
General Information:

Chemical Formula:
(Mn++1-xFe+++x)Al(PO4)(OH)2-xOx

Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 210.86 gm)
Manganese 13.03 %
MnAluminum 12.80 %
AlIron 13.24 %
FePhosphorus 14.69 %
P Hydrogen 0.72 %
H Oxygen 45.53 %
O 
Empirical Formula:
Mn2+0.5Fe3+0.5Al(PO4)(OH)1.5O0.5

Environment:
Oxidation product of eosphoite in granitic pegmatite.

IMA Status:
Approved IMA 1970

Locality:
Daib-East farm, Karibib, Namibia.

Name Origin:
Named for Theodor K. A. Ernst (1904-), mineralogist, University of Erlangen, Germany.
Physical Properties:

Cleavage:
[010] Good, [100] Good

Color:
yellow brown.

Density:
3.07

Diaphaniety:
Translucent

Habits:
Radial - Crystals radiate from a center without producing stellar forms (e.g. stibnite), Aggregates - Made of numerous individual crystals or clusters.,

Hardness:
3-3.5 - Calcite-Copper Penny
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