haiglalaborite

Haïɣlaborite is a rare mineral species, first discovered in 1991 in the Kryvyi Rih region of Ukraine. The mineral is a hydrated calcium iron phosphite salt, with the chemical composition CaFe(PO3)4(H2O)2. Its name is derived from the initial letters of the Eastern Slavic words for "country" (YaK) or "region" (Rih), honouring the region where it was found.

Haïɣlaborite exhibits a hexagonal crystal system, with crystals attaining a maximum size of approximately 2 mm. It has a distinctive blue-green to light blue colour, which may be due to the presence of iron or other impurities. The mineral has a vitreous luster, being glassy to the touch, and is brittle in nature.

In terms of its chemical properties, haïɣlaborite is relatively stable, but it may undergo chemical changes under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. Its affinity for water is moderate, with limited solubility in water at room temperature. Haïɣlaborite has been observed in a few locations worldwide, but it remains one of the rarer mineral species known, with limited collections available.

From a geological perspective, haïɣlaborite is thought to have formed as a secondary mineral, resulting from the weathering of primary iron- and phosphate-rich minerals. This formation process occurred in a reducing environment, possibly within sedimentary rocks or hydrothermal veins. Through analysis of haïɣlaborite and similar phosphite minerals, researchers seek to gain a deeper understanding of geological and geochemical processes that shaped the Earth's crust.