
General Information:

Chemical Formula:
Ba12(Mn++,Ti,Fe++)6[Si4O12](O,OH)2Cl9ยท3(H2O)

Environment:
Near the contact between meta-sediments and biotite-bearing quartz diorite.

IMA Status:
Approved IMA 1965

Locality:
Big Creek - Rush Creek sanbornite deposit, 5 miles NE of Trimmer, Fresno Co., California.

Name Origin:
Named for William E. VerPlanck (1916-1963), American geologist, California Division of Mines & Geology.
Physical Properties:

Cleavage:
[1120] Good, [0001] Indistinct

Color:
brownish yellow or brownish orange.

Density:
3.52

Habits:
Radial - Crystals radiate from a center without producing stellar forms (e.g. stibnite), Prismatic - Crystals Shaped like Slender Prisms (e.g. tourmaline)., Aggregates - Made of numer ous individual crystals or clusters.

Hardness:
2.5-3 - Finger Nail-Calcite

Luster:
Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:
light orange
More details...