Zodacite, the Mn analogue of montgomeryite, from Mangualde, Portugal

Zodacite [idealized formula -- Ca (sub 4) MnFe (super 3+) (sub 4) (PO (sub 4) ) (sub 6) (OH) (sub 4) .12H (sub 2) O, monoclinic, C2/c or Cc, a "10.152(8), b 24.14(3), c 6.308(6) Angstrom, beta 91.14(7) degrees , Z = 2] is a new Mn-dominant member of the montgomeryite group. The strongest diffractions in the powder pattern are 5.18(10), 12.00(6), 2.907(5), 3.150(4), 2.656(4) Angstrom. Zodacite occurs as individual yellow crystals and as aggregates of radiating crystals, with D 2.68 g/cm (super 3) (meas.) and 2.65 g/cm (super 3) (calc.). It has 2V (sub alpha) 83 degrees , with alpha 1.598, beta 1.601 (very pale green) and 1.602 (pale green); Plieochroism is weak. Zodacite is found associated with a Mn-rich jahnsite-group mineral, phosphosiderite and hureaulite, on a specimen from the Mangualde pegmatite in Portugal. The name honours the late Peter Zodac, founder and long-time editor of Rocks and Minerals magazine.