and Black Mountain, Oxford County, Maine

January 1, 1993

Kosnarite, ideally KZr2(PO4)3, has been identified as part of a late-stage, secondary phosphate mineral assemblage from the Mount Mica pegmatite at Paris, and from the Black Mountain pegmatite, Rumford, Oxford County, Maine. Kosnarite from Mount Mica occurs as pseudocubic rhombohedral crystals, as much as 0.9 mm in maximum dimension, that display the dominant {102} form. Color ranges from pale blue to blue-green to nearly colorless. The mineral has a white streak, is transparent, has a vitreous luster, and is nonfluorescent in ultraviolet light. It has a hardness of 4.5, is brittle with a conchoidal fracture, and has perfect {102} cleavage. Kosnarite from Black Mountain is almost pure KZr2(PO4)3 with only trace amounts of Hf, Mn, Na, and Rb. The mineral is one of three known alkali zirconium phosphates; the others are gainesite and the Cs analogue of gainesite. -from Author

Publication Year 1993
Title Kosnarite, KZr2(PO4)3, a new mineral from Mount Mica and Black Mountain, Oxford County, Maine
Authors Michael E. Brownfield, E.E. Foord, S. J. Sutley, T. Botinelly
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title American Mineralogist
Index ID 70018283
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
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