taranakite Min.
(tærəˈnɑːkaɪt)
[f. prec.: see -ite1.]
A hydrated basic phosphate of potassium (partly replaced by ammonium) and aluminium, found as a soft, whitish or grey clay-like substance composed of minute rhombohedral crystals.
| 1866 Hector & Skey in Rep. & Awards of Jurors N.Z. Exhib., 1865 423 Taranakite, a new Phosphatic mineral..presented by H. Richmond... This singular mineral was mistaken for Wavellite. 1882 Trans. N.Z. Inst. XV. 385 Taranakite..a double hydrous phosphate of alumina and potash, part of the alumina being replaced by ferric oxide, was first discovered by H. Richmond, Esq., at the Sugar Loaves, Taranaki. 1976 Mineral. Abstr. XXVII. 256/2 Aluminian strengite.., vivianite.., and taranakite..(small yellowish white aggregates) from the Castellane caves, Apulia, southern Italy, occur embedded in small ‘terra rossa’ deposits, near the contact with superimposed layers of bat guano. |