Diffraktiopeite

Diffraktiopeite is a rare mineral species discovered in 2009. It is a member of the silico phosphate class of minerals, characterized by a unique diffraction pattern. The mineral is named after its distinctive diffraction properties.

Chemically, diffraktiopeite is composed of lead, vanadium, phosphate, and silicate, with a chemical formula of Pb4(V,Na,Sb)2Si8O26(OH)2. It has a relatively high density of 6.87 g/cm3. The mineral crystals are typically tabular and triangular in shape.

Diffraktiopeite is associated with other minerals that form through the alteration of phosphate-rich volcanic rocks. It is typically found in aggregates with other rare minerals, such as grimselite and hureaulite. The mineral has been found at only a few locations worldwide, primarily in countries with volcanic rock formations.

The discovery of diffraktiopeite was announced in 2009, after a team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and the Carnegie Institution of Washington, conducted a thorough analysis of a sample obtained from a phosphate deposit in the western state of Nevada, USA. The mineral has since been further studied through various spectroscopic methods, including X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.

Due to its rarity and limited geographic distribution, diffraktiopeite remains a subject of ongoing research and study in the field of mineralogy. Its unique chemical composition and crystal structure present a research opportunity for scientists studying mineral formation and the geological processes that shape Earth's crust.