Maricite

Maricite is a relatively rare sodium iron phosphate mineral with the chemical formula NaFePO₄. It is an olivine-group mineral, named in honor of Ján Maričák, a Slovakian mineralogist.

Maricite typically occurs as elongated prismatic crystals, often striated, and can also be found in massive form. Its color ranges from white to gray, yellowish, or brown. It has a vitreous to greasy luster. Maricite is translucent to opaque and possesses a hardness of 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale. Its streak is white. The mineral exhibits poor cleavage and a conchoidal fracture.

Maricite is found in a variety of geological settings, including granitic pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and iron meteorites. Associated minerals often include other phosphates like triphylite, lithiophilite, and graftonite, as well as quartz and feldspar. It is commonly found in areas with relatively low oxygen fugacity.

Maricite is not of significant economic importance as an ore mineral. Its primary value is as a mineral specimen for collectors and researchers. Study of maricite can provide insights into the geochemical conditions under which it forms and the composition of the rocks or meteorites in which it is found.