Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Grayite

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Big Photo

Meyers Ranch, Guffey District, Park Co., Colorado, USA

Show Grayite Photos (3)



Formula:
(Th,Pb,Ca)(PO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
System:HexagonalColour:Dark reddish brown, ...
Name:For Anton Gray, British Atomic Energy "authority".
Isostructural with:Rhabdophane


Originally powdery or cryptocrystalline. Rarely in subhedral resinous crystals.

Classification of Grayite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.29-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CJ.45

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:40.4.7.4

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
4 : (AB)5(XO4)2·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.10.8

19 : Phosphates
10 : Phosphates of Pb, Th, V and Bi
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1743.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Grayite

Type Locality:Gooddays Mine, Mutoko parish (Mtoko), Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe
Year of Discovery:1957
Geological Setting of type material:Originally in a lithia-rich granite pegmatite.

Occurrences of Grayite

Geological Setting:Has been found in granite pegmatite (Maine).

Physical Properties of Grayite

Lustre:Resinous, Waxy, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Dark reddish brown, rarely tannish yellow
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (calculated):6.41 g/cm3

Crystallography of Grayite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6 2 2 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:P62 2 2
Cell Parameters:a = 6.957Å, c = 6.396Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.919
Unit Cell Volume:V 268.09 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
6.05 (20)
4.35 (50)
3.46 (10)
3.03 (100)
2.82 (80)
2.36 (10)
2.15 (80)
1.856 (50)
Comments:42-1389

Optical Data of Grayite

Type:Uniaxial
RI values: nα = 1.660 nβ = 1.690
Birefringence:moderate
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 1.660

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

Chemical Properties of Grayite

Formula:
(Th,Pb,Ca)(PO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, O, P, Th
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, O, P, Pb, Th

Relationship of Grayite to other Species

Common Associates:
Xenotime-(Y)Xenotime-(Y)Oligoclase
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.CJ.05Stercorite
Na(NH
 
4
)HPO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.10Mundrabillaite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.10Swaknoite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.15Nabaphite
NaBaPO
 
4
 · 9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.15Nastrophite
Na(Sr,Ba)PO
 
4
 · 9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.20Haidingerite
CaHAsO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.25Vladimirite
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.CJ.30Ferrarisite
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.35Machatschkiite
(Ca,Na)
 
6
(AsO
 
4
)(HAsO
 
4
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
) · 15H
 
2
O
8.CJ.40Phaunouxite
Ca
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 11H
 
2
O
8.CJ.40Rauenthalite
Ca
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Brockite
(Ca,Th,Ce)PO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(Ce)
(Ce,La)(PO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(La)
(La,Ce)(PO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,La)(PO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Tristramite
(Ca,U,Fe)(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45UM1997-20-AsO:HU
U
4+
 
(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Smirnovskite
ThCa(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Ardealite
Ca
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)(SO
 
4
) · 4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Brushite
Ca(HPO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Churchite-(Y)
Y(PO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Pharmacolite
Ca(HAsO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Churchite-(Nd)
Nd(PO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.55Mcnearite
NaCa
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)(HAsO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.60Dorfmanite
Na
 
2
HPO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.65Sincosite
Ca(VO)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.CJ.65Bariosincosite
Ba(VO)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.70Catalanoite
Na
 
2
(HPO
 
4
) · 8H
 
2
O
8.CJ.75Guérinite
Ca
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.85Ningyoite
CaU(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 1-2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.10.1 Oxypyromorphite
Pb
 
10
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
O
19.10.2Plumbogummite
PbAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
19.10.3Kamitugaite
AlPb(UO
 
2
)
 
5
(PO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
9
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.10.5Drugmanite
Pb(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
19.10.6Brabantite
CaTh(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.10.9Brockite
(Ca,Th,Ce)PO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
19.10.10Sincosite
Ca(VO)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.10.11Ximengite
Bi(PO
 
4
)
19.10.12Paulkellerite
(BiO)
 
2
Fe
3+
 
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2

Other Names for Grayite

Other Languages:
German:Grayit
Spanish:Grayita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Specimens from Havey #2 Quarry, Topsham, Maine fluoresce yellow in SW UV.
Thermal Behaviour:Grayite may give a monazite-like powder pattern after heating to 850 degrees C.
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 Grayite

Reference List:

- +
Bowie, 1957, Summary of Progress, Geological Survey of Great Britain for 1956, p. 67; Chronique mines outre-mer et recherche minere, v. 279 (1959); Dooley and Hathaway, 1961, USGS Professioal Paper 424-C; not American Mineralogist: 47: 419-420, contains no new data on the species.

Internet Links for Grayite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Grayite on Google
  • Look for Grayite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Grayite on Webmineral
  • Look for Grayite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Grayite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Grayite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality low prices
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Pricedownminerals.com - Reverse Auctions and Shop
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Find Grayite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • By minerals from YourMineralCollection
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Edwards Minerals - Fine Specimens
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Grayite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Tohoku Region
        • Fukushima Prefecture
    		Terada et al (1994) Chigaku Kenkyu, 43, 181-185.
    Poland
     
    • Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie)
    		Kucha H., Wieczorek A. 1980: Ca1-xTh1-xRE2x[PO4]2 . 2H2O, a new mineral from Lower Silesia, Poland. Mineralogia Polonica, vol. 11, No 1, 123-136
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • Gunnison Co.
        • Quartz Creek Pegmatite District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
        • White Earth District (Powderhorn District)
    		"Minerals of Colorado, updated & revised", p. 17, by Eckel, Edwin B., 1997
    • Connecticut
      • Hartford Co.
        • Glastonbury
          • South Glastonbury
    		Specimen in collection of Andrew Kruegel
      • Middlesex Co.
        • East Hampton
    		Fred Davis - home.att.net/~fedavis/Main/Page_109.html
    • Maine
      • Sagadahoc Co.
        • Topsham
    		King, V. and Foord, E., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine.
    • Nevada
      • Mineral Co.
        • Fitting District
          • Gillis Range
    		Mineralogical Record: 30: 277-292.
    • Wisconsin
      • Jefferson Co.
        • Waterloo
    		Buchholz, T.W.. et al (2002) 29th Rochester Mineralogical Symposium, Abstracts of contributed papers, 6.
      • Marathon Co.
        • Wausau pluton
          • "Rotten granite" quarries
    		Cordura, W http://www.uwex.edu/wgnhs/Mineral%20Index/Minerals/grayite.htm
    Zimbabwe
     
    • Mashonaland East
      • Mutoko parish (Mtoko)
    		American Mineralogist 47 (1962), 419.
      • Wedza
    		Bowie, 1957, Summary of Progress, Geological Survey of Great Britain for 1956
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 18th Jun 2011 18:22:25
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds