Ca2MgPO4222H2O

Ca2MgPO4222H2O, also known as maurite, is a rare mineral species composed of calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and water. Its chemical composition is characterized by the presence of calcium and magnesium cations, phosphate anions, and water molecules.

Maurite was first discovered in 1982 in a uranium deposit in Madagascar. Subsequent studies revealed that it is a member of the prissonite mineral group, which includes several other rare and complex phosphate minerals. Structurally, maurite crystallizes in the monoclinic system and has a layered crystal lattice.

Maurite is notable for its relatively high phosphorus content and its complex crystal structure. Its mineralogical properties include a pale yellow to white color, a monoclinic crystal system, and a relatively high density of approximately 2.6 g/cm3.

From a chemical perspective, maurite can be viewed as a complex salt formed through the reaction of magnesium and calcium cations with phosphate anions and water. The presence of water in its composition suggests that maurite may be a relatively unstable mineral under dry conditions, although its behavior has not been extensively studied.

Maurite's rarity and difficult formation conditions have limited its commercial applications. Nonetheless, it remains a significant object of study within the field of inorganic chemistry, particularly in the context of phosphate minerals and their structural properties. Research into maurite's composition and properties has shed light on the chemical and physical processes that govern the formation of complex minerals in terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments.