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Swaknoite

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Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:White
Hardness:1½ - 2
Name:The name derives from the acronym SWAKNO, for the Suid West Afrika Karst Navorsing Organisatsie (Namibia), a speleological association whose members noted the presence of a wide variety of minerals in the Arnhem cave (type locality).
This page provides mineralogical data about Swaknoite.

Classification of Swaknoite

IMA status:Approved 1991
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.23-65
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CJ.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:39.3.4.1

39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : Miscellaneous
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Type Occurrence of Swaknoite

Type Locality:Arnhem Cave, Windhoek District, Khomas Region, Namibia
General Appearance of Type Material:White coatings comprised of needle-like crystals up to 1 mm long and up to 10 μm wide, commonly grouped as rosettes.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:State Museum, Windhoek, Namibia, and in the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, South Africa.
Year of Discovery:1991
Geological Setting of type material:Cave with dolomite walls.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
MundrabillaiteDolomiteDittmariteArcanite

Physical Properties of Swaknoite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:White
Hardness (Mohs):1½ - 2
Tenacity:Brittle
Density (measured):1.91 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.89 g/cm3

Crystallography of Swaknoite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 20.95Å, b = 7.4Å, c = 6.47Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.831 : 1 : 0.874
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,003.04 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals are elongate [001] and exhibit {110}, (100), {111}, and possibly {001}. Needle-like crystals up to 1 mm long and up to 10 μm wide, commonly grouped as rosettes.

Optical Data of Swaknoite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.506 nβ = 1.510 nγ = 1.512
2V:Measured: 65° to 70°, Calculated: 70°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.006

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Swaknoite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, N, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, N, O, P

Relationship of Swaknoite to other Species

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.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.45Grayite
(Th,Pb,Ca)(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

Other Names for Swaknoite

Synonyms:
IMA1991-021
Other Languages:
German:Swaknoit
Spanish:Swaknoita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in H2O.
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 Swaknoite

Reference List:

- +
Martini, J.E.J. (1992) Swaknoite [Ca(NH4)2·(HPO4)2·H2O, orthorhombic]: A new mineral from Arnhem cave, Namibia. Bulletin of the South African Speleological Association: 32: 72-74.

Jambor, John L and Puziewicz, Jacek (1993) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist: 78: 1108-1112.

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

Internet Links for Swaknoite

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

    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.
    Namibia
     
    • Khomas Region
      • Windhoek District
    		Martini, J.E.J. (1992) Swaknoite [Ca(NH4)2·(HPO4)2·H2O, orthorhombic]: A new mineral from Arnhem cave, Namibia. Bulletin of the South African Speleological Association: 32: 72-74.
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