Mitmeportilise

Mitmeportilise is a rare phosphate mineral described from pegmatitic rocks in the Mitmeport region. It forms translucent to opaque crystals that are typically blue to green, with a vitreous to glassy luster. Reported hardness on the Mohs scale is around 5, and the mineral crystallizes in the monoclinic system with prismatic to tabular habits.

The mineral was first described in 2021 by a team led by Dr. Elena Kuznetsova after examining samples collected in 2019 from the Mitmeport pegmatites. The name mitmeportilise derives from the Mitmeport region where it was found, with the suffix -ilise aligning with conventions used for naming phosphate minerals in some languages.

Mitmeportilise occurs in fragile pegmatitic veins within granitic rocks and is frequently associated with quartz, apatite, fluorite, and beryl. Known occurrences are limited to a small number of localities in the Mitmeport area, and ongoing surveys aim to determine the full extent of its distribution. The mineral’s rarity and localized occurrence contribute to limited material for study.

Chemically, mitmeportilise is described as a calcium-sodium phosphate with minor aluminum and fluorine substitutions; the precise formula has been variably reported by researchers. Structurally, it is interpreted as a layered phosphate framework that resembles other minerals in its family. As of the mid-2020s, no large deposits have been identified, and there are no known commercial applications. Research continues to clarify its formation conditions, compare it with closely related phosphates, and verify its classification through independent analyses.