Optical and EPR studies of iron bearing phosphate minerals: satterlyite and gormanite from Yukon Territory,Canada

The iron phosphate minerals satterlyite and gormanite have been investigated by EPR and optical absorption studies. The optical results indicate the presence of ferrous and ferric ions in both minerals. In gormanite the site symmetry of Fe(III) is near octahedral whereas in satterlyite it is tetragonally distorted. On the other hand, the Fe(II) ions are in tetragonally distorted octahedral site in both minerals. In satterlyite the EPR results indicate the presence of the ferric ion in a tetragonally distorted state together with a small percentage of Mn(II). Crystal field (Dq) and interelectronic parameters (B and C) are evaluated.