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Girvasite

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Big Photo

Kovdor Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
© Peter Kohorst




Formula:
NaCa
 
2
Mg
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicHardness:3½
This page provides mineralogical data about Girvasite.

Classification of Girvasite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.32-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DO.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
O : With CO3, SO4, SiO4
Dana 8th edition ID:43.5.17.1

43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
5 : Hydrated Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
Hey's CIM Ref.:22.4.7

22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
4 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with carbonate
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Type Occurrence of Girvasite

Type Locality:Zheleznyi Mine (Iron Mine), Kovdor Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1990

Physical Properties of Girvasite

Hardness (Mohs):3½

Crystallography of Girvasite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.5Å, b = 12.26Å, c = 21.4Å
β = 90.37°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.53 : 1 : 1.746
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,705.33 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Girvasite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.541 nβ = 1.557 nγ = 1.565
2V:Measured: 60° to 71°, Calculated: 68°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.024

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:weak

Chemical Properties of Girvasite

Formula:
NaCa
 
2
Mg
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, Ca, H, Mg, Na, O, P
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, H, Mg, Na, O, P

Relationship of Girvasite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DO.10Voggite
Na
 
2
Zr(PO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
8.DO.15Peisleyite
Na
 
3
Al
 
16
(PO
 
4
)
 
10
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
17
 · 20H
 
2
O
8.DO.20Perhamite
(Ca,Sr)
 
3
Al
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
 · 16.5H
 
2
O
8.DO.25Saryarkite-(Y)
Ca(Y,Th)Al
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
7
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.DO.30Micheelsenite
(Ca,Y)
 
3
Al(HPO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
6
 · 12H
 
2
O
8.DO.40Parwanite
(Na,K)(Mg,Ca)
 
4
Al
 
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
8
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
7
 · 30H
 
2
O
8.DO.45Skorpionite
Ca
 
3
Zn
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
22.4.1Bradleyite
Na
 
3
Mg(CO
 
3
)(PO
 
4
)
22.4.2Kovdorskite
Mg
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH) · 3H
 
2
O
22.4.3Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH,O)
22.4.4Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
(F,O)
22.4.5Tyrolite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
9
(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
4
 · 11-12H
 
2
O
22.4.6Heneuite
CaMg
 
5
(CO
 
3
)(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
22.4.8Daqingshanite-(Ce)
(Sr,Ca,Ba)
 
3
(Ce,La)(CO
 
3
)
 
3-x
(PO
 
4
)(OH,F)
 
2x
22.4.9Gartrellite
Pb(Cu,Fe
3+
 
,Zn)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
22.4.10Voggite
Na
 
2
Zr(PO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
22.4.11Bonshtedtite
Na
 
3
Fe
2+
 
(CO
 
3
)(PO
 
4
)

Other Names for Girvasite

Synonyms:
IMA1988-046
Other Languages:
German:Girvasit
Russian:Гирвасит
Spanish:Girvasita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Girvasite

Reference List:

- +
New Minerals (1997), New Minerals 1990-1994.

Mineralogicheskii Zhurnal: 12(3): 79-83.

Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 311(6): 1372-1376.

Internet Links for Girvasite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Girvasite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Girvasite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Kovdor Massif
    		[World of Stones 95:5-6, p64]
    Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
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    Updated Mineral Entry: BykovaiteFrom Van King, 17th Feb 2012 19:50:20