General Information:
Chemical Formula:Ba12(Mn++,Ti,Fe++)6[Si4O12](O,OH)2Cl9·3(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
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