Strunzite forms wonderful yellow acicular crystals that form sprays of radiating crystals. It is one of the rare phosphate minerals that comes from classic mineral localities such as Hagendorf, Germany and the Palermo Mine in New Hampshire. It is closely related to the mineral laueite. A casual look at laueite's formula, MnFe2(PO4)2(OH)2 - 8H2O, might lead you to think its the same as strunzite's. But a closer inspection reveals the only difference being two more water molecules in laueite's formula. Those two water molecules make a difference in the structure and a difference in the crystal habit of the two minerals. Laueite forms tabular crystals in contrast to strunzite's acicular or hair-like crystals.
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